Alison Granger explains why you should join the Public Policy Committee

Alison Granger, a senior solicitor with the Scottish Legal Aid Board shares her experiences as a member of the Law Society’s Public Policy Committee and encourages Scottish solicitors to find out more and get involved.

I joined the Public Policy Committee (the PPC) as a solicitor member in 2023 and it has been a great opportunity to broaden my outlook on a wide range of matters.  I’ve been able to learn from and discuss interesting issues with knowledgeable people and to contribute, where I can, from my own experience.

In my case, legal aid has been the thread running through my career. I spent the first 10 years practising civil litigation in small- medium sized high street firms and in the year 2000, moved in-house to work as a solicitor at the Scottish Legal Aid Board- where I remain to this day.

The PPC is made up of lawyers, academics and business people who bring with them a wide range of skills and experience. We meet regularly and are expertly chaired by our convener John Mulholland, who is a past president of the law society and has recently been named president-elect for the second time for 2027/28.

The stated aim of the PPC is to take a leadership role in the delivery of the Law Society’s strategy relating to public policy. The committee is supported in its work by a network of 25 subcommittees whose volunteer members - both solicitors and non-solicitors - bring a wealth of expertise in their different subject areas and make an invaluable contribution to the work of the Society. The PPC also meets regularly with the Society’s dedicated staff policy team to provide leadership and guidance in the setting of policy positions.

The PPC has oversight of the Law Society’s responses to both UK and Scottish Government consultations; engagement with Bills; stakeholder engagement and proactive policy work,  which has included significant pieces of work on crofting, cohabitation and advanced choices in medical decision making. The Committee also contributed to the Society’s key legislative asks for the future, which are set out in the election priorities document – Justice Matters.

To promote close working with the sub-committees, the PPC meets in person with sub-committee conveners once a year in Edinburgh for a workshop and a dinner. Lately, each of us has taken on a direct liaison role with several of the different sub-committees with a view to developing and maintaining even closer links.

We also have occasional meetings with other organisations to build relationships and discuss common interests. We recently met with the Scottish Law Commission for an in-person meeting and with the Faculty of Advocates Law Reform Group online to explore areas of mutual interest on which we might be able to productively collaborate.

Committee meetings regularly include presentations from sub-committee conveners and staff members from other areas in the Society so that the committee can be more connected and informed on the nature and scope of the Society’s wider work. 

As I currently live and works in Ayrshire, the facility to attend some of the meetings remotely has definitely made it far easier for someone like me,. I had wrongly assumed that the majority of  Law Society Committee members would be based in Edinburgh, but I have met volunteers from all over Scotland.  The Law Society’s hard working staff team are all very friendly, helpful and approachable and it’s a really welcoming space. If you are interested in public policy and would like to contribute to shaping the law society’s work in this area, whatever your background, I would strongly encourage you to apply.

Find out more and submit your application by Tuesday 2 March.