Ms Webster will assume her new role in May 2022, succeeding current vice president Murray Etherington when he takes up the reins from current president of the Law Society, Ken Dalling.

Philip Lafferty and Susan Murray, who were also nominated for president elect in November, will continue to contribute to the Society’s work in their Council, committee and Board member roles.

Sheila, a partner and head of the dispute resolution team at Davidson Chalmers Stewart, sits on the Law Society Board and has been a Law Society Council member for Edinburgh since 2017.

Congratulating Ms Webster on her coming role, Mr Dalling said: “I am delighted to confirm Sheila Webster as 2023-24 president elect.

“Sheila has been the Council representative for her Edinburgh constituents for four years. Through her varied and extensive work at the Society and in private practice, she has an appreciation of the wide variety of issues faced by her legal colleagues and an in-depth understanding of the high professional standards required of Scottish solicitors.

“Undoubtedly there is another challenging year ahead of us as we continue to recover from the impact of the coronavirus. I know that Sheila will rise to the challenges ahead, that she will apply her characteristic enthusiasm and expertise and continue to make a valuable contribution to the Society’s work, the profession and the clients they serve.”

Ms Webster said: “I am delighted to be taking up the post as the Society’s president elect and look forward to working alongside Murray during his presidency next year.

“It is imperative that the legal profession is fully equipped to provide world-class legal services, whether their clients are internal customers, commercial bodies or some of the most vulnerable members of society.

“As the professional body for Scottish solicitors, we will work to provide our members with a comprehensive package of support and robust regulation, enabling them to do exactly that.

“Our members have demonstrated outstanding resilience, expertise and integrity in the face of incredibly demanding circumstances over the last eighteen months and it is truly an honour to work on the key issues affecting the profession and the public we serve.”