Amina Amin

Ms Amin is joined on the SYLA executive committee by vice president Heather Gibson, secretaries Kate Docherty and Kirsten Gallacher, treasurers Jay Elder and Xinhui Lai, and social media manager Sinem Kilic.

The other committee members are Emma Brown, Georgia Evans, Jura Gillespie, ⁠Michael Gray, ⁠Cara Hope, ⁠Scott Kennedy, ⁠Emma Smith, ⁠Aimee Thomas, ⁠Sonyta Ty and ⁠Maisie White.

Commenting on her election, Ms Amin told Scottish Legal News: “It is an honour to be elected president of the Scottish Young Lawyers’ Association – and to be the first lawyer from an ethnic minority background to hold this position in SYLA’s history.

“I know this marks an important step forward for our profession and the continued progress towards greater representation and inclusion within the legal community.”

She continued: “I joined the SYLA as a trainee solicitor at a time when there were few visible mentors or role models from ethnic minority backgrounds within the profession.

“Like many others from under-represented groups, I was navigating a career path without established connections or clear examples of what success could look like.

“Over the years, we have seen real progress in improving access to the profession – but the next challenge lies in progression and retention.

“We must ensure that support extends beyond entry level to include mid- and senior-level lawyers, creating pathways for long-term career development and leadership.

“I also believe it’s time to reimagine what a legal career looks like. Partnership is no longer the only path to success, and our focus should be on future-proofing the profession – equipping junior lawyers with the skills and confidence to thrive in an evolving legal landscape.

“In the year ahead, we will continue to build on SYLA’s legacy by strengthening our mentoring and wellbeing initiatives, hosting networking and D&I events, and expanding our podcast and online platforms to connect members across Scotland.

“I want SYLA to remain a source of community, opportunity, and inspiration for lawyers of up to 10 years’ PQE.”

She added: “Our sincere thanks go to our outgoing president, Patricia Taylor, for her phenomenal leadership and tireless contribution over the past year.

“Patricia has been instrumental in advancing SYLA’s mission and leaves a strong foundation for us to continue building upon.”