IMMIGRATION & ASYLUM SYMPOSIUM

A new addition to the Society’s legal education programme, the inaugural WS Immigration and Asylum Symposium launches at the Signet Library on 18 May 2023. Coinciding with the UNHCR’s recent announcement that 1 in every 30 people in the world is a migrant, and the evolution in Scottish immigration policy over recent months, the symposium will cover developments in law and policy for practioners in this area. The keynote address will be given by the Honourable Lord Richardson. Lord Richardson will be joined by conference chair Grace McGill WS (Burness Paull) and five further expert speakers. The symposium’s programme will move across topics from effective humanitarian protection to the business and educational benefits of successful immigration systems. The programme will also include the unique lived experience input of Ukrainian lawyers in Scotland.

The event will conclude with a cultural element in the early evening, with the screening of the award-winning documentary ‘Through Our Eyes’, followed by live Q&A with the documentary’s director, Samir Mehanović. Samir is a Bosnian and British BAFTA and IDFA winning director, who came to Edinburgh as an immigrant from the war in the Balkans in 1995. His moving documentary shares experiences of current refugees. Samir will be in conversation with Joyce McMillan, social and political columnist with The Scotsman. With thanks to sponsors, Burness Paull LLP.

Register your interest for the symposium here.

Book tickets for the film screening here.

 
 

WS SUMMER SCHOLARS

Applications for the Society's Summer Law Scholarship programme 2023 are now open.

Designed for law students to enhance their professional and personal development, this is a unique opportunity for participants to spend two weeks as a WS Summer Scholar with the resources of the Signet Library at their fingertips.

Now a well-established programme empowering participants to raise their profile and sharpen their research and presentation skills in preparation for the world of legal work.

Participants will join a team-based research project on a contemporary legal issue, working towards a digital presentation to external delegates and written report for publication.

The programme is open to 3rd and 4th year students from the four year LLB undergraduate degree, 2nd year students from the accelerated LLB Degree and Diploma students.

For further information and how to apply please see here.

 
 

WORLD FIRST RESURFACES

In the daily life of the Signet Library, rare discoveries are still being made. In October 2022, a rare and unrecorded work by the pioneering mid-nineteenth-century Edinburgh photography studio of Hill and Adamson was found among the shelves of the upper library. A Series of Calotype Views of St Andrews of 1846 was the world’s first photographic work devoted to the architecture of a single place. After careful conservation work, the album will be the centrepiece of an event to be held at the Signet Library in March 2023 as part of the post—Covid returning Edinburgh Rare Books Festival.

Only seven complete copies of Calotype Views are known to survive worldwide, and the Signet Library’s volume is the only one to be found in Edinburgh. It is in superb condition and contains some of the best surviving examples of Hill and Adamson’s work, a wonderful primary source not only in the history of early photography but of immense value to social and architectural historians. At the March event, there will be a talk surveying scholarship around the making of this album, placing it in the wider context of Hill and Adamson’s photographic partnership and the social world of artistic Edinburgh and Scotland in the 1840s. Accompanying the talk, there will be a display featuring a selection from the Signet Library’s collection of historic photography.

STAIRCASE GLOW-UP 2

Internationally acclaimed photographer-artists Alicia Bruce and David Eustace recently visited to view their work on the staircase of the Signet Library.

Alicia’s portrait of Caroline Docherty OBE WS was taken in the Commissioners’ Room, where Caroline was so accustomed to chairing meetings throughout her ten years as Deputy Keeper of the Signet. Alicia has published and exhibited widely and her work won the Royal Scottish Academy Morton Award.

David Eustace has worked worldwide. His photographic works are included in several public and private collections, notably the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Glasgow Museum of Modern Art, Deutsche Bank Collection and City of Edinburgh Art Collection. David’s portraits of Andrew Stewart WS, Lord Ericht, and Peter Braid WS, Lord Braid, also now appear on the main staircase. These prints are taken from David’s portfolio portraying 24 individual Senators of the College of Justice in homage to the portraiture of Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823). Entitled ‘Thirty-Two York Place’, the photographs were taken by David at that Edinburgh address, where Raeburn once had his studio. Lord Braid’s portrait was acquired with the support of law firm Morton Fraser, where Lord Braid was a partner from 1985 to 2005.

Blending modernity and heritage is at the heart of everything the WS Society does. These wonderful photographs exemplify that approach and are more than worthy companions of the older oil portraiture at the Signet Library.

 
 

SPRING CPD

A trio of exceptional events

Our programme will open with Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shona Robison MSP, and OSCR Chair, Marieke Dwarshuis, providing their insight on parliamentary progress with the new Scottish Charities Bill at the Charities Conference on 16 March, chaired by Gavin McEwan WS.

A Writer to the Signet for over 30 years (and now with his portrait on display at the Signet Library) Commercial Court Judge, the Hon Lord Braid, will give the keynote address at the Intellectual Property Conference on 27 April. With speakers from across the UK commenting on topics from media law to ChatGPT, this conference will be an engaging morning for both contentious and non-contentious IP lawyers.

