In-house lawyers seek a rising star

Rising stars of the in-house legal world have the chance of landing a new award, to be presented at the dinner following this year’s annual conference of the In-house Lawyers Group (ILG).

Nominations are invited for the In-House Rising Star Award, which is open to Scottish in-house solicitors, from trainee up to five years’ post-qualified experience, who have a track record of achievements, proactively adding value and demonstrating innovation or legal process improvements. Nominees should also have made a positive contribution beyond their own organisation.

“We are keen to make sure that in-house lawyers get the recognition they deserve,” the ILG said on announcing the award. “We believe there’s a lot of unsung legal talent in the 25% of the Scottish legal profession that works in-house.”

Entries (see panel, below right) will be judged by a panel of leading lawyers covering in-house, private practice, more recently qualified lawyers and independent lay people. Three shortlisted nominees will receive a free place at the dinner, at which the winner will be announced.
As well as a trophy, the winner will receive two career development opportunities: spending time with a senior in-house lawyer and shadowing Bruce Beveridge to find out what life is like as President of the Law Society of Scotland; and two free sessions with a professional career coach.

Conference call

The annual conference itself, at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on 4 October, will hear that the sector is innovative, in demand and in the know.

The conference, which provides topical training for members, includes sessions which look at:

• measuring and demonstrating in-house value in innovative ways;
• navigating the changes within the dispute resolution process;
• big data in a virtual world; and
• the leadership roles of solicitors in business.

The conference will also explore what Scottish independence could mean for in-house lawyers and their organisations, and what might need to be done to prepare for it.
Alistair Morris, Vice President of the Law Society of Scotland, will address the conference, which also incorporates the ILG annual general meeting.

The ILG annual dinner, which follows the conference, will be held at the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. Both the conference and dinner are excellent opportunities for members to network with colleagues, sponsors and exhibitors. 

The nomination form for the In-house Rising Star Award is online at www.lawscot.org.uk/events/ilg-annual-conference-and-dinner-2013/theinhouselawyersrisingstaraward.To nominate a colleague or someone you know who deserves the award, complete the form and send it with the nominee’s CV to elainemacglone@lawscot.org.uk by close of business on 28 August 2013.