Friday, February 01, 2013

Professor Kay Hampton joins SSDT, steps down from Law Society of Scotland’s ‘dictatorial’ ruling Council

THE Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal (SSDT) gets a new member as Professor Kay Hampton steps down from the Law Society of Scotland's Council today, 1 February, following her appointment to the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal panel. Professor Hampton was among the first non-solicitors to be appointed as members of the Law Society's Council in 2011. While the Law Society Council had lay member observers for many years, non-solicitor members with full voting rights were appointed following the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010.

Professor Hampton’s achievements & appointments are listed by the Law Society of Scotland as : Professor Kay Hampton - Professor in Community and Race Relations; Commissioner to the Scottish Human Rights Commission; Public Appointments Assessor, Commission on Ethical Standards for Public Appointments, Adjudicating Panel Member, General Teaching Council.; Trustee, SAMH Former Member of Children's Panel in Glasgow. Former Commissioner of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. Former Chair, Deputy Chair and Commissioner, Scotland and UK for the Commission for Racial Equality. Former Chair and UK Board Member for the Community Fund, Lottery Fund.

Recently appointed convener to the Society's audit committee, Liam McCabe, Director of Finance at the University of Stirling, will replace Professor Hampton on Council.

Austin Lafferty, president of the Law Society, said: "Kay deserves many congratulations on her appointment to the SSDT. While we are very sorry to lose such a talented and dedicated member of Council, I am very pleased to welcome Liam as the new convener of the audit committee and to the Society's Council."

Mr Lafferty added: "During the past 18 months Kay has been a wonderful ambassador for the Society and has made an immense contribution to both our regulatory and representative work as a Council member, as a member of our regulatory committee and as convener of the Society's equality and diversity committee. I'm pleased that Kay will continue to make a positive contribution to the development of the legal profession in Scotland through her new role with the SSDT.

"I'm equally pleased to congratulate Liam on his appointment as convener of the Society's audit committee and I look forward to working with him on Council. The calibre of those applying for the role was extremely high and we were struck by the range and depth of applicants' skills. The committee has an important role within the Society's governance structure and oversees the external auditing of the Society's finances and its risk management assessment."

Professor Hampton said: "I feel greatly privileged to have had the opportunity to work with respected colleagues at the Council and regret having to stand down from my activities at the Law Society. My time here has been exceedingly inspiring, empowering and positive.

"During my time at the Society, I experienced a genuine sense of commitment and professionalism on the part of staff and council members alike. I shall remain a positive ambassador for the Council and the Society."

Mr McCabe, who has a BA in accounting with business law, is a chartered public finance accountant and has extensive experience of audit committee work. He has also appeared on a number of occasions as a witness and given evidence to the Scottish Parliament's audit committee. He was appointed as convener of the Law Society's audit committee for a three year period in January 2013.

Liam McCabe said: "I'm delighted to have been appointed convener of the Society's audit committee. It's a very interesting time for the legal profession and the Law Society, as it is for Scotland as a whole, and I'm looking forward to joining Council and to working with the other audit committee members and everyone at the Society."

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