Council profile

What is your own practice area?

I practised in litigation, mainly family law, for more than 20 years, but more recently I have concentrated on practice management in my firm, and business development.

How long have you been a member of Council and how did you become involved?

I joined Council in 2007. I followed in the illustrious footsteps of former President Caroline Flanagan. When she stepped down she encouraged me to stand. There were no other nominations, so, like many Council members, I did not have to go through an election.

In what specific capacities have you served?

I am convener of the Quality Assurance Committee, and prior to taking that was a peer reviewer. I have always enjoyed having an insight into how other solicitors handle their work, and have been impressed at the high standard of work which solicitors doing legal aid work offer to their clients and the Scottish Legal Aid Board. I am a member of the Alternative Business Structures Working Party, and that has been a real learning experience for me. I was a member of the Section 31 Committee, which is now defunct, and I recently joined the Civil Legal Aid Negotiating Team, which of course is now very active because of the proposed cuts in legal aid.

What have been the highlights for you personally?

I believe that Council and the Society are now communicating much better with members. The e-Bulletin is a good way of keeping members informed, and there are a number of email circulars going out with useful updates and information for groups of solicitors. Technology has made communication easier and cheaper, and hopefully this will be further developed in future. The Society is also getting better at listening to its members.

How do you keep in touch with members in your constituency?

I have a seat on the Dean’s Council of Dunfermline Faculty, which is a very active Faculty. I report on what’s happening at the Society. I send round emails to my constituents about issues of importance and interest.

What do you see as the main issues that your local members want Council to address at present?

My constituency is very much a “High Street” constituency, with many small and medium sized firms, so the impact of the continuing recession is a big issue – not that Council can do much about that! Now that big cuts to legal aid have been announced, local firms are looking to the Society to work as hard as possible to shield solicitors from these cuts, while maintaining access to justice for their clients.

What do you see as the other main issues that Council has to address at present?

Alternative business structures will be an important issue over the coming year, as we prepare a regulatory scheme for ABSs which will maintain the level playing field with traditional practices. This may not be what traditional firms outside the big cities have at the forefront of their minds, but it will become more prominent before too long.

What effect have the changes to Council and to the Society’s governance had in your view?

I think it is too soon yet to say what effect the changes introduced by the 2010 Act will have.

If you could change only one thing for your members, what would it be?

An end to the recession?