Profile: Ester Aracil

Tell us about your career so far?

My career has taken a variety of paths. I studied a bachelor’s degree (Hons) in human resources because, among other things, I like working with people, it offers the possibility to work on a variety of tasks and projects, and HR plays a key role in connecting the value of human capital to the goals of the company. I then travelled to Edinburgh to develop myself and my career, starting in hospitality while at university where I studied a master’s in human resources and a CIPD foundation course in HR practice. 

Having graduated, I started my career in human resources as an HR executive. With four years of experience, I joined the Society’s HR team in January 2021; one and a half years later, I moved on to my current role in the Governance team, whose aim is to ensure good governance structures and processes to provide the Society with the desired governance outcomes.

What inspired you to get involved with recruitment?

My interest in recruitment started during my studies when I enjoyed my internship at a temp agency. I like to meet new people from all different sorts of backgrounds and find out about their motivations and experiences. I feel fulfilled by helping others develop in their careers.

Can you tell us what being on a Society committee is like and the commitment it involves? 

Joining one of our committees is a terrific opportunity for solicitors and non-solicitors to get involved with the work of the Law Society of Scotland – our law reform work, policy development, and regulatory decision-making.

Committee members play a vital role in the running of the Society and carry out valuable work, not only on behalf of the profession but also for the public. Being on a committee is about being part of the decision-making process, being part of the change and improvements, and being able to influence law and policy. It is also an excellent opportunity to develop and strengthen your skills, to gain knowledge you may not learn within your day-to-day role, and network with other members of the profession from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds.

We currently have 57 committees at the Society and each involves a different time commitment. Committee members are required to attend meetings, dedicate time reading papers and information in preparation for meetings, and respond to emails. The frequency of meetings and emails will be different for each committee and will depend on the nature of its work.

All our committees are supported by their committee secretaries, and together they make an extraordinary impact on our work.

What is the role of the Nominations Committee?

The main role of the Nominations Committee is to make recommendations to Council or the Regulatory Committee for the appointment of selected candidates following a committee recruitment round.

The Nominations Committee meets to consider applications that have been received during the recruitment round and also oversees the system for the selection of committee members for those committees that report to Council. When those recommendations are for members and conveners of committees which report into Council, a recruitment report with selected candidates will be sent to Council for consideration and, if appropriate, approval. This includes selected candidates to be members of the Regulatory Committee. The report recommending for appointment convener candidates of the regulatory subcommittees will go to the Regulatory Committee for consideration and, if appropriate, approval.

The Nominations Committee performs an important role in ensuring that we recruit the most suitable candidates for our committees, which do invaluable work on behalf of the public and the profession.

What sort of person do you look for?

We are looking for individuals whose lives or professional experience can make a valuable contribution to our work – individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, who have a passion and commitment to promote all the Society's work to our members and the public. 

You may never have considered a committee position before, or know much about us, but your experience may be invaluable to the work of the Society, so I would encourage anyone who fits our code of conduct and principles to get involved and apply.

What keeps you busy outside of work? 

Well, a tough question with a different answer every month since I always try to keep myself busy with different projects! The ones that don’t usually change… catching up with friends and family, hiking and exploring Scotland, reading, playing some racket sports and board games. I am also a foodie, so I am always open to recommendations!

The Law Society of Scotland is currently recruiting for committee members and conveners for a variety of its committees, with applications closing on 28 February