On 4 May, Sheriff Fife will open the Personal Injury Law Conference with his views on ASPIC, as chair of the Personal Injury User Group. Sheriff Fife will be joined by key practitioners and a leading medical expert to explore the latest developments in PI litigation in the Scottish courts.

Thanks to sponsors abrdn, Marks & Clerk, Compass Chambers and JS Parker for their support with these education events. Places at all events can be booked online here: www.wssociety.co.uk/events

 
 

LEXALBA MASTERCLASS LAUNCHES

Launching today an exciting new programme for affiliate members. LexAlba Masterclass is a practical, enjoyable and sociable network of practice area groups, where WS affiliates can develop their careers in a specialist practice area, meeting, sharing experience and learning in an independent forum under the guidance of recognised leaders in the field.

In-house solicitor Sophie Mills of the WS Society explains: ‘Each practice area group will run for two years, meeting three times in each year. A new group will form every two years. There is scope of inter-practice area sessions in some areas, such as law firm finance. There will also be a continuing involvement, with alumni getting together for an annual social event’.

Joining a LexAlba Masterclass is open to all affiliates members of the WS Society and included with the annual subscription. There is no additional cost. Numbers in each group will be limited to a maximum of 15 so early application is recommended.

View the slideshow for more...

LexAlba launches in three practice groups:

  • Commercial Dispute Resolution

  • Private Client

  • Employment

  • Immigration.

Whether you are already an affiliate or want to become one, visit our website to apply or contact Sophie Mills (smills@wssociety.co.uk). Affiliate membership is open to trainee solicitors and solicitors for just £12.50 per month.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Africa’s Painted Wolves join our panel of charity administration appointments

The Society has recently been appointed to provide governance and administration services to three further registered charities, Painted Wolf Foundation (UK registered 1176674), Craigcrook Mortification (SC001648) and the James and Grace Anderson Trust (SC004172).

The Society now administers twelve independent charities, across a range of charitable objectives and activities.

Our service centres on efficient and cost-effective management, allowing Trustees to focus on delivering charitable purposes. In each appointment we seek to enhance public benefit, add value and save costs.

If you are aware of any charities who are evaluating their support arrangements and costs, we would be delighted to provide more information

Painted Wolves Foundation joins the roster of charities the Society administers.

CPD 2023

2023 will be a blockbuster, best in class

Legal education begins with the popular Charities Conference on 16 March 2023, chaired by Gavin McEwan WS and dedicated to our friend and colleague, Alastair Keatinge WS (below).

Events continue with conferences and symposium throughout the practice year on Intellectual Property, Personal Injury, Professional Negligence, Employment, Immigration, Abuse and the Law, CDR, Sports Law, and Private Client, amongst other topics.

Full details to be released soon: www.wssociety.co.uk/events.

Alastair Keatinge WS (1957-2022)

Alastair Keatinge WS (1957-2022)

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

St Mary’s Choir at the Signet Library

Concluding the bicentenary celebration of the Signet Library, the Society welcomed the internationally renowned Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral for a very special Christmas concert. This unique event brought together two of Scotland’s oldest charitable institutions in a wonderful chemistry of music, architecture and Christmas tradition.

STAIRCASE GLOW-UP

CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITURE ADDED

To celebrate the bicentenary of the Signet Library, the Society has redecorated the main staircase, rehanging the portraits and adding contemporary photography of the Keeper, Lord Mackay of Clashfern KT and the Society’s Fellows, by photographer Albie Clark. Also now gracing the main staircase is a new portrait of former Deputy Keeper of the Signet, Caroline Docherty OBE WS by Alicia Bruce. Completing the collection are photographic portraits by David Eustace of two Senators of the College of Justice, Lord Ericht and Lord Braid, both of whom are Writers to the Signet

Do come in for a look.

DINNER REDUX

Triumphant return of the Annual Dinner, highlight of the legal year

Deputy Keeper Mandy Laurie WS welcomed guests to the return of the Society’s Annual Dinner on 11 November. A sell out event, guest speaker Baroness Helena Kennedy of The Shaws (below at the dinner) spoke in passionate defence of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. She also paid tribute to Lord Mackay of Clashfern on his retirement from the House of Lords. Lord Mackay closed the evening by announcing his retirement as Keeper of the Signet after fifteen years in office. Lord Mackay lauded opening the Signet Library to greater public access and the Society becoming a charity.

NEW TRUSTEES

Lynn McMahon WS and Jennifer Skeoch WS appointed trustees

Two new trustees have joined our board of trustees. Jennifer Skeoch WS (below left) is a partner at Burness Paull LLP and a leading employment lawyer. Lynn McMahon WS is a commercial litigation lawyer with specialist practice Halliday Campbell WS. Lynn is Signet Accredited in Commercial Litigation. Rachel Wood WS has retired as a trustee with profound thanks for her contribution over her ten year term.