Mark Thorley

On completion of an LLB Honours degree and a Dip LP, Mark Thorley spent six years with Edinburgh firm Balfour & Manson, first as a trainee then a qualified assistant, specialising in reparation, family and criminal law.

In 1992, he co-founded Blacklock Thorley Solicitors in Edinburgh, specialising in debt recovery, family, criminal and reparation law. He progressed, in 2005 along with Jim Stephenson, to found Thorley Stephenson. Thorley Stephenson were a dedicated legal aid firm for 18 years representing those that could not afford a lawyer. Their representation of those that could otherwise not afford it led them to the Supreme Court on two separate occasions. One of which is now the paramount decision on pensions in divorce cases.

Mark has been a part time Sheriff since 2008 and is a legal tribunal chair on the Mental Health Tribunal, Housing and Property Tribunal, Health and Education Chamber, Social Security Tribunal and The Local Taxation Tribunal.

In his spare time he manages to play some hockey and is a keen hillwalker and part time mountaineer . His love of the mountains has led him to climb in all corners of the globe.