Mr Mulholland said: “It’s a great privilege to represent the Scottish solicitors’ profession as President of the Law Society. We face a number of important issues in the year ahead, and I intend to take forward key areas of work, including modernising regulation to ensure continuing high professional standards and robust consumer protections, further reform around legal aid, the use of technology within the legal sector to enhance services and career and development opportunities.”

“Alison has already carried out valuable work in those areas during her year in office and I’m determined to build on that, while continuing to provide a strong voice for the legal profession and the clients they serve with such dedication.”

He added that important advances in equality and diversity had been made in recent years within the profession, but significant challenges remained, for instance, encouraging employers’ involvement to improve social mobility.

The new president emphasised the importance of continuing to improve as an organisation, offering better and more tailored support for its members, whether they work in private practice, in-house, on the high street or for a global enterprise in the UK or abroad.

Ms Atack paid tribute to the new office bearers, saying: “John has been a great support to me during a busy year, sharing the huge privilege of meeting colleagues and others at events and conferences across the country.

“I’ve had an enormously enjoyable year as president and I am sure John, ably assisted by Amanda, will take forward our work to promote access to justice and the sustainability of high street practice as well as so many other key issues in the year ahead.”