Profile

What is your own practice area?

Licensing law, from alcohol to zoos.

What motivates you to get up on a Monday morning?

Lust for life and work!

What’s your top tip for new lawyers?

Understand what your clients want – not what you think they want; be open, enthusiastic and available; go the extra mile; get involved with your professional body.

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

Eighteen years, initially through co-option as chair of the In-house Lawyers Group and latterly as one of two Council members for Dundee.

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

Current Law Society of Scotland Board, Equality & Diversity convener, Licensing Law Reform Subcommittee. Previously convener of ILG for 16 years, chair of the constitution committee one year, member of Professional Practice, Marketing, and 40th anniversary event committees.

What have been the highlights for you personally?

Working with the ILG committee over the years to ensure In-house Lawyers Group inclusion in the work of the Society, and ensuring the Group is known to and relevant to the rest of the profession.

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

Through Society newsletters, meetings with members, being available, attendance at Society events.

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

Strategies to secure the future of the profession.

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

Issues around ABS and alternative working practices to enable the above; dealing with innovation and change by and for the profession.

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

I would encourage my members to look ahead, to look to their businesses and to strategise for the future – to coin Mr MacAskill’s phrase, “No change is not an option”. As a profession, especially on the high street, if we fail to change we will be overwhelmed by others who seek our business.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

Bread making – I will make the perfect sour dough loaf! – fair weather walking and gardening; trashy American cop novels.