Member Spotlight on Sarah Brown WS

This month’s Member Spotlight features Sarah Brown WS. Sarah spoke of her non traditional path into law and what attracted her to charity law in particular.

What/who made you consider law as a career?

The idea of studying law was first planted in my early teens—ironically, when I told a careers adviser I wanted to be an estate agent! He suggested law might be a good fit, and that comment stuck with me

However, due to some difficult life events, my school performance suffered and I didn’t achieve the grades I needed for university. That’s when my guidance teacher, Mrs Glen, stepped in. She told me about the Access Summer School at the University of Dundee designed for students whose academic results had been impacted by challenging circumstances and encouraged me to apply.

That opportunity changed everything. I was accepted into the Summer School, completed the programme, and went on to study for my LLB.

After finishing my law degree, I wasn’t sure what path to take and decided not to go straight into the diploma in legal practice. Instead, I spent three years working in the accounts and admin department of an estate agency. It was during that time that I realised I did want to qualify as a solicitor after all. I applied for the diploma, was accepted—and the rest is history.

My route into law wasn’t traditional and certainly wasn’t easy at times, but it was absolutely the right path for me. By the time I returned to university to complete my legal training, I was more confident, focused, and in a far better place personally and professionally. I’ve always been grateful for the experience I gained during those three years in the estate agency—it taught me a lot about the world of work and about myself. And I’ll always be thankful to Mrs Glen, who believed in me and pointed me in the right direction. I often wonder what would have happened if that conversation had never taken place.

What attracted you to charity law?

I was fortunate to secure my traineeship with J & H Mitchell WS in Pitlochry, where I went on to spend a number of years and ultimately became a partner before setting up my own firm. Working as a rural solicitor offered an incredibly varied—and sometimes unexpected and novel—range of experiences. I was involved in most areas of law, which gave me a strong and practical foundation.

Charity law wasn’t originally part of my plan, but that changed when I began working closely with the firm’s senior partner, Colin Liddell MBE WS—the first accredited charity law specialist in Scotland. He took me under his wing, trained me in charity law and governance, and became a generous mentor. We worked together for many years, and he encouraged me to step well outside my comfort zone—especially with public speaking and trustee training, both of which I initially found daunting but have since come to really enjoy. He was right to push me.

Following in Colin’s footsteps, I became an accredited charity law specialist myself in 2020. I feel incredibly lucky to have found this area of law—one that allows me to support charities and people who want to make a difference. I’ve always cared about doing meaningful work, and charity law combines that with my love of people, problem-solving and governance. I genuinely believe I’ve found what I was meant to do.

 Please tell us about career highlights, so far.

One moment that will always stay with me—though not a traditional career highlight—was during my time as a private client solicitor fulfilling a client’s final wishes by climbing a Corbett at dawn on a Saturday morning to scatter his and his wife’s ashes. I had promised him I would do it, and it was a real privilege to be trusted with something so personal. That experience reminded me that being a solicitor isn’t just about paperwork and procedure—it’s about people. That’s what I love most about the job.

In terms of more formal milestones, I was especially proud to become a partner at J & H Mitchell WS in 2017, having started there as a trainee in 2010. That milestone meant a great deal to me personally given my journey. I’m so grateful for the mentorship and experience I gained during that time which laid the foundation for me to establish my own firm, where I now focus on the area of law I specialise in, and enjoy most.

Another highlight has been the opportunity to support a wide range of charities across Scotland—from grassroots community groups to international organisations operating in multiple countries. Helping to set up and guide these charities, knowing they’ll go on to make a real difference, is always a privilege and a source of professional pride, and, of course, is always very interesting.

 How did you first come to hear about the WS Society and what made you want to become a member?

During my time at J & H Mitchell WS, all of the partners were Writers to the Signet, and they consistently communicated the importance and standing that came with WS membership. They viewed it as a mark of professional excellence, tradition, and commitment to the highest standards in the legal profession—and they encouraged those of us coming up through the ranks to aspire to it.

Their pride in the Society and what it represented made a strong impression on me. I came to see WS membership not just as a badge of distinction, but as a way to align myself with a community of solicitors dedicated to maintaining the highest levels of integrity, knowledge, and client service.

I’m proud to be a Writer to the Signet. To me it represents both a personal achievement and a professional commitment to the values I hold dear.

You are the Lead for the Charity and Third Sector Special Interest Group, please tell us about the group.

The Charity and Third Sector Special Interest Group is an open and informal group for all WS members interested in charities or the third sector. Meetings are typically held online for one hour every two months. Previous sessions have included discussions on changes to charity law with OSCR, challenges faced by charity boards from a CEO’s perspective with Lucinda Godfrey of ACOSVO, and trustee induction and recruitment with Mark Wilson from TrusteeConnect.

The next meeting is scheduled for September 11th at 12:30, featuring John Fitzgerald, head of digital evolution at SCVO. He will discuss the application of generative AI within the third sector. Members interested in attending are encouraged to sign up!

What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

I would say that WS membership is an excellent decision for any lawyer who wants to grow both professionally and personally. The WS Society offers a unique community where legal professionals can connect across sectors and share knowledge. The CPD programme is fantastic and I have always viewed the WS Charities Conference as the flagship (must-go-to) annual charity conference for legal professionals – it I also a great opportunity to network with others.

Volunteer Spotlight on Jo Hockey

Jo Hockey at work in the West Salon of the Lower Hall.

This month we hear from one the Society’s volunteers, Jo Hockey. Jo tells us about her first impressions of the Signet Library and the projects that she has been involved with over the years

What attracted you to practice at the Signet Library?

