Meet the committee

Work history

I trained in Dundas & Wilson in Edinburgh and Glasgow and also worked there as an NQ before making the move in-house to RBS, initially working for RBS in Glasgow. I worked in the Group legal department’s Product and Lending team before moving to External Risk earlier this year.

What’s the best thing about your job?

A great variety of very interesting and dynamic work and plenty of responsibility. I am part of a team which lobbies externally both in the UK and in Europe on changes to legislation and regulation which could impact on RBS. It’s very satisfying when we’re able to make a difference. I much prefer working in-house to private practice – it is far less formal, much more hands-on and there is no time recording. The benefits and opportunities can be great too.

Being an in-house lawyer gives you a great picture of what a client really wants from their external lawyer. This is why I think secondments in-house should be encouraged, as they provide a great insight and experience for both the secondee and the employer.

What external bodies/organisations are you involved with?

I am currently on the committee of the In-House Lawyers Group of the Law Society of Scotland. I was previously on the committee of the Scottish Young Lawyers Association (SYLA).

What do you do at weekends?

DIY, as my husband and I bought a house last year which is a real doer-upper; learning Italian (we have a holiday house in Abruzzo in Italy); and looking after our brand new kitten who is absolutely adorable!

What are the benefits of being on the Society’s Council or committees?

Being on the ILG committee is great on a personal level for building up business skills. It can be hard work but it’s fun too. It’s also very satisfying when we run successful events or do something which really makes a difference or get positive feedback. The only frustrating thing can be where there is a lack of engagement from in-house lawyers.

When I was part of the SYLA I had the chance to do website design and marketing, help run charity balls and conferences, attend conferences run by other young lawyers’ groups in London and Dublin, negotiate sponsorship deals, work together with the Society for the mutual benefit of law students and trainee solicitors, and loads more besides. 

Because of my role on SYLA I was invited to join the In-house Lawyers Group committee for a three year period and am now particularly focused on trying to make things better for new in-house lawyers. It’s very exciting to be on board the ILG committee, especially amongst such esteemed company!

Who’s your hero and why?

Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. The New York City lifestyle! The lunches! The clothes! The shoes! The laughs! OK, I know it’s not actually real!

If you weren’t a lawyer what would you have been?

Some sort of artist or designer.