(1)An individual is qualified for appointment to a judicial office mentioned in subsection (2) if the individual—
(a)immediately before the appointment, held any other judicial office specified in that subsection, or
(b)at the time of appointment—
(i)is legally qualified, and
(ii)has been so qualified throughout the period of 10 years immediately preceding the appointment.
(2)The judicial offices are—
(a)sheriff principal,
(b)sheriff,
(c)summary sheriff,
(d)part-time sheriff,
(e)part-time summary sheriff.
(3)For the purposes of subsection (1), an individual is legally qualified if the individual is a solicitor or an advocate.