I first visited the library in February of 2018 on a visit with my colleagues from Historic Environment Scotland. I’d originally been drawn to work at HES because I have a particular interest in architectural history, and as we climbed the East Stairs, James Hamilton told us all about the raising of the ceiling height in the lower library by the architect William Stark, and the resulting differences between the interior and exterior of the building. He went on to discuss a multitude of architectural stories within the library, and also described a very welcoming attitude towards researchers and people like myself who didn’t necessarily follow the usual academic/work route. In July I got in touch with James to ask if it would be possible to volunteer at the Signet Library and after a meeting he offered me the role. I’d been a Conservation Assistant at HES, so I was quite excited to be working with historic material, and books written, printed, and bound by hand over 300 years ago definitely fit the bill! An aspect of working at the Society that I hadn’t considered was the size of the organisation – in terms of research, it has been possible to direct my own work to some extent, and the freedom that goes hand in hand with the structure of a private Law Society is very much appreciated.

Can you tell us about some of the projects you’ve worked on since 2019?

The Riddell Seal Collection. I was given a box of late C18 playing cards with seals attached to each one in December of 2019. I knew the names of the boys who had made the collection, and luckily they had written an index, helping me to identify the seal owners. I was able to use my conservation skills in housing and cleaning the cards, but despite having the indexes, identification was difficult. With hindsight, I should have studied history, so the project took quite a while. We now have a database for almost all the seal owners, which opens up possible future research into the connections between them. Describing and researching the precise social network is potentially the most important finding that the collection can offer us. Read more here.

The Almanac Collection was researched in tandem with the Seals and provided a much needed contrast. The collection came to the Society via two or three donors and after cataloguing the books, my primary interest was identifying the owners. While at HES, I learned about the way in which collections are organised, and the importance in archives of preserving as much context relating to an item as possible. Identifying two of the almanac owners was so exciting, giving the possibility in the future for connections with other collections holding items from the same owners. Read more here.

Lockdown brought all sorts of challenges – early March of 2020 was scheduled for the opening of an in-person exhibition on our Voyages and Travels Collection. The exhibition was carefully adapted as an online presentation by James, and my lockdown was spent creating a transcription of William Creech’s diary of his 1776 travels to London and the Netherlands. I was able to work on the transcription at home, research the contents of the diary and have a sense of continuity, which was so greatly appreciated. Read more here.

I later transcribed the diary of the Antiquarian Robert Pitcairn WS, who travelled to Europe fifty years later – similar tales of pre railway travel woes, but while Creech sought to extend his social and business network, Pitcairn was very much looking to expand his aesthetic horizons. His appreciation of art, music, architecture and natural beauty are discussed at length.

The library has a collection of almost every edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica, and James planned a long-term project of cataloguing, conservation and reshelving, which now sees the Collection in a prominent position below the cupola in the Upper Library. As part of the project, I wrote a short history of the many editions of this publication, with its origins just streets away from the Library at the foot of Anchor Close.

The Society’s personal connection with Britannica was the starting point – the seventh edition of Britannica was edited at the Signet Library by Librarian Macvey Napier, and our copy of this edition was a gift to the Society. The forty-four volumes are needing a great deal of conservation work in order that they can be safely accessed in the future, and I’m currently in the midst of this project.

Thoughts on your future plans?

In my former role at HES, I worked a great deal with photographs, particularly glass lantern slides, and an unexpected aspect of coming to an 18th century library was witnessing the growth of its photographic collection! A strong interest in photographic history lead to the completion of a post graduate course Archiving and Conservation of Historic Photography in 2020 (encouraged and supported by the Society), a subject which perfectly complements the study of Architectural History.

James, Dr Baston and I were thrilled to be able to put together a photographic exhibition showcasing the discovery of a Hill and Adamson album at the library by James in October of 2022.  Since that time we have created a distinct collection, which has allowed us to update the catalogue to reflect material which includes photographic elements.

The last five years have given me so much experience and allowed me to develop some fascinating new skills, such as paleography, but primarily I’ve gained some much needed self confidence. I am neurodivergent and this has been a barrier for study and progression in some workplaces. I’m currently working with Dr Baston on research and conservation of the John Watson School archives held by the WS Society as part of a Jean Guild Award of the Old Edinburgh Club, and I hope to extend my knowledge and experience of book conservation in the coming year. Finally, I’d like to thank James Hamilton, Dr Baston, Dr Robert Pirrie WS, Sophie Mills WS, Matthew Bruce and everyone at the Society for all their wonderful support.

Member Spotlight on Paul Pia WS

This month’s Member Spotlight features Paul Pia WS. Paul joined the WS Society in 1971. Thank you to Paul for taking the time to tell us about pursuing a career in law to combine his interest in people, society, and business and what the WS Society means to him.

WHAT MADE ME CONSIDER LAW AS A CAREER

The life world of my early, childhood and adolescent years was one of that of a closely knit primary family of Italian origin, albeit both of my parents were Scots born. And my father was a successful businessman who had built up his company from scratch. Indeed my whole family history was one of private enterprise. That meant growing up in a large Victorian house in Edinburgh’s Newington area.

My engagement with a large extended family and friendship network, combined with rich relationships across the neighbourhood, my local church and schools not only developed my social skills but aroused in me a fascination with human nature. And my social “finishing school” was the University of Edinburgh - from the age of seventeen to twenty-one - where I interacted and leisured with a wide range of students from earls’ to miners’ sons, and from all parts of the world.

