Profile: Fiona Menzies

Why did you choose a career in law?

A career in law appealed because of the vast opportunities to work in varied practice areas and in different fields. My first degree was in languages and management and I think the transferable skills from that set me up well for a career in law, and certainly for the career path I have taken so far. 

Tell us about your career to date?

After completing the accelerated LLB and DPLP, I trained at a high street firm based in the Stirling area and then took an NQ position in Glasgow. In both firms I worked on a variety of residential and commercial conveyancing, private client and family work. An opportunity then came up to work at the Scottish Arbitration Centre where I was the business and development manager for three and a half years. I joined the Society last month. 

What interested you in working at the Society?

The role of member engagement manager really appealed to me, as I was keen to utilise both the skills I had from private practice and those from my wider work in business and development in the legal sector. It was a really attractive prospect to work for the body representing my own profession, to have the chance to engage so closely with our profession and stakeholders and to be part of understanding and serving the needs of our members. 

Have your perceptions about the Society changed since you started?

Even though I've only been here for a few weeks, I am already starting to discover the range and variety of work that is done here, especially in terms of the work the Society does as a representative body. It's also been great to learn about the work we do around wellbeing, and the charity work the Society is involved in. 

What do you think are the main issues for the Society at the moment? 

I think our main objective is to support the profession after an incredibly tough year for everyone, and to listen to the profession to see where we can help. This might be through engagement, our extensive virtual CPD programme, help with returning to the office, technology and wellbeing. 

What would be your top tip for new members of the profession?   

Take as many opportunities as you can to learn, communicate and network. You will find lots of people out there willing to support you and share their experience. Get involved with the Society and the opportunities we offer young lawyers and make sure to prioritise your wellbeing too.  

What keeps you busy outside of work?

I love to travel, eat out with friends and family, go to football matches and the theatre, so I’m very much looking forward to doing these things again soon! In recent months, I have loved cooking and also enjoyed long walks and reading.