Meet the new chair of the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal — first woman to hold the role

Beverley Atkinson has been appointed as Chair of the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

A solicitor-advocate with extended rights of audience in the Scottish civil courts, Beverley is dual-qualified in Scotland and in England and Wales and is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in professional negligence. Beverley joined the Tribunal as a legal member in 2016 and became vice chair two years later. Her appointment as chair follows several years of service within the Tribunal and extensive experience in the legal profession.

Beverley succeeds Colin Bell as chair, with responsibility for overseeing the Tribunal’s administration.

Colin commented, “At this pivotal moment in the Regulation of the Legal Profession in Scotland, I have every confidence that Beverley will expertly lead the Tribunal through the significant changes that lie ahead. I convey my very best wishes to Beverley for the future.”

Constituted under the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended, the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal is an independent judicial body responsible for dealing with the most serious disciplinary matters arising from the conduct of legal practitioners. It operates independently of both the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.

Beverley said, "My sincere thanks to Colin for his many years of dedicated service to the Tribunal. I now look forward to working with the Tribunal members and ensuring that the Tribunal continues to meet its goal of maintaining the standards of the legal profession and the public's confidence that it is doing so."

The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025 will bring changes to the Tribunal’s work and announced in December 2025 the Tribunal members voted to adopt the civil standard of proof in its proceedings. Taken together, these developments mark an important period of transition for the Tribunal, with Beverley assuming the chair at a time of significant procedural and legislative change.