Part 4The legal profession

Chapter 3Solicitors and other representatives

The Law Society

132Council membership

(1)

In section 3 (establishment and functions of Council of Law Society) of the 1980 Act, in subsection (1), after “elected” insert “ , co-opted or appointed ”.

(2)

In Schedule 1 to the 1980 Act—

(a)

in paragraph 2 (the Council's scheme)—

(i)

in head (a), the word “, election,” is repealed,

(ii)

after head (a) insert—

“(aa)

election, co-option and appointment to the Council;”,

(b)

in paragraph 3 (detail of the scheme), after head (b) insert—

“(bza)

shall make provision for—

(i)

the election or co-option of solicitor members to the Council,

(ii)

the appointment of non-solicitor members to the Council;”,

(c)

after paragraph 3 insert—

“3A

(1)

This paragraph applies for the purpose of paragraph 3(bza).

(2)

Persons are electable, or eligible to be co-opted, as solicitor members if they are members of the Society.

(3)

Persons are appointable as non-solicitor members if they appear to the Council—

(a)

to be qualified to represent the interests of the public in relation to the provision of legal services in Scotland, or

(b)

having regard to the Society's functions, to be suitable in other respects.”.