The Law Society of Scotland has appointed a new executive director of Regulation.
Rachel Wood, is an experienced Scottish solicitor and has served as a volunteer on the Society's Education and Training Committee.
She has more than 25 year post qualifying experience and the Society said she has significant experience in risk and compliance, people leadership and change management.
Her work in compliance roles over the last 15 years includes serving as director of Risk & Knowledge at HBJ Gately. Most recently she was client and legal project management lead with Pinsent Masons in Edinburgh.
Society chief executive Lorna Jack said: “In a strong pool of candidates Rachel impressed the panel with her enthusiasm and the depth and breadth of her knowledge of regulation of the legal profession both her in Scotland and in England and Wales.
"Welcoming a new colleague into the organisation in the current circumstances is a challenge, but one which I know staff at the Law Society are more than up to meeting.
“Their continued commitment and resilience while we have been working from home makes me very proud.
“I know that they will offer Rachel the same warm and supportive welcome from a socially safe distance as they would if we were all working in the same office again.
“The impact of the coronavirus outbreak and restrictions is being felt across the legal profession.
“At the moment we do not know what the long-term picture will look like, but the Law Society will continue to take a leading role in emphasising the importance of sustaining a strong legal profession which supports individuals, families and businesses as we recover from this time.
“ I am confident that Rachel will be a valuable addition to the Law Society's senior leadership team as we face the challenges still to come.”
Rachel Wood said: “As a Scottish solicitor and as a previous volunteer I know the value of the Society's position to give a voice to the profession and ensure that we continue to deliver the effective regulation of excellent legal services which the people of Scotland rightly demand, and I am pleased to be a part of that.”
