Council profile

What is your own practice area?

At heart I am a civil litigator, but more generally I specialise in administrative and public law.

What motivates you to get up on a Monday morning?

The challenges of what the week will bring, which are guaranteed not to be the challenges I have expected.

What’s your top tip for new lawyers?

Be flexible in your career choices, and take every opportunity and chance you are offered (no matter how strange it may seem at the time) to build your experience.

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

Since November 2012. I was co-opted after being elected chair of the In-house Lawyers Group at the end of October.

In what specific capacities have you served (office bearer, committee or other)?

As well as the ILG committee I am also a member of the Law Reform Committee and the Constitutional Law Subcommittee.

What have been the highlights for you personally?

I have only been to two meetings so far but I am impressed at the passion of members of Council on current difficult issues and their determination to act on behalf of all of the profession.

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

A good question to which I do not have a full answer. We have just set up a newsletter for the ILG community which has gone well so far. Many of the members of the ILG committee are newly elected and we are due to meet to look at how do we make relevant contact with our members. I foresee a bit of travelling around the country, more, but perhaps different, seminars and a lot of networking. Janet, my predecessor, seemed to know everyone in Scotland’s legal community and I have to network at top speed.

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

They want ILG to be seen as an important core element in the Council’s priorities and planning for the future of solicitors in Scotland.

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

Politics have delivered difficult relations with Government at present. Keeping those relationships productive must be a priority for future developments affecting the profession.

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

A bit more certainty in a very uncertain world.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

My three sons, singing and sailing….