Kirk appoints new solicitor

As the Church’s Solicitor, Ms Mcleod will lead a team of nine in-house solicitors and seven support staff, taking the lead in delivering legal advice and support to the Church’s 1,400 congregations and as well as to its councils, committees, statutory corporations and trusts.

After growing up in the Isle of Lewis, Mary graduated in law from the University of Edinburgh and trained in Inverness, before going on to work in private practice in Edinburgh.

She was appointed Depute Solicitor to the Church in 1995.

At first a specialist in private property, since joining the Church she has gained expertise in employment, contracts, data protection and charity law.

A key part of her current role involves giving legal advice and support to the Church’s Social Care Council, Scotland’s largest third-sector social care provider.

Ms Macleod said: “If you believe that you should choose your predecessor carefully, then I have got it very wrong since it will be difficult to live up to the standards set by Janette Wilson, the current Solicitor of the Church.

“The Law Department is a great team and I look forward to working with colleagues old and new to continue to support the valuable – and often unsung – work done by the Church throughout Scotland and beyond”.