Members voted in the majority to adopt the proposed rise of £10 in the 2019/20 practising certificate (PC) subscription to £575, put forward by the Law Society’s Council.

The decision to increase the PC fee by 1.7 per cent was taken by solicitors at the Society’s Special General Meeting (SGM) in Edinburgh today and those who had already cast their vote online in advance of the meeting.

John Mulholland, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “The society is acutely aware that it is difficult to ask our members for any more money. However, this below inflation increase to the cost of practising as a solicitor will ensure we can continue to provide support and services for our members and meet our regulatory requirements.

“It will ensure we have the right resources to be an effective professional body for all Scottish solicitors whilst also restricting the rise in the cost of practice.”