Eilidh Wiseman becomes president of the Law Society of Scotland

Eilidh Wiseman will take up the reins as president of the Law Society of Scotland from today.

Ms Wiseman was formerly partner and head of employment at Dundas & Wilson. She was first elected to the Law Society Council in August 2009 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2014 as one of the representatives for its Edinburgh constituency. She is currently convener of the Law Society’s education & training committee and sits on the editorial board of The Journalmagazine.

She has previously served on the employment law sub-committee and on two re-accreditation sub-committees of the education & training committee.

She said: “Being elected as president of the Law Society of Scotland is a tremendous honour. I am very grateful for this opportunity to work on behalf of Scottish solicitors and look forward to the year ahead.

“I want to thank outgoing president Christine McLintock, who has done an outstanding job in a year that included the launch of our new five-year strategy ‘Leading Legal Excellence’ and the move to brand new premises for the Law Society that better reflect a modern, adaptable and successful Scottish legal profession

“Christine has also been instrumental in the creation of our new charity, the Lawscot Foundation, which will provide financial support and mentoring for talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who want to become solicitors. I am excited to take this forward alongside the expansion of our innovative Street Law programme and other work on fair access to the profession and new services for our members in Scotland and beyond.

“I plan to build on the work Christine has done during her term in office, alongside new vice president Graham Matthews, in leading the Society and ensuring that it can meet the needs of our membership and those who rely on solicitors’ professionalism and expertise.”

Graham Matthews, council member and convener of the Society’s professional practice committee, becomes vice president today. He is a partner at law firm Peterkins and has served as the council member representing Aberdeenshire solicitors since 2005. He has sat on and convened a number of committees including the Society’s Professional Practice and Regulatory Committees.

Christine McLintock, past president, paid tribute to the new office bearers, outgoing past president Alistair Morris who is retiring from Council after 24 years, and the Law Society staff at last night’s 2016 AGM, saying: “I could not be more delighted to be passing on the presidential role to my great friend Eilidh. She is a talented solicitor, an experienced leader and a passionate supporter of the solicitor profession. She will be a wonderful president.

“Eilidh will be joined by a new vice president, Graham Matthews. Graham has worked as a high street solicitor for many years and has made a significant contribution to the work of the Law Society over the past decade. I know he will bring a wealth of experience to the role.

“It has been nothing short of a gift to work alongside Eilidh, Alistair Morris, Lorna Jack and all of the society’s senior management team. My heartfelt thanks go to them, to our council members and to all the society’s staff.”

The Law Society held its 67th annual general meeting on Thursday evening. The meeting approved a freeze of the practising certificate fee at £550 for the seventh consecutive year.

In other business, members passed a motion on amendments to the society’s practice rules and a motion on changes to the society’s constitution.