Following a nomination period, the new faces joining Council are:

• Baktosch Gillan – Arbroath, Dundee & Forfar constituency
• Rebecca Fraser – Campbeltown, Dumbarton, Dunoon, Fort William, Oban & Rothesay constituency
• Caroline Harrison – Greenock, Kilmarnock & Paisley constituency
• Eilidh Dobson – England, Wales & Northern Ireland constituency

The returning members are Serena Sutherland and Sheekha Saha (Dingwall, Dornoch, Elgin, Inverness, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Lochmaddy, Portree, Stornoway, Tain & Wick), Struan Ferguson (Duns, Haddington, Jedburgh, Peebles & Selkirk), and former Law Society presidents Ken Dalling and John Mulholland (Alloa, Falkirk, Linlithgow & Stirling).

Iain Burke is rejoining Council after a six-year absence, representing Duns, Haddington, Jedburgh, Peebles & Selkirk.

Law Society of Scotland Chief Executive Diane McGiffen said: “The Law Society’s governing Council sits at the heart of everything we do, supporting our staff and committees while making key decisions on our current operations and future strategic direction.

“Our new and returning Council members offer an ideal mixture of continuity and renewal. Their contributions will be vital as we continue to support members and the public, access to justice and ongoing legislation reforming criminal justice and the regulation of legal services.

“New faces inevitably means some talented individuals are also standing aside from Council. All have made a significant contribution. Our immediate Past President Murray Etherington deserves particular thanks, along with Campbell Read, Philip Lafferty and James Bryden.”

The newly appointed Council members have been invited to attend their first Council meeting on Friday, 17 May.