Profile: Anne Hastie

Tell us about your career so far?

I had a back to front career! I emigrated from Glasgow to the east coast to become a farmer's wife – wee change for a townie. I did the “proper wife and mother” bit, and also got involved with whatever my two children were doing, which led from volunteering to part time roles, including coaching badminton at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh – one of my star pupils was Gail Porter (before she became famous). I left the world of sports as I had found my niche – initially volunteering at Citizens Advice, then securing the job of manager at Haddington CAB, where I spent 25 years. My daughter and I used to watch the TV cartoon Calimero (“It's an injustice, it is…”), and so CAB was the perfect place to sort out injustice.

What led you to become involved with the Society? 

I first applied for a committee role in 2004. CAB in Scotland had implemented a quality assurance scheme for the service (did you know that each CAB is an independent charity?), so when I saw the Society advert for their new Quality Assurance Committee, I thought I could bring some experience and knowledge to the table. Sadly, I didn't make the cut, but the director of Regulation who had been on the interview panel asked if I would consider complaints investigation –- in those days, investigation reports were written by volunteers, both solicitor and non-solicitor (and you were paid ￡100 per report). I used to represent clients at social security tribunals and child support hearings, so thought this would be interesting – probably more so than quality assurance. 

I had completed one report and attended one Complaints Committee meeting when the director again approached me and suggested I might be interested in joining the Client Care Committee.

This led to me being selected as the non-solicitor member of the “Bill Team” [on the bill that became the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007] – a huge honour! Our meetings culminated with us presenting our case at Holyrood's Justice Committee. I still have difficulty in understanding why no one could see that the Society's regulatory system was independent due to the non-solicitor volunteers (aka consumers/the public) from all walks of life being at the heart of the system. Also, we were much cheaper (sorry, more cost effective) than setting up new services.

What have you found most interesting about the committee's work?

The Society took me on the road to speak to faculties across the country about the changes. We also did conference workshops and articles, so it was a very interesting time.

My latest workshop was last year, when Michael Clancy asked me to take part in his workshop at the International Legal Regulators Conference – “dead chuffed”, as they used to say in Glasgow! 

It was while on the Complaints Committees that we identified the need for an Appeals Committee – the Society has so many committees but it wasn't clear where people should go if they were unhappy with a decision. So I was delighted when the Appeals Committee was established. It has been interesting hearing appeals from across the board, particularly from prospective entrants who had difficulties in meeting the requirements (my grandson and his girlfriend both graduated in law, so I was on the case telling them what to do post-Diploma). The Appeals Committee was very busy to start with, but keeps being cancelled as there are no appeals – I'm a “glass half full person”, so have put this down to the committees getting it right first time.

In addition to the current Complaints & Oversight Subcommittee, I'm also on the Administrative Justice Committee considering legislation around tribunals, including employment and social security which fits well with my CAB knowledge and experience. Recently I've been representing the committee and Society at both Holyrood and ministerial round tables, the latter in relation to statutory debt solutions.

Has anything surprised you about the committee work or the Society more widely?

There has been so much variety in my involvement with the Society that I've not mentioned everything, as we'd be here all week. The one thing that has always impressed me is how much Society staff, committee conveners and solicitor members appreciate the non-solicitors' contribution and input. The most valuable thing that anyone can give is their time, so it's nice to be appreciated (even though we don't get paid any more and the lovely lunches at Drumsheugh are long gone!).

I was even more surprised to be invited to be part of the “#First100Years”. Me – a non-solicitor!

What are the main issues that you think the Regulatory Committee has to address at the moment?

The public interest is at the heart of the regulatory landscape and, in my opinion, not enough is made of the fact that non-solicitor volunteers are involved in the regulatory decision making. We are the public! Maybe this is a start today?

Would you recommend being on a committee to someone else – and why? 

I am always recommending being on a committee to others, as they will get so much more back through their involvement and contribute to the future of both the profession and the legal landscape in Scotland.

What keeps you busy outside of your committee work?

I retired in 2015, so have a wee bit more time on my hands now (I don't play golf), and am on the board of two charities (Haddington CAB and Disability Information Scotland), a director of East Lothian Advice Consortium, vice chair of Tyne Esk LEADER, was an East Lothian poverty commissioner and, in relation to the last two, am now chair of East Lothian Council COVID-19 Response and Recovery Rural Group (I do have difficulty saying “no”). I am also a consumer representative for British Standards Institution and am the UK consumer “voice” in the development of a new ISO (International Standard) for Ageing Societies (no laughter please!) – Dementia Inclusive Communities.

I do a bit of housework when I have to and am a dab hand at shortbread (according to my grandchildren). In addition, I am a fair weather gardener and genealogist, and in lockdown have been brushing up my Italian in case we ever get back to Venice, and rediscovering my school Russian.