‘New’ faces on Law Society of Scotland’s 'dictatorial' ruling Council

Two ‘new’ faces have been announced for the Law Society of Scotland’s ruling ‘Council’ in the usual politburo style politics of Drumsheugh Gardens.

New faces on Law Society Council

Söla Paterson-Marke, of DLA Piper, has been co-opted to represent new lawyers, and Moira MacMillan, of Glasgow Caledonian University, has been co-opted to represent solicitors working as academics.

Söla, who qualified in 2011, said: "I am delighted to have been co-opted on to the Council as the member for new lawyers. It's great that new lawyers have a representative on the Council and I am honoured to have the opportunity to apply my energy and enthusiasm to this role.

"I will draw on my experience of working in other jurisdictions and being a former member of the executive committee of the Scottish Young Lawyers Association (SYLA) to help me in providing representation that will have a positive impact on new lawyers.  "In the not too distant past I was a diploma student looking for a traineeship and then a trainee trying to secure an NQ position, so I am well aware of the challenges that new lawyers face. With great challenge comes great opportunity and I will represent the views of new lawyers to the Council so that together we can create a profession which offers new lawyers a springboard to a fulfilling career.Initially, my main focus will be to encourage engagement. It's important that I, and the team at the Law Society, engage with groups such as the SYLA and TANQ, but as individuals we need to take an interest in the direction of our profession and that means I want to encourage discussion and the sharing of ideas amongst new lawyers on the major issues."

Heather McKendrick, the Society's new lawyer development officer, added: "We're delighted to welcome Söla to Council. He is brimming with ideas and enthusiasm for engaging with new lawyers, trainees and solicitors up to five years qualified.”

Söla graduated from University of Edinburgh in 2008 with LLB (Hons) and completed the Diploma at Edinburgh in 2009. Between graduating and starting his training contract he worked as a consultant in London, where he is now based with DLA Piper. One of his seats as a trainee was spent in Sydney.

Moira MacMillan is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Glasgow Caledonian University and is Programme Leader for the LLB. She is a member of Council of the Scottish Universities Law Institute and of the Diploma Coordinating Group.  At the Law Awards of Scotland 2009 she was named Law Lecturer of the Year. She trained as a solicitor within local government and also has experience of private practice.