Vice President 2024/25 | Patricia Thom

Patricia originally qualified in Canada with an LLB from Saskatchewan and then as a barrister and solicitor in the Northwest Territories and Alberta. After practising there for five years, she emigrated to Scotland and requalified as a Scottish solicitor.

Following requalification she began work with the Scottish Regional Council which, after reorganisation, became the Scottish Borders Council. She advised on a range of legal matters from copyright to computer contracts, though her main responsibilities were to the Social Work Department and Education.

Patricia left the Scottish Borders Council after 13 years to join a high street private practice. Most of her practice was in civil court practice, with an emphasis on family law and applications in connection with adults with incapacity. After eight years at the firm she left to start up her own practice which, while dealing with executries and employment law, largely focused on family law and adults with incapacity law. Whilst running her own practice in 2015, she was elected to the Law Society Council as the representative for the Scottish Borders and East Lothian. In 2018, Patricia joined another local high street practice to manage their civil court department and in February 2020 was appointed as Convener for the Law Society’s Civil Legal Aid Committee.

Patricia retired from practice in 2021. She is a safeguarder, curator and child welfare reporter and continues to sit on the Law Society Council.

Patricia became Vice President in May 2024 and will be President of the Law Society of Scotland 2025-2026.