Non-solicitors welcomed to Council

Four non-solicitors have joined the Society's Council for the first time as observers

The Journal, February 2006, page 37

Four non-solicitors have joined the Council of the Society as observers. It is the first time non-solicitors have been appointed to Council.

The four are: Dr Bronwen Cohen, Chief Executive, Children in Scotland; Dr John Garner, a practising doctor in Edinburgh and former chairman of the Scottish Council of the British Medical Association; Professor Stewart Hamilton, a professor in Accounting and Finance at the International Institute for Management Development; and Sir William McKay, a former Clerk of the House of Commons and Chief Executive of the House Service.

President Caroline Flanagan said: “I am delighted to welcome the four new non-solicitors onto Council. Non-solicitors already contribute a huge amount to the work of the Society through committees so it is a natural progression to have non-solicitor observers on Council.

“The Society’s Constitution, which is laid down by statute, does not allow non-solicitors to become full members of Council, so whilst the new non-solicitor observers will not be able to vote on issues, their contribution will be very much valued. I hope they find the work of Council interesting and stimulating and look forward to their contributions.”

The Society is working towards changing the statutory limitation on the constitution of its Council so that non-solicitors will be able to be full Council members with voting rights.