Committee vacancies

Do you have an interest in client protection and regulation? Our Client Protection Sub-Committee is looking to recruit three lay members.

• Be part of a Sub-Committee that makes a meaningful difference to clients impacted by financial loss
• Help oversee and shape the processes that safeguard client funds
• Learn and develop alongside experienced committee members and dedicated staff who will support you through your term
• Join a network of professionals committed to fairness, accountability and high standards
• Gain valuable experience in financial compliance and serving on a professional regulatory committee

As a volunteer member, you will assess claims to the Client Protection Fund, play a key role in ensuring firms comply with Accounts Rules, and help ensure the continued confidence of the public in Scotland’s legal profession.

More information about the Client Protection Sub-Committee can be found here

Candidates should have:

• An understanding of the key legal requirements of Rule B6 of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011
• An ability to interpret a large volume of complex information and contribute to the development of solutions for issues considered
• A commitment to protecting the profession and the public through effective regulation of financial compliance
• A commitment to embedding financial compliance best practice throughout the profession
• The ability to contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of financial compliance strategies and operational processes

The Sub-Committee meets once a month, usually on the first Thursday of each month at 9.30am, and meetings typically last for around 60 to 90 minutes. Members are expected to review papers in advance and may occasionally be asked to respond emails or queries between meetings.

In addition, candidates will also be required to participate in regulatory interview panels (at least 3 times a year). Each panel typically comprises two or three members, including a solicitor and a lay member. These panels conduct regulatory interviews of solicitors found by the sub-committee to be in breach of the accounts rules.

Meetings can take place either in-person or remotely (by video).

It’s a commitment – a rewarding one and you will be backed by a supportive team of experienced committee members and staff, learning and contributing to decisions that really matter.

These positions are voluntary, although reasonable expenses may be claimed.

The appointments are for three years and will commence upon approval.

Further re-appointment may be possible, in line with the terms of the committee’s remit.

A panel will consider all applications and put their selection forward to the Society’s Regulatory Committee for approval. The panel will invite applicants to an interview. Appointments will be confirmed in writing shortly after formal approval has been given. The email will set out the approved term of office and other key information that a new member will require.

To apply to be a Lay member of the Client Protection Sub-Committee, please complete the application form below.

The deadline for all completed application forms is 12 noon on Tuesday 1^st July 2025. Please email application forms to CommitteeRecruitment@lawscot.org.uk

Please do complete the application form as thoroughly as possible. It will be the completed application form which will be the basis of assessment for the position.

CV's sent will be rejected.

The Society reserves the right to seek more information from external sources in relation to the information provided on the application form.

It is important when making an application for committee/subcommittee membership to address the following in your application form:

1. The selection criteria of the of the committee/subcommittee for which you are making the application.
2. The remit of the committee/subcommittee for which you are making the application.
3. Your experience and knowledge in the area of work of the committee.
4. Your current experience as a committee member in other areas.
5. Your ability to read the committee papers, attend committee meetings and contribute to the work of the committee at meetings and out with meetings.
6. Your knowledge of the Society’s values, strategic objectives and your ability to work as a team member with the convener, other committee members and the committee secretary.

• Commitment to delivery of the Law Society’s strategy
• To attend meetings having read and reflected on the meeting papers in advance
• To maintain relevant subject matter expertise to enable them to play a full part in the committee’s discussions and to be prepared to challenge constructively, while respecting the views of others
• To contribute to ongoing work between meetings, for example by taking part in email discussions, working parties and conference calls, and by carrying out actions, including for example attending external meetings, they may have been asked or have offered to undertake
• To respect the confidentiality of meetings
• To work constructively with the committee convener, other members and Law Society of Scotland staff
• To give notice as soon as possible of apologies for absence
• To disclose any conflict of interest
• To comply with our code of conduct, standing orders and constitution
• Any other duties specific to the work of the committee

Policy on appointment of lay members to Council, the Regulatory Committee and Regulatory Sub-Committees to take effect from all recruitment rounds after 15 March 2021.

Constitution of the Law Society of Scotland

Section 2; Interpretation

 ‘a lay member”, means a member of Council who is a person who appears to the Council to be qualified to represent the interests of the public in relation to the provision of legal services in Scotland or, having regard to the Society’s functions, appears to the Council to be suitable in other respects, but is not a:

(a) member of the Society,

(b) member of the Faculty of Advocates,

(c) conveyancing or executry practitioner as defined in section 23 of the 1990 Act,

(d) person having a right to conduct litigation or a right of audience by virtue of section 27 of the 1990 Act,

(e) confirmation agent as defined in section 90(4) of the 2010 Act, or will writer as defined in section 101(3) of the 2010 Act.

 “a member of the Society” means a solicitor who in terms of Section 2(1) of the Act has in force a practising certificate, and any other solicitor who has paid the current annual membership subscription to the Society and whose name appears upon the Roll of Solicitors kept by the Council; 

 
Section 3C(1)(b) Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 (as inserted by section 133 Legal Services ( Scotland ) Act 2010 ‘at least 50% of the (Regulatory) committee's membership is to comprise lay persons’

Section 3C(4) 1980 Act

In subsection (1)(b), “lay persons” are persons who are not—

(a) solicitors,

(b) advocates,

(c) conveyancing or executry practitioners as defined in section 23 of the 1990 Act,

(d) those having a right to conduct litigation, or a right of audience, by virtue of section 27 of the 1990 Act, or

(e) confirmation agents or will writers within the meaning of Part 3 of the 2010 Act.

When considering the appointment or re-appointment of any person as a lay member to the Council of the Law Society, the Regulatory Committee or a Sub-Committee of the Regulatory Committee, consideration should be given to whether a person could generally be considered independent of the legal profession and hold a public interest perspective.

Specifically, those who should not be considered for lay membership shall include:

1. Any person, who within the preceding 10 years, has fallen within any of those categories as set out within section 3C(4) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980

2. Any person who currently is, or has been within the preceding 10 years, regulated or represented by, but not limited to, any of the following; 

a) regulatory body authorised by the Legal Services Board with the exception of those authorised to regulate Chartered Accountants,
b) the Association of Commercial Attorneys,
c) the Law Society of Northern Ireland or
d) the Bar of Northern Ireland.

3. Any person who:

a) is a trainee solicitor or undertaking pupillage with the Faculty of Advocates (Devilling),
b) is employed by a business regulated for the purposes of providing legal services,
c) has been subject to a finding of misconduct by a professional or disciplinary body and as a result has had the right to practice removed (i.e. struck off / disbarred) or 
d) is subject to a current suspension of the right to practice.

The guidance does not apply to representative, governance or policy committees or sub-committees.