The council is a representative body of 21 Writers to the Signet, each serving a term of three years. Council has an important consultative function in providing the society’s trustees with feedback on its activities.

The new members are:

• Stephen Blane WS, Urquharts, a commercial litigator with over 30 years’ experience in the Scottish courts.
• Iain Burke WS, Burke Legal, representing clients in the Borders for three decades, with a focus on employment law.
• Ian Laing WS, Lombardi Associates, a sports lawyer.
• Dr Alasdair MacPherson WS, University of Aberdeen, senior lecturer and co-director of the Centre for Scots Law, University of Aberdeen.
• Karen McGill WS, Karen McGill Limited, an employment lawyer running an independent HR and training consultancy.
• Thomas Murdock WS, Blue Yonder, London-based commercial tech general counsel.
• Rory Thomson WS, CMS Cameron McKenna, senior lawyer specialising in professional negligence.