Chief Executive

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in joining us at the Law Society of Scotland as our new Chief Executive.

This is an exciting time to take up the role of Chief Executive of The Law Society of Scotland.

The Society is the member led organisation which represents and regulates over 13,000 Scottish Solicitors working in Scotland, across the UK and abroad, and assures the high standards for which the Scottish legal profession is known.

Today’s legal sector is constantly changing. The Scottish legal services market is diverse, from high street practices through to major international law firms. Around a third of Scottish Solicitors now work inhouse, whether in the public or private sector. The range of legal services in demand by civic Scotland and offered by legal professionals has never been wider, with technology transforming the way in which many of those services are provided.

The Scottish legal profession provides tens of thousands of well-paid, highly skilled jobs, and contributes over £1 billion to the Scottish economy each year. The skills of Scottish-trained Solicitors are highly valued around the world.

The Society provides professional and wellbeing support and training for its members, to ensure they maintain the knowledge and skills they need, throughout their careers. We also work with schools and universities around legal education, not only to ensure that the next generation of solicitors has the skillset they need for the developing legal sector, but also to ensure that the profession reflects the society that it serves in terms of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Our policy work in providing scrutiny of new legislation, and so shaping good law that works in practice, forms a core part of our public interest contribution to civic Scotland. It is also a key aspect of our representation of the Scottish legal profession.

In terms of ongoing change, the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill is currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament. The Bill is expected to bring legislation that modernises and streamlines our regulatory processes around the provision of legal services, ensuring better protection for consumers and allowing the Scottish legal services market to thrive.

In October 2022 we published our five-year strategy, which will direct our work up to 2027. The strategy sets out our ambitions across five key areas:

• Supporting our members to thrive
• Modern and effective regulation acting in the public interest
• Innovation and efficiency
• Influential voice that enhances our legal sector and justice
• Leading the profession

Our new Chief Executive will have an important role to play in achieving those ambitions and in shaping the organisation, its efficiency and effectiveness, and its future.

The Chief Executive’s strategic direction and support for the Council, Office Bearers, Board and Senior Executive team will be essential as we take advantage of opportunities and manage challenges within the legal and justice sector. The people we employ are both talented and dedicated to achieving the best outcomes for our members and the wider society they serve.

The job of Chief Executive is undoubtedly a challenging role. However, for the right candidate it will be extremely rewarding to work with us in a time of change and opportunity to further improve what we do and how we do it.

I am delighted that you are interested in finding out more about what the role of our Chief Executive involves. I wish you well on your recruitment journey.

Best Wishes,

Susan Murray

President Law Society of Scotland