The July 2025 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 78) highlights a major period of modernisation under President David Hamilton. From 1 November 2025, SOLAS planned to launch a new member system providing secure online access to member profiles and account management. To support this investment, the annual membership fee would rise to £60 — the first increase in more than 15 years. David also renewed his call for members to attend more events in person, particularly the National Seminars and AGM Dinner, to rebuild the face-to-face networking opportunities reduced since the pandemic.
Education and CPD continued to attract strong participation. The March Law Society Update Webinar attracted 236 members and non-members, while the September National Seminar was scheduled to return to Perth Theatre following positive feedback about the venue. SOLAS courses would begin again in August and continue to be delivered by webinar, with student feedback praising the course materials, self-marking homework, mock examinations and flexibility of remote learning. Across the branches, online CPD was regularly attracting 250–300 participants, with recordings available to registered members afterwards.
Branch reports show SOLAS increasingly balancing digital accessibility with efforts to rebuild in-person participation. Dundee prepared to host the National AGM and Dinner on 8 November 2025, while Glasgow’s visit to McTear’s Auctioneers attracted around 40 members and demonstrated the appetite for more social and educational events. Edinburgh reported successful joint webinars, strong examination results and changes to its committee, with Paul McRobb and Melissa Blackwood becoming co-secretaries. However, several branches continued to highlight the need for greater member and committee involvement, with the closure of the Inverness Branch cited as a reminder of why active participation remains important to SOLAS’s future.
Join the discussion
Please sign in to join the discussion.