My interest in people and society drew me to the study of social science and my high regard for business made my subject choice economics. It came to my attention that this could be combined with law and that made an honours degree in law and economics the obvious choice.

I found both of these subjects of social science interesting and compelling and had the good fortune to excel in both.

But I chose the path of legal practice over that of the economist because I felt a vocation to be working with people, in a career that also gave promise of economic security both for myself and the family that I aspired to have. After an “apprenticeship” with Lindsays WS I joined the then W & J Burness WS in 1970 and the rest is history…

MY LAW CAREER AND ITS HIGHLIGHTS

In my early days, both with Lindsays and with Burness, I had the pleasure of involvement of all areas of the law, from private client to business and from third sector to litigation. That gave me an awareness of the broad interactions of all branches of the law: constitutional; contractual; regulatory; property protective; taxation managerial; civil disputational and the criminal law - an awareness that endured for the whole of my career. Specialisation is essential - but all the better, in conjunction with an appreciation of the “big picture”.

But my interest in economics drew me to corporate and commercial law and most of my career was spent in those areas. My practice was enormously varied - extending from listed companies to private and family enterprises; to the third sector, where many charities and housing associations operate like many a large business and to the public and civic sectors - my biggest client of my entire career was US Department of the Navy!

That said, I never lost contact with my personal clients - many of whom were business clients and I served them in conjunction with my private client colleagues.

I loved the work that I did for family businesses some of which were multinational.

And one of the highlights of my career was my work with the Corporate Governance Code which is relevant for all business and which I condensed for the benefit of smaller clients. I also served on the Institute of Directors Scotland’s Corporate Governance Unit.

Another highlight was my involvement with hundreds of overseas corporations: from Japan and the Far East, to the Middle East and from Continental and Scandinavian Europe to North America. It was a delight to introduce such companies - with such diverse business cultures - to the challenges of business operation in Scotland, in the UK and - for most of my career - the EU.

That led to much travel overseas and offices such as Chairmanship of the Japan Society of Scotland and a Directorship of the Scottish North American Business Council. I was also an Associate Member of the American Bar Association for many years.

The final highlight was my involvement with the third and charitable sector.

For most of my career, I advised the Scottish Arts Council/ Creative Scotland which led to a plethora of involvement with orchestras, theatres and art galleries. I was involved in projects that brought the late Duke Ellington and Bing Crosby to the Usher Hall.

I also advised the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations which led to letters of engagement with many leading housing association. My work in the fields of charities and social housing received recognition in law firm appraisals.

I consider myself fortunate to have enjoyed a career that combined my fascination with the rule of law and my love of engaging with people - not to mention the challenges of complex transaction management.

My partnership at Burness - now Burness Paull - spanned the years from 1974 until 2010 when I retired.

But my retirement was to prove to be a semi-retirement only: experience gained as a pension trustee for corporate clients led to my appointment as an independent pension trustee for, at its peak, seven DB Pension Schemes together with other trusteeships and consultancy work on corporate governance for private and family businesses, leading me to remain a frequent visitor to the Signet Library!

As a lawyer, my enduring aim was to provide an empathic approach to clients that got things done, proportionately in a way that delivered value to them and not only to serve but to delight the client in question.

WHY I WANTED TO BE A WS

I first came to hear about the WS Society because the firm with which I was indentured - whose partners were my “masters” - were members of it. Although not compulsory, a green and young Paul Pia in his salad days felt that becoming a member was the right thing to do.

I was also bowled over by the magnificent neo-classical architectural masterpiece of Robert Reid and William Stark that is The Signet Library and its astonishing collection of law books and others and manuscripts - one of the most remarkable in Scotland.

And I was impressed by its “mission statement” of the promotion of excellence and the highest possible standards, in both legal knowledge and understanding and in the practice of the law, for public benefit.

That fired my wish to acquire the post-nominal letters of “WS”.

I duly signed the oath of membership, mindful of the fact that the Society had survived the Unlawful Societies Act of 1799!

The Society has played a very meaningful role in the course of my legal career: providing a marvellous environment for research and legal consideration not to mention the many splendid dinners and other events there.

And it has proved to be a wonderful location for my part time work, post-retirement.

It has also during the 54 years of my membership embraced significant change - all, in my view, for the better. In 1971, not only was it all male but the Society was - dare I say it - rather inward looking.

Now it is a vibrant society with a much more diverse membership - including a female Keeper - and one that looks out: its membership now permits Associate membership and extends to the international. It has its own in house legal team that supports our members; operates a first rate programme of legal education; has done much to systematise its library and collections, in collaboration with the National Library of Scotland; has opened its doors not only for a superb afternoon tea experience in its exquisite surroundings but for private dinners, weddings and even funerals and has recently - and quite rightly  - obtained charitable status, operating as it does pro bono publico.

I would also like to pay tribute to all of those who direct and manage the Society at this time. Any organisation is as good as its people. And the people that have been resourced to provide the services of the Signet Library are not only of the highest possible standards of quality and professionalism but constitute a friendly and charming team, one that is second to none.

Joining the WS Society was one of the best decisions of my life and I am very proud to be a small part of it.

