Iain Robertson CBE to retire as SLAB chairman

Iain Robertson CBE is retiring at the end of March after a decade as the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s (SLAB) chairman.

During his tenure the reach of the legal aid system in Scotland has widened while also facing the challenges of ever tighter public finances.

Under Mr Robertson’s guidance SLAB has worked with the Scottish government, justice partners and the legal profession to ensure this challenge has been faced without a reduction in the scope of legal assistance or cuts in eligibility.

SLAB’s role has also grown substantially over this period to include major grant funding programmes to enhance access to justice, the introduction of employed civil solicitors, the expansion of the PDSO, statutory monitoring duties to monitor access to legal services (not just those which are covered by legal aid) and much more.

Legal affairs minister Paul Wheelhouse, said: “I would like to thank Iain Robertson for the excellent public service that he has given to legal aid in Scotland over the past ten years.

“Iain’s broad experience across the public, private and voluntary sectors has been invaluable in overseeing the effective operation of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, a key body in our justice system.

“The legal aid system has been through significant reform over the last ten years and Iain has been instrumental in that process, holding a leadership role with a passion for ensuring that changes to legal aid are progressive and that they protect access to justice.

“I and my colleagues in the Scottish government very much value the significant role that Iain has played in promoting access to justice in Scotland and wish him all the best for the future.”

Colin Lancaster, chief executive of SLAB, said: “Iain brought his extensive experience as a lawyer, as a chief executive and from many other senior and voluntary roles to his chairmanship, which has been a great benefit to SLAB and the legal aid system in Scotland over the past decade.

“He has been a source of wise counsel and support, both to me in my early days as chief executive and to the rest of the executive team over the years.

“Iain has provided excellent guidance that has helped steer us through a period of much change and reform.

“On behalf of everyone at SLAB, I wish him all the best for his retirement.”

An announcement on Iain’s successor will be made shortly following the completion of the Scottish government’s appointments process.