Non-solicitor members to join Society's Council
The Council of the Law Society of Scotland is to include
non-solicitors voting members for the first time, following changes
approved at the Society's general meeting today (Friday 27
May)
Amendments to the Law Society of Scotland's constitution allowing
for the appointment of up to 10 non-solicitor Council members were
approved unanimously. Other amendments to create a new regulatory
committee with 50% non-solicitor membership and a non-solicitor
convener were also passed at the general meeting held in
Edinburgh.
The Society presently has three non-solicitor observers who can
speak at Council meetings but cannot vote. An opinion
from Senior Counsel confirmed that the Society's constitution had
to change in order to allow for non-solicitor voting members of
Council as required in the Legal Services (Scotland) Act
2010.
The new constitution presented to members at the AGM in March
included provision for full non-solicitor voting members of Council
as well as other changes. However, the motion to rescind the
existing constitution failed to achieve the required two thirds
majority support and the motion for the new constitution was
withdrawn. The decision was therefore taken to bring forward a more
limited series of constitutional amendments to today's special
general meeting to meet the requirements placed on the Society by
the Legal Services (Scotland) Act. .
Following the meeting, Jamie Millar, outgoing president of the Law
Society of Scotland, said: "Given the Society's important
responsibilities towards the public interest, the Scottish
Government made it clear that non-solicitors should be sitting on
and voting as part of our ruling Council. Our three
non-solicitor observers on Council already make a tremendous
contribution and I have no doubt the Society will benefit even more
from having full voting non-solicitor Council members."
Society members also approved constitutional amendments to create a
new regulatory committee with 50% non-solicitor members and a
non-solicitor convenor. The Society had received conflicting
legal advice on whether constitutional change was required to
create this new committee, as required by the Legal Services
(Scotland) Act 2010. Council therefore chose to remove any
ambiguity by bringing forward amendments to the existing
constitution at today's general meeting. These amendments were
approved unanimously.
Today's special general meeting also included a general discussion
on a draft new constitution, which has been amended significantly
from that considered by members earlier in the year.
Jamie Millar added: "We listened carefully to the concerns
expressed by members during the AGM two months ago. We have
also met with a number of groups within the profession including
representatives of the Scottish Law Agents Society and I hope the
changes made since March help to respond to these genuine issues of
concern.
"Today's general meeting has given us another important opportunity
to consult with and listen to our members. We still plan to
bring a new constitution forward for adoption at the next general
meeting in September and we will be undertaking further dialogue
with members over the next few months."
ENDS
27 MAY 2011
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Journalists can contact Suzy Powell on
07712 488875 or Val McEwan on 0131 226 8884. For the out of hours
service please call 0131 226 7411.
Email: suzypowell@lawscot.org.uk
or valeriemcewan@lawscot.org.uk
27 May 2011