MY ADVICE TO A LAWYER CONSIDERING MEMBERSHIP

What I would say to any lawyer considering membership of the WS Society:

My advice is to take immediate steps to join for the following reasons:  

1) Your membership will give you access to a legal resource, that is truly unique in Scotland: one that provides excellent legal input from a first class legal team; a first rate programme of legal education; and a rich and extensive collection of books and other manuscripts for use in conjunction with virtual sources;

2) As a member, you will join a Society that has existed since 1594 and which makes available to you a magnificent neo-classical Library that was completed in 1822 and opened by King George IV, at Sir Walter Scott’s invitation: a place not only of exquisite beauty and one of richness in history, heritage and culture.

3) Members of the Society also enjoy the benefits of a range of other events: dinners, addresses from public figures and Christmas carol concerts to which friends and associates may be invited

4) Membership also provides opportunities to connect and engage with fellow lawyers of all ages and of other nationalities, who visit the Library, and attend and particulate in the Society’s events there.

5) Membership also gives you the benefit of playing a part in a unique Scottish charity, that promotes the highest standards of legal education and legal practice in Scotland, for the benefit of the public.

Volunteer Spotlight on Dr Kit Baston

Dr Kit Baston is one of the WS Society’s dedicated volunteers. This month, we spoke to Kit about her long association with the Signet Library and recent projects. Dr Kit Baston is the author of Charles Areskine’s Library: Scottish Lawyers and Their Books at the Dawn of the Enlightenment (Leiden: Brill, 2016) as well as many other chapters and articles on the subject of the history of the book in Scotland.

Few historians, let alone historians of the book, have had such a long association with the Signet Library. What part has it played in your academic and heritage career?

Having special access to the amazing collections at the Signet Library has enabled me to develop my skills in assessing, analysing, and cataloguing rare books. This has been especially important as a ‘precarious’ academic – that is, someone who is often between project contracts – and has given me stability over the years. As a volunteer, I have been able to remain an active researcher, while keeping my library skills up-to-date and contributing my knowledge about the collections. My association with the Signet Library has allowed me to assist with exhibitions and write and present academic papers. I was proud to host a visit of the ‘Books and Borrowing’ team just after lockdown – the first time some of us ever met in person! – and share some of the Library’s treasures with them. A very gratifying moment was when during an online lecture the presenter – who I’d helped with some research - said, ‘I see my friend from the Signet Library in the audience’. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing things at the Signet Library since 2010!

Your recent projects have included the letters of Charles Cockburn DKS, a collection of Polish books that was originally at the Signet Library, and the WS Society’s eighteenth century records. Tell us more about that.

The advocate Charles Cockburn of Sandybed was the Deputy Keeper of the Signet at an interesting time. He was the second son of Adam Cockburn, Lord Ormiston, Lord Justice Clerk. The younger Cockburn kept up a lively correspondence with Cornelius Kennedy, the London-based secretary of James Graham, Duke of Montrose. Montrose was the Keeper of the Signet and a Secretary of State. His letters are full of gossip alongside the practical concerns of his responsibilities as Deputy Keeper of the Signet, his reports of the doings of the Scottish nobility, and his intelligence about local elections – including his brother John’s. They demonstrate political alliances and Whig or Jacobite leanings.

Transcribing the Cockburn letters came about because I happen to be rather good at reading eighteenth-century handwriting. Signet MS 106 is set of 70 letters dating from 30 September 1714 to 25 September 1715. The transcription and the biographical notes I created about the various correspondence are available here: https://www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/the-last-of-the-old-deputy-keepers-the-letters-of-charles-cockburn-dks-1714-1715/

The Society’s own records are fascinating. I’ve been dabbling at Archive Boxes 18 and 19 for a few years now and creating fuller descriptions of everything from applications made by apprentice WSs to invoices for brooms, coal, and ink in the early eighteenth century. I’ve enjoyed reading lists of William Trotter furnishings and determining that the copy of the portrait of George Dallas of St Martins that hangs in the lobby came from Henry Raeburn’s studio. Librarian Macvey Napier was keen buyer of a particular type of glittery sand to dust down his letters and this is evident in his signature which has a sparkle.

The Bibliotheca Polonica at the Signet Library arrived in the 1820s and remained until 1963 when it was transferred to the National Library of Scotland. The books are still there and I had the privilege of calling them up and examining them last year. (Anyone can do this, by the way!) A group of young Polish scholars gifted the books to the Signet Library in gratitude for the warm welcome they received from Macvey Napier and other Writers at a time when their home nation was wiped from the map. They saw the Bibliotheca Polonica as a means of preserving their history and culture. The collection at the Signet was the first of such Polish libraries outwith Poland, pre-dating the large and famous collection founded in Paris later. I was honoured to deliver a talk and curate a small exhibition in the Upper West Library as part of the History Special Interest Group’s offerings in January. A fuller version of the talk will appear in print in collection of essays about Scoto-Polish links.

You’ve just begun a funded project to work on the records of John Watson’s Institution, founded by the WS Society. What is the project about, and have there been any surprises so far?

The John Watson’s Insitution Archive project’s main aims are to catalogue and research a set of documents held at the Signet Library dating from the 1820s to the 1850s. It’s a project I’ve wanted to do for about a decade! The Institution was a boarding school for orphaned and destitute children which opened in 1828. The Archive is made up of application documents that lay out each potential pupil’s case, recommedations, testimonials, certificates of birth and health, and, importantly, rich information about their families, including their parents and grandfathers. These reveal lives, circumstances, and social networks. Alongside the applications are documents that detail the workings of the Institution such as job applications, Directors’meeting minutes, and annual reports from the surgeon tasked with looking after the children. There are about 500 documents in the archive. The project will create a finding aid which will be freely available via the Library’s Heritage Portal. It will also research some case studies about some of the children and digitise materials relating to these. The collection will be conserved and re-housed thanks to a Jean Guild Grant from the Old Edinburgh Club.

The most surprising thing so far has been a letter of recommendation addressed to Macvey Napier, who was one of the Directors with a right to nominate applicants, from Henry Cockburn when he was Solicitor General, complete with his seal. The child, somewhat less surprisingly, got a place in the Institution.

Tell us some facts about the WS Society and Signet Library and their place in history that people might not know?

·        The founder of the world’s first ‘Foot-Ball Club’ was an apprentice WS. John Hope wrote rules for the club in 1824 and ran it until 1841. He was admitted WS in 1828.

·        True crime writer William Roughead WS bequeathed his library of research materials to the Society. This includes his correspondence with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle while they worked to free Oscar Slater, a victim of a miscarriage of justice. The Roughead Collection now resides in the Commissioners’ Room.

·        The Bibliotheca Polonica at the Signet Library was the first library of Polish materials established outwith Poland.

·        The oldest printed book in the Signet Library dates from ‘not after 1473’.

·        The first book officially held as a library book by the Signet Library was George Dallas of St Martins’ System of stiles, as now practicable within the kingdom of Scotland which was presented by its author on 1 March 1697. I found this on the open shelves in one of the alcoves in the Lower Library many years ago. It now has a much more secure location!

Member Spotlight on Latasha Kirimbai Aff WS

Meet Latasha Kirimbai, a Junior Associate at Ashurst in the Digital Economy team and an affiliate member of the WS Society. From debating as a child to navigating the fast-paced tech law world, Latasha shares insights into a dynamic typical week and the value of the WS Society for professional growth and community in the Scottish legal sector.

What/who made you consider law as a career?

From a young age, I was always told by adults that I’d make a great lawyer or politician, thanks to my outgoing personality and knack for debate. Faced with those two options, I decided to choose the lesser of two evils—after all, at least lawyers don’t have to campaign for votes!

On a more serious note, the portrayal of law on television was definitely enticing. Shows like Suits made the legal world look fast-paced and glamorous, even if I quickly learned that real life is a bit less about dramatic courtroom showdowns and more about hard work and teamwork. That said, I feel incredibly fortunate, because while Suits may not have been entirely accurate, I do get to work with partners who are even more impressive than those on TV.

You are a Junior Associate, at Ashurst, please tell us about a typical week.

As a Junior Associate in Ashurst’s Digital Economy team, my typical week is both dynamic and intellectually stimulating, reflecting the fast-paced nature of the digital sector. Our team advises clients on a broad range of matters at the intersection of technology, data, and regulation, so my work is incredibly varied.

At the start of the week, I usually review my task list and catch up on emails, often receiving new instructions from senior associates or partners. Much of my time is spent supporting on client matters, which can include drafting and reviewing commercial contracts for technology procurement, cloud services, or software licensing. I also assist with data protection and privacy compliance projects, such as preparing data processing agreements or helping clients respond to data subject access requests.

Given the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, I regularly conduct legal research on topics like AI regulation. I might be asked to prepare client briefings or internal updates on new legislation, such as the EU Digital Services Act or the UK’s Online Safety Act. This helps ensure our clients are kept up to date with the latest legal developments.

Collaboration is a big part of my role. I often join calls with clients, technology vendors, or colleagues from other practice areas, such as corporate or disputes, to provide input on digital economy issues. I also attend team meetings and training sessions to stay abreast of emerging trends, like blockchain, fintech, or the metaverse.

Throughout the week, I’m encouraged to get involved in business development, whether that’s helping draft articles for publication or preparing materials for client pitches. There’s also a strong focus on learning and development, so I make time to attend webinars or workshops too.

How did you hear about the WS Society and why did you become a member?

I first heard about the WS Society through colleagues in the legal profession who spoke highly of its reputation and the unique opportunities it offers for professional development and networking. The Society’s long-standing history and its commitment to upholding the highest standards within the legal community particularly resonated with me.

I decided to become a member because I was keen to be part of a respected institution that not only provides access to a wealth of resources and events, but also fosters a strong sense of community among its members. The chance to engage with fellow professionals, participate in high-quality training, and contribute to the ongoing development of the legal sector in Scotland were all significant factors in my decision to join. Being a member of the WS Society has allowed me to broaden my professional horizons and stay connected with the latest developments in the field.

What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

If you are a lawyer considering membership of the WS Society, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to take that step. The Society offers a unique platform for professional growth, networking, and engagement with the wider legal community. Membership provides access to a diverse range of high-quality training sessions, seminars, and events, all designed to keep you at the forefront of legal developments and best practice.

Beyond the professional benefits, the WS Society fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and support among its members. It is an excellent environment in which to build lasting professional relationships, share knowledge, and collaborate with peers who are equally committed to excellence in the legal profession. The Society’s rich heritage and its ongoing commitment to upholding the highest standards make it a truly one of a kind.

Member Spotlight on Stuart Clubb WS

This month’s Member Spotlight features Stuart Clubb WS, a Society Council member and Partner and Joint Head of Shoosmith’s Dispute Resolution & Litigation team in Scotland.

Sarah Leask spoke to Stuart about being a commercial litigation lawyer, career highlights and his work in building and promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.

What/who made you consider law as a career?

I remember first considering law as a career when I was having to choose my standard grade subjects at secondary school. In choosing them, the teachers said that we should think about what we wanted to do as a career when we were older but I had no real idea. I remember asking my parents and they said that I should ‘go for a career that pays well, and the best paid jobs are either a doctor or a lawyer’. ‘But’ they said, ‘you can’t be a doctor because you faint at the sight of blood, so you should be a lawyer’.  They may or may not have also said that it would probably suit me as a job because I was also a fairly argumentative child!  And that was it really, from that point onwards, my future career path was set in my mind, I was going to become a lawyer.  So I won’t pretend that it was because I wanted to right the wrongs of society or fight injustice from an early age; no, it was because my parents wanted me to get a job that paid well and because I was squeamish at the sight of blood!

You are a Partner and Joint Head of Shoosmith’s Dispute Resolution & Litigation team in Scotland and lead the team’s Scottish commercial litigation practice. Please tell us about your role and what a typical week looks like?

As a commercial litigation lawyer, I advise clients on a wide range of commercial disputes, including corporate, contractual, and property related disputes, so there is a real variety to my litigation practice. A large part of my week is therefore spent meeting with clients, drafting pleadings, consulting and liaising with counsel, and preparing for cases and upcoming hearings. I also have a specialism in insolvency and restructuring, with a particular focus on contentious insolvency matters, and I regularly advise insolvency practitioners, companies, and directors on all aspects of insolvency law. 

Helping build and promote a diverse and inclusive workplace here at Shoosmiths is also very important to me and therefore as well as the daily legal work I also sit on the committee for our PROUD (LGBTQ+) network which aims to raise awareness and visibility of LGBTQ+ issues across the firm and help contribute to the firm’s inclusive culture.  I am also a member of the firm’s social mobility working group, which aims to boost social mobility both within the firm and across the UK. As both an out gay man, and the first of my family to go to University, both of these roles and initiatives are incredibly important to me on a personal level. 

Please tell us about your career highlights, to date?

In 2008, I won Rising Star of the Year at the Scottish Legal Awards, which was also the same year that I qualified as a Solicitor Advocate with rights of audience in the Court of Session and the Supreme Court.  It was also the same year that I was awarded WS Signet Accreditation in Commercial Litigation, so there were quite a number of career highlights in 2008!  Being made a partner at HBJ Gateley (now Addleshaw Goddard) in 2012 was also an obvious career highlight.  More recently, I was very proud to be appointed as Chair of the Edinburgh Insolvency Discussion Group in January 2024, which is a key knowledge sharing and networking group for insolvency professionals in and around Edinburgh.

How did you first come to hear about the WS Society and what made you want to become a member?

I first became aware of the WS Society when I attended a professional competence course at the Signet Library as part of my traineeship back in 2002. At that early stage in my career I remember being extremely impressed by the quality and the extent of the books and resources which were available to members as well as the obvious impressive surroundings of the Signet Library itself.  After qualification, I moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and my relationship with the WS Society grew and continued.  In 2008, I was one of the first solicitors to sit the Signet Accreditation programme and become WS Society Signet Accredited in commercial litigation.  In 2018, after attending the prestigious WS Society Commercial Dispute Resolution Conference for many years, I was asked to present at the Conference, which I did again in 2021.  Becoming a WS member in 2021 therefore seemed the natural next step in my professional relationship with the WS Society which started back when I was a trainee almost twenty years earlier.

What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

I would encourage any lawyer considering WS membership to join. I can attest first hand to the important role which the WS Society has played, and continues to play, in my career to date. The Society really does offer something for everyone – whether that’s their leading programme of CPD events and conferences, the networking opportunities, or the extensive resources available in the Signet Library, the benefits continue to grow and evolve. 

Employee Spotlight on Matthew Bruce AffWS

Matthew Bruce AffWS is a trainee solicitor at the WS Society.

Sarah Leask sat down with Matthew to discuss why he decided to pursue law as a career path, his experiences and impressions as a member of the WS Society and his advice to any lawyer considering the WS membership.

1. What made you consider law as a career?

I have entirely fallen into this career. The one job I knew I wanted to do when I was younger was to be a comparative anatomist – stemming from my fascination with a programme called Inside Nature’s Giants. That was short-lived, as my mum, a forensic toxicologist, inadvertently talked me out of a career in science.  So, like many school pupils, I reached sixth form not knowing what I wanted to study at university but did think it would be sensible to join one of the professions (the trend at my school for studying geography did not appeal). That left medicine, dentistry, engineering or law as potential subjects. I did not want to work in a clinical setting, so that removed medicine or dentistry, physics was my least favourite science, so I was not going to be an engineer, leaving law as a the would-be-sensible career plan.

Having settled on studying law I needed to decide where. One thing led to another, and I studied the LLB at Abertay University and never looked back. At Abertay I had fantastic, supportive lecturers and professors who sparked an interest. I then undertook a Master of Letters in Legal and Constitutional Studies at the University of St Andrews. I was fortunate to receive funding from the Clark Foundation to do so. At the same time, and completely out of the blue, I was also invited back to Abertay to teach on the LLB course by Head of Law, Professor Annelize McKay. I learned a great deal about the law while teaching my first students, a job I continued for two years as I completed my Masters and Diploma before starting my training contract with the WS Society; within those two years I was promoted to a full-time lectureship in law at Abertay.

If I ever had any doubts about my career in law, my two years as an academic put those to rest. I worked with outstanding colleagues at Abertay, those inspiring lecturers and professors who had previously taught me, as well as senior academics from St Andrews, Oxford and Cornell. I tried to offer my students the same opportunities Abertay afforded me. The students seemed to appreciate my work for them and job satisfaction does not get much better than happy students! When I left Abertay in August 2024, I was delighted to be appointed a Visiting Lecturer in Law by the Vice Chancellor. 

2. What was your first experience and impression of the WS Society?

I did not know what ‘WS’ meant when I saw it written in our head of law’s email signature as a first year student in 2019. Ever curious I did my research and found out about this Society of ours. I also found out that the WS Society offered student membership, so I applied. I asked that head of law with the unusual postnominal letters, Professor Nicholas Grier WS, if he would be my referee. He was very supportive of my decision to join and encouraged me to visit the WS Society’s home on Parliament Square at the Signet Library.

My first experience of the WS Society was the diet of admission in May 2019 which I attended with my good friend and fellow new student member Sharon Shanley. I remember that afternoon very well. I was slightly worried that the Society might be very stuffy: it certainly was not. The WS Society team were and remain very welcoming. It was on that occasion when I first met James Hamilton, Principal Researcher at the WS Society. His tour of the Signet Library was fascinating, and I have made use of the building and its collections in my studies and work ever since. I remember very clearly being taken aback by that liminal view all visitors have of the Upper Library as they climb Playfair’s staircase and being told that as a member I was free to explore. You cannot help but be impressed by the Signet Library and the storied history it and the WS Society represent.

I must also record the welcome I and all new entrants to the Society received from Lord Mackay of Clasfern KT, the then-Keeper of the Signet, that day. He was incredibly generous and took time to meet and talk to all of us. The WS Society is now fortunate to have Lady Elish Angiolini LT as the new Keeper of the Signet. Lady Elish’s enthusiasm for students and trainees in particular is clear to see. I first met Lady Elish when she admitted a number of my law students as members of the Society, each of them was inspired by her, and more recently at my own admission as an Affiliate WS.

3. Tell us about your journey through the WS Society, from joining as a student member in 2019 until now.

From that first diet of admission in 2019, I made sure to be involved with the WS Society as much as I could. The Student Series events were particularly useful for learning about life in the legal profession. Anna Bennett WS was hugely supportive and I am to this day very grateful for the opportunities she and other Writers to the Signet offered.

In 2021 I was accepted on to the WS Summer Scholar alongside Danielle McDonald and Gabriella Barnes. Those two weeks spent at the Signet Library were great fun and hugely insightful. In 2022, shortly after I graduated from the LLB, I was offered a training contract with the WS Society. I was delighted with this news and looked forward to entering the profession as a WS Society trainee.

While completing my MLitt dissertation and working as a Lecturer in Law I made extensive use of the Signet Library’s collections for my research. James’ enthusiasm for helping members of the Society with their work, and external researchers with their enquiries, is tremendous and very valuable. The exhibitions which James, Kit Baston and Jo Hockey curate in the Upper West Library are also exceptional and well worth a visit.

I now work within the busy Governance and Charities team under the supervision of Sophie Mills WS. The Society’s Governance and Charities team allows me to have exposure to a wide range of corporate and charity clients, as well as the Executive function of the WS Society itself. In my first six months, Sophie and colleagues have offered me valuable, detailed training and a well-rounded introduction to the legal profession. I am also very lucky to work in the wonderful surroundings of the Signet Library each day. Bar the National Galleries, I doubt there are many offices where you can admire Raeburns, rare Hill and Adamson photographs, or some of Scotland’s earliest printed books all during a coffee break!

4. What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

The WS Society offers a forum to build connections and integrate into the very heart of the College of Justice – a constant of Scotland’s legal system for 500 years. I am proud to be associated with the Society. I recommended to all my students that they join the Society, and I am delighted that so many of them have. Those who are involved are now networking with Writers to the Signet, learning about the profession and meeting its leading figures.

The WS Society has been a central feature of my education and career development and I am very glad that I was curious enough to wonder what the ‘WS’ meant after Professor Grier’s name when reading his many emails on good grammar!

Member Spotlight on Kelly Hardman WS

This month’s Member Spotlight features Kelly Hardman WS. Kelly tells us about her role as a Director at Fragomen LLP where she leads the firm’s UK Energy Sector Group, as well as the UK Space Industry Group, and how becoming a WS was a deeply meaningful moment of connection to history, tradition, and legacy.

Read on to learn more.

1. What/who made you consider law as a career?

Growing up, I dreamed of becoming an air hostess, then a pilot—but unfortunately, maths, physics and I didn’t quite get along, despite my best efforts! However, I always had a fascination with criminology, inspired by CSI and Silent Witness, which sparked my curiosity about investigations and justice.

The turning point came during a work experience week at Laganside Courts in Belfast when I was about 17 years old. From the moment I stepped into the courtroom, I was hooked—the energy, the advocacy, and the impact of the law captivated me. When I discovered that Ulster University offered a Law with Criminology degree (with the opportunity to study overseas), it felt like everything had aligned perfectly…and the rest is history!

In a funny full-circle moment—while I never became a pilot, I now spend my days helping people cross borders and navigate their journeys through immigration law! And as a lead of Fragomen’s Space Sector Group, I even have my head in the stars from time to time! So, in a way, my childhood dreams of travel and adventure came true—just with a legal detour along the way!

2. You are responsible for coordinating and managing Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) immigration programmes on behalf of your firm’s largest clients. Tell us about your role and what a typical week looks like?

No two days are ever quite the same at Fragomen—which is exactly why I love what I do! As a Director, I manage immigration programs for clients across multiple sectors of all shapes and sizes, helping them navigate complex immigration and mobility challenges.

Mornings often begin with emails and calls given my work spans global time zones. A large part of my current role involves advisory and strategy meetings or catching up with my team to review time-sensitive immigration cases. Some days, I’m advising companies on workforce planning or contingency measures for global mobility which can include large scale offshore work strategy for energy sector clients, or campus management programs for the FS sector. On others, I’m supporting individuals through personal immigration issues which can vary from complex nationality and citizenship issues, to navigating those who’ve had a criminal past, to reuniting couples and families – this is often where I see first-hand the incredibly meaningful work that we do, especially given the Pro-Bono work I’m involved in.

Crisis management also plays a significant role—helping clients respond swiftly to sudden regulatory changes or unexpected challenges, which in the past five years have been much more commonplace given the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as geopolitical challenges we’ve seen in Ukraine and Russia as well as more recently in the Middle East. In addition, displacement caused by unforeseen events such as hurricanes, tsunamis etc. can all have a massive impact on people’s lives, which is where we often come in to assist with contingency planning, or ‘parking’ options. We also then have ‘newer’ challenges like the concept of remote work and an influx in digital nomads, not to mention the impact of AI and the interplay with immigration and digital borders – it is an incredibly fast-paced and interesting area which keeps me on my toes!

But my work isn’t just about solving problems; it’s also about supporting my team, mentoring colleagues, and identifying opportunities to grow our practice – this is where my work in our Energy and Space sectors allows me to attend some incredibly exciting meetings, conferences and make valuable connections, some of which are also part of the WS! Every day is a balance of precision, empathy, and leadership—and that’s what makes it so challenging, yet rewarding.

3. Career Highlights

One of my proudest career highlights was back in 2016—well before the remote working era we now take for granted. I put together a bold and innovative business plan to relocate from London to Scotland with a vision for long-term development and growth. At the time, remote working in law was practically unheard of, and I had to navigate hurdles to make it happen. It felt bold, brave and risky, but with the unwavering support of my firm’s leadership and my team, it became a reality. Looking back now, in a world where remote work is so commonplace, I do see myself as something of a visionary for embracing that change so early on.

Another incredibly proud milestone was becoming dual-qualified in Scotland in 2024. This was no small feat—I was balancing full-time work and full-time motherhood while self-teaching Scots law to sit the qualifying assessments. Anyone who’s been through that process knows how gruelling it is, which is why I was so incredibly proud to pass every exam on my first attempt. It was a real moment of triumph when my admission to the Scottish roll as a Solicitor and Notary was confirmed last summer, which also meant I could finally take the leap to applying for WS membership! It leaves one new goal (which I may regret later, but this in many ways holds me accountable) – to become qualified in my home country of N. Ireland – fingers crossed!

A particularly exciting and unexpected highlight came when I was personally approached after a Festival of Politics event at Holyrood in 2024 to join the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Space—yes, such a group does exist! It’s a fantastic testament to just how important the space sector is for Scotland and a real privilege to contribute my voice to those conversations.

And, of course, becoming a WS member! This was more than just a career milestone for me—it was a deeply meaningful moment of connection to history, tradition, and legacy, and one I will always remember (despite nearly missing the ceremony with Lady Elish thanks to the chaos of Edinburgh traffic and public transport!!!).

4. How did you first come to hear about the WS Society and what made you want to become a member?

I first visited the Signet Library for afternoon tea around Christmas time shortly after moving to Edinburgh and I was fascinated by its charm—but it was the warmth and generosity of the employees and other members that truly captivated me. The WS Society is a place where knowledge is shared, careers are nurtured, and friendships are forged. I am honoured to contribute to this community while upholding its values and helping to shape its future.

For me, joining the WS Society was about legacy, community, and connection. I deeply admire tradition and the history that the WS Society upholds—it’s more than a membership; it’s a symbol of excellence and service. But my connection to the Society is also deeply personal. The signet holds special meaning for me—my mother’s maiden name is King, and with it comes my desire to honour my family’s legacy while building my own as a Writer to His Majesty’s signet, as well as our future Kings and Queens. I want to show my daughter, and others, that leadership and legacy are within reach. Since joining the Society, I’ve also come to learn the ancient coat of arms for both my maiden surname and married surname carry symbolic crests; a red rose and a silver sword, which in historic terms would have been my family’s seals!

5. What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?
Do not hesitate! The WS Society offers so much more than a professional title—it offers a community. It’s a place where tradition meets opportunity, where you can grow, share knowledge, and be part of something truly meaningful. Beyond the prestige, it’s the warmth of the employees and members, the richness of the history, and the inspiration found within the Signet Library that make it special. Whether you’re seeking mentorship, connection, or a way to give back to the profession, the WS Society opens doors—not just for your career, but for your legacy.

Member Spotlight on Robert Macduff-Duncan WS

This month’s Member Spotlight features WS Society trustee and partner at Kippin Campbell, Robert Macduff-Duncan WS, who tells us about his career highlights, and sheds light on how the WS has played a role in his career and the many member benefits of joining the WS Society.

1. What/who made you consider law as a career?

I honestly do not know!  My parents divorced not long before I started secondary school, and I remember being fascinated by the agreements, title deeds, wills and so forth which were to be found at home at that time.  I think that sparked an interest.  Academically, I have always been interested in history and politics, and guidance teachers thought that law would fit with my particular interests.  I won’t pretend that my decision to study law came from a desire to fight injustice, or to become frightfully wealthy and influential, but rather because it appeared to be the path set out for me!

2. What led you to focus on conveyancing and property work?

“Join because engaging in broad cultural pursuits