Peter Mathews
Admissions Committee
During 2004 the Committee met 12 times. Peter Matthews took over from Mary Macrae as Convener at the end of May. Once again the Committee had a varied workload arising, in the main, from applications under the Admissions Regulations.
A Working Party, which had been convened to consider the system for non-Scottish trained lawyers to requalify as Scottish solicitors, reported to the Admissions Committee and its recommendations regarding the content and structure of a transfer test were approved by Council in March 2004. Amendments to the Admissions Regulations are required before the changes can be implemented. The test will be called the Scottish Transfer Test for Qualified Lawyers (“STTQL”). It will be accessible to any qualified lawyer. Exemptions will be put in place for those who are currently eligible to requalify by means of the Intra UK Transfer Test or the EU Aptitude Test. Solicitors who have gained their qualification outwith the UK and/or EU, in addition to passing the STTQL, will be required to undertake a period of practice, under a training contract, of not less than one year.
In light of various delegated powers having been granted by Council to the Committee in November 2003, a seminar was held early in 2004 to provide guidance to Committee members on Discrimination Law issues.
The Committee continued to encourage contact with schools and a number of events were attended and organised to give pupils the opportunity of finding out how to qualify as lawyers and also about the wide variety of career options available to lawyers. It is hoped that the programme of events will be extended during 2005. The “Scottish Schools Law Project” is continuing to be very well received by the profession and schools. It aims to introduce 11- to -15-year-olds to the legal system and help them understand that laws bring responsibilities as well as rights. There has been very positive feedback from firms which have participated. To date approximately 250 law firms and 320 schools have taken part.
Admission Ceremonies
Three Admission ceremonies were held – two in the Upper Library of the Signet Library and one in the Playfair Library at Edinburgh University. The guest speakers were, on 19th March, Minister for Justice, Cathy Jamieson; on 18th June, Sheriff Lindsay Wood; and on 19th November, Sir Neil McIntosh. During the year a total of 435 new solicitors were admitted - 139 men and 296 women.
Board of Examiners
The Board met twice to confirm the results of the 45 Society professional examinations which were taken during 2004. There were 28 new candidates for the Intra UK Transfer Test and no new candidates for the Aptitude Test for EC Qualified Lawyers.
Traineeships
During 2004 a total of 451 trainees commenced traineeships. The number of Diploma holders registered with the Legal Education Department and still seeking a traineeship on 31st December 2004 was 18 – one more than at the same time last year.
Pre-Diploma Training
Thirteen people commenced pre-Diploma training during the course of the year.
| Committee membership | |
| Peter Matthews | (Convener) |
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| David Bone | |
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| Colin Gemmill | |
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| Julie Harris | |
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| Richard Henderson | |
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| Jane MacEachran | |
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| Pauline McGoldrick | |
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| Ruth Martin | |
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| Alistair Watson | |
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| Jan McAlister | (Secretary) |
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| Members of the Board of Examiners | |
| Professor Joseph Thomson | (Convener) |
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| Alan Barr | |
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| Christine Boch | |
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| Charles Davidson | |
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| Professor Christopher Gane | |
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| Donna MacKenzie-Skene | |
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| Professor James Murdoch | |
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| Professor Alan Paterson | |
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| Fiona Raitt | |
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| Professor Andrew Steven | |
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| Raymond Williamson | |
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| Denis Yule | |
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| Jan McAlister | (Secretary) |
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