Head of Office

PDSO, Head of Office, Edinburgh

Location – Edinburgh (Hybrid)

Salary – £74,460 – £84,270

The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. We are a non-departmental public body responsible to the Scottish Government. Our main purpose is to fund, deliver and advise on services that enable people to exercise their rights and live in a fair society that respects the rule of law.

The Public Defence Solicitors Office (PDSO) was created by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) and our reason for being is to provide access to legal representation for clients eligible for legal aid who require the services of our criminal defence solicitors. The PDSO consists of 8 offices across Scotland providing our services across the country. The Edinburgh office is the largest of these.

PDSO sits within Client Legal Services Directorate, which also includes the Civil Legal Assistance Office and Solicitor Contact Line.

We are looking for someone who is a people-focussed leader and solicitor with a current practising certificate and experience of criminal court practice in Scotland to manage the team of talented and committed public defence solicitors and business support staff in our Edinburgh office.

You will bring a passion for ensuring a fair justice system, where those who require our services can access and secure them where and when they need them or easily connect people to those services. Along with this passion, we are looking for someone with working knowledge the criminal justice system in Scotland, who thrives in leading people, ensuring strong internal and external collaboration and clarity of direction.

The core responsibility of this role is to manage the operations of the Edinburgh office, ensuring that the service we provide is effective, efficient and easy to access for our clients. The performance of the team is key to delivering for our clients, and you will manage and analyse performance, seeking ways to improve and maintain our high standards. The support, guidance and development of our people is at the heart of what we do, and you will work with your team members to develop and maximise their potential.

As a senior member of the SLAB, Client Legal Services Directorate and PDSO teams, your responsibilities go beyond the operational management of your team: you will partner with teams and individuals across the organisation and externally, and play an important role in providing a positive and collaborative working environment. 

If you are an experienced people leader and enrolled solicitor with experience of criminal court practice in Scotland and a deep understanding of the Scottish criminal justice system, , who can truly understand our reason for being and why we do what we do I look forward to receiving your application.

Applications in the form of a tailored CV and a covering letter (no longer than two pages), highlighting your skills and experience pertinent to the role, should arrive no later than midnight Sunday 10 May, 2026. For a confidential, informal discussion about the role, or to request a Candidate Information Pack, please contact LHH directly.