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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.

The December 2024 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 77) marks the beginning of David Hamilton’s two-year term as National President, succeeding Natalie Cooke in November. David sets out ambitious plans to modernise SOLAS, including a new online self-service platform where members would be able to access materials, participate in CPD, make payments and submit their CPD records digitally. Alongside greater use of technology, he emphasises the importance of restoring face-to-face networking and encouraging more members to become involved with branches and the wider Society.

SOLAS continued to see strong engagement with its education and CPD programmes. Online webinars were regularly attracting more than 200 attendees, while the latest Cashroom module achieved an exceptional result, with all 58 students who sat the examination passing. The Society also looked ahead to an extensive 2025 CPD programme, including the annual Law Society Update in March and Private Client National Seminar in September. Meanwhile, Aberdeen celebrated its 70th anniversary with the National AGM and Annual Dinner, where David Hamilton formally became President and Nikki Scott Vice-President.

Branch activity remained strong across Scotland, combining national online CPD with renewed emphasis on graduations, social events and networking. Edinburgh celebrated 14 graduates and 10 new SOLAS members, while its joint programme with the other branches delivered seminars covering subjects including AML, data protection, mental wellbeing, trusts and succession. Glasgow also celebrated its Class of 2024 and sought new committee members, while Dundee prepared to host the 2025 AGM and Dinner. The edition concludes by welcoming a substantial new group of Associate Members, demonstrating continued growth in the Society’s education and membership community.

The June 2024 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 76) marks the approaching end of Natalie Cooke’s two-year term as National President, with David Hamilton due to succeed her in November. Natalie reflects on good examination results, continued remote teaching with in-person exams, and the success of branch collaboration in delivering online seminars nationally. Recorded seminars were also now available to registered members, making it easier to meet the requirement for at least two hours of structured CPD through SOLAS-organised events.

Education and events continued to perform strongly. The annual Law Society Update Webinar attracted 226 members and non-members, while student feedback praised the practical value, supportive lecturers and administration of the SOLAS courses. The 2024/25 Evening Course would again be delivered online, with examinations held in person. Preparations were also underway for September’s National Seminar in Perth and the November AGM and Annual Dinner in Aberdeen, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Aberdeen Branch. The Society was also beginning to consider a significant overhaul of the SOLAS website.

Branch reports demonstrate the continuing strength of online CPD, with Aberdeen reporting more than 300 registrations for its latest CPD meeting, although AGM participation remained a challenge in some areas. Dundee reported excellent examination results and plans for more social events, Edinburgh welcomed Melissa Blackwood as Branch Secretary while Paul McRobb continued responsibility for event organisation, and Glasgow reported strong attendance at its online CPD programme. The newsletter also reinforced the annual requirement for five hours of structured and five hours of unstructured CPD — or ten structured hours — including at least two hours of SOLAS CPD.

The June 2023 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 74) reflects a busy first half of the year, with President Natalie Cooke reporting good examination pass rates and the continued success of remote teaching, with exams returning to in-person delivery. Branches were working together to provide online seminars to members across Scotland, while General Council surveyed the membership to understand what SOLAS was doing well and where improvements might be needed. Attention was also turning to the in-person National Seminar in Perth on 20 September and the Glasgow AGM and Annual Dinner in November.

Administrator Lorraine MacLeod reported particularly strong engagement with the March Law Society Update Seminar, attended by 219 members and 22 non-members, while 84 of the 462 members surveyed responded to the Society’s questionnaire, with positive comments reported. SOLAS also announced that seminar and subscription payments would move entirely to BACS. Education remained central, with the 2023/24 Evening Course continuing by webinar while examinations would be held in person at central locations.

Branch reports show both the benefits and challenges of SOLAS’s evolving model. Online CPD was attracting members across geographical boundaries, but Aberdeen and Dundee continued to appeal for new committee members, with Dundee warning that greater involvement from younger members was essential to the branch’s future. Edinburgh returned to face-to-face activity alongside online seminars and Paul McRobb took over responsibility for running its seminars, while Glasgow welcomed several new committee members and reported excellent online CPD attendance. The newsletter also reiterated the annual requirement for five hours of structured and five hours of unstructured CPD, including two structured hours at a SOLAS seminar or event.

The December 2023 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 75) reflects another busy year under President Natalie Cooke, with strong uptake of the SOLAS courses, remote classes continuing alongside in-person examinations, and graduation ceremonies celebrating successful students across the branches. Joint online seminars were continuing to grow, with nearly 200 members registered for Edinburgh’s November seminar. SOLAS also introduced a new seminar registration process, allowing registered members who could not attend live to access recordings afterwards for CPD purposes.

Member feedback was also shaping the Society’s direction. Of 462 members surveyed, 84 responded, with 81 considering their membership good value for money and support for retaining the combination of one online and one in-person National Seminar each year. The March and September National Seminars were both well attended, while Glasgow hosted a successful Annual Dinner and AGM with around 90 guests. Attention was already turning to Aberdeen’s turn to host in 2024, which would coincide with the branch’s 70th anniversary.

Branch reports show SOLAS continuing to modernise how members access CPD and engage with the Society. Aberdeen reported increased participation through national Teams-based CPD, Dundee welcomed new members, and Edinburgh introduced an automated seminar registration and attendance process developed by Paul McRobb, making CPD administration easier and providing recordings to registered participants. Graduation ceremonies in Edinburgh and Glasgow celebrated the next generation of members, while 22 new Associate Members were admitted in November. Across the Society, however, the continuing call for volunteers to join branch committees highlighted the importance of maintaining active member involvement.

The December 2022 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 73) marks the beginning of Natalie Cooke’s term as National President, succeeding Lynne Alexander at the AGM on 5 November. Natalie encourages members to become more involved at branch and General Council level and to support SOLAS CPD. A new approach brought the branches together to deliver eight shared online seminars, while members were required, on a trial basis, to complete at least two hours of their structured CPD through a SOLAS-organised event.

There were also significant administrative and social developments. Lorraine MacLeod became SOLAS Administrator on 1 November, bringing 40 years of experience as a cashier and office manager, while Dorothy Nicholson provided support during the handover. The Annual Dinner and AGM returned to Edinburgh on 4–5 November, with photographs throughout the newsletter capturing members reconnecting socially. Looking ahead, the March 2023 National Seminar was planned online, while September’s seminar would return to a face-to-face format.

Branch reports show SOLAS increasingly embracing a national rather than purely regional approach to professional development. Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow continued using Microsoft Teams, allowing members to attend seminars organised by any branch. Graduation and student events celebrated successful candidates across the country, and 23 new Associate Members were admitted at the November General Council meeting. At the same time, branches continued appealing for greater member and committee involvement, reflecting an ongoing concern about maintaining active participation alongside the success of online CPD.

The July 2022 edition of the SOLAS Newsletter (Issue 72) marks a period of significant transition for the Society. Lynne Alexander confirms this will be her final report as President, with Natalie Cooke due to take over at the Edinburgh AGM in November. After two difficult pandemic years, Lynne reflects positively on strong examination results and the wider geographical reach achieved through remote teaching. The newsletter also marks the end of Dorothy Nicholson’s more than 12 years as SOLAS Administrator, with David Alexander taking over the role at the end of July.

Education and events remained central to SOLAS activity. The 2022/23 Evening Course would continue to be delivered by webinar, while examinations would return to classroom conditions where possible. Plans were also well underway for the return of major face-to-face events, including the September Private Client National Seminar in Perth and the Annual Dinner and AGM in Edinburgh on 4–5 November. At branch level, online CPD continued to prove popular, and General Council agreed that future branch CPD would be opened across the Society rather than restricted by geographical branch, with Microsoft Teams planned to support this wider participation.

Branch reports reveal a mixed picture for member engagement. Aberdeen and Dundee reported disappointing AGM attendance and appealed for new committee members, while Edinburgh’s online seminars remained well attended and Glasgow attracted 57 members to its AGM and more than 80 to CPD sessions. Edinburgh also welcomed new committee members and prepared to host the National AGM later in the year. The newsletter concludes with a reminder that members were required to complete 10 hours of annual CPD, five structured and five unstructured, and submit their CPD record and subscriptions by 30 November 2022.