Interview: Alastair Thornton

“It’s all about teamwork,” says the Society’s incoming President, Alastair Thornton.  “A year is a short time to be President and making significant change within that time is a challenge.  I have been fortunate - Michael Scanlan made sure from the very start of his Presidency that we worked as a team on decision making and future policy, so I am well prepared to carry forward current initiatives at the Society.  The same team-based approach involves the Secretary, Douglas Mill, and this year’s Vice-President, Martin McAllister.”

Alastair Thornton is proud that he will be leading a profession which provides a high quality service and has always adapted to clients’ needs in the legal marketplace.  He believes that his ambitions for the coming year, which focus on improving information technology, communication and services for members, will assist solicitors in this aim.  He will be President during the introduction of the new Diploma, part of the new training and education regime which is set to revolutionise the way in which solicitors are trained, ensuring that they are qualified to deal with the varied demands of being a solicitor today.

Thornton welcomes the new regime. “We now have the new Diploma about to start and that is thanks to the tremendous hard work of Peter Lockhart, Convener of the Education and Training Committee, in partnership with Liz Campbell, the Deputy Director of Education and Training, and her team.  It is of crucial importance to the future of the profession that we have the best possible means of educating future solicitors.  This process is crucial for both the profession and the public.”

He has also had input into the ongoing consultation to develop the LLB degree.  “The LLB should serve both those entering the profession and those who choose other careers, and it should suit the requirements of modern practice.  It is also important that the LLB engenders a deep understanding of the principles of law as opposed to superficial coverage of legal topics.”

Education and training should not stop when someone becomes a solicitor.  Whilst Thornton stresses that he has no personal manifesto he sees the continuing education and training of the profession as a priority for the Society.

“Continuing education maintains the high standard of professional advice and the market advantage that solicitors have.  The opportunities offered to the profession have come on in leaps and bounds and we have a hard-working Update Department who are always looking to provide relevant education at the best possible value for the profession.”

For Thornton it is vital that the profession capitalises on its strengths to compete successfully in the marketplace.

“Solicitors have always had to compete with alternative suppliers of legal services and that competition is stronger than ever.  Services are being provided by others that, in many instances, the profession could provide itself, using the advantage of knowledge and experience in the law in these areas.

“Companies dealing with accident claims, for example, do not need to recognise the ethical and professional responsibilities inherent in a solicitor-client relationship.  There are, however, many such companies competing with solicitors, just as there are many accountants offering tax law and advice.  Both those areas were traditionally the preserve of solicitors.  The profession must unite in relation to outside competition and the Society must take the lead in identifying new markets for solicitors.  We cannot and will not direct or dictate to firms, but we can facilitate entry into these markets and help create a climate where solicitors can succeed - and provide their clients with the best possible service.”

This drive is echoed in Thornton’s attitude towards the opportunities presented by IT.

“Embracing the challenges and opportunities presented by the IT revolution is of paramount importance for the legal profession in Scotland,” he says.  “The way in which IT is changing the world is dramatic and as a relatively small profession we face more challenges than others.”

Thornton sees the Society as playing a pivotal role in helping firms meet this challenge.

“The Society can lead the way by looking at ways of establishing IT systems and services which could be made available to members of the profession at very reasonable cost.  The systems could provide for the secure, confidential exchange of information on behalf of clients with solicitors able to deal with other solicitors, the Society and external agencies, such as the Scottish Legal Aid Board or the Registers of Scotland, at the touch of a button.”

To this end, the Society is discussing with SLAB the setting up of a user-friendly method of communication, with forms being provided on screen.  Future projects could involve a system which would help solicitors involved in court work.  The possibility of being able to lodge all court writs and productions in digital form (along the lines of the model operating in the Australian state of Victoria) should not be far from the mind of the Scottish profession.

“If the Society can look at the opportunities presented by IT and the range of ways it can be developed in practice, then it would be providing a useful service which practices could adapt to suit their needs.”

Communication is central to the idea of IT, and Thornton is committed to continue the Society’s drive to build on communication with its members.  Faculty visits are a key element of this policy.

“The Society now visits more Faculties per year than ever before.  I welcome the opportunity to meet the profession, answer questions, address issues and listen to views and ideas.  Feedback suggests that face to face communication is most effective for all concerned.

“Many Faculties have developed an active CPD programme and provide a very useful forum for the grassroots of the profession to come together to discuss things among themselves or with the Society.

“There are many more communications options available - and I want to make sure that the best method is used, whether that is letter or e-mail, article or phone call.  The last thing I want to do is to flood the profession with information - it is more important that people receive the necessary, relevant information.”

Thornton is keen that the Society develops services for solicitors, saying “The Society is always looking to utilise its buying power to achieve the best value in services for our members.  It is important that services are developed by the Society which the profession will find useful and economic.

“The Society and its members use a large number of services, and it is important to use our commercial standing to ensure the best value for money.”

The concept of value for membership is a recurring theme for the new President whether it relates to services, communications, IT or the development of the work of the Society.

“My hopes for the year would not be possible without my confidence in the positive attitude for change which has been developed at the Society.  The staff at the Society has worked hard under the guidance of Douglas Mill to foster a culture of openness and teamwork which resulted in the award of Investors In People accreditation earlier this year.  With the Society the ethic is teamwork and continuity is the watchword.  The Council of the Society has to mirror that culture as an effective ruling body for solicitors in Scotland.”

On the subject of the Council, Thornton has some firm views.  “As a decision and policy making body the Council is large by today’s standards and demands on time can become overwhelming and procedures unwieldy.  I have listened to the views of Council members and agree that we must find ways of streamlining decision-making processes and develop more effective ways of forming policy.”

He explains: “We have a high calibre of members on Council, who are all committed and hard working and take valuable time out of their offices to represent their colleagues and their profession.  It will be a great privilege to be President of the Society - a one-year term is short but I think that a close working relationship between the Council and the secretariat ensures that there can be both change and continuity at the Society.”

The Society is already looking to the future to ensure that it represents a profession which has always changed to survive.  With the commitment of the Council, the membership and the secretariat, Alastair Thornton is confident that the solicitors’ profession in Scotland will develop to meet the challenges of the new era.

I welcome the opportunity to visit Faculties, meet the profession, answer questions, address issues and listen to views and ideas

• AGE: 43
• FAMILY: Married to Susie, a partner in Tods Murray, Edinburgh. Two children, Jamie, 9, and Becky, 7
• EDUCATION:  Born in Fife, brought up in Edinburgh.  Educated at Oxford, where he studied classics before embarking on a law degree at Glasgow.
• CAREER: Apprenticeship in Edinburgh.  Joined A & WM Urquhart in 1982, where he is a civil litigation partner.  Alastair has been on Council since 1990 and has covered a range of issues including judicial procedure and rights of audience, education and training and the Guarantee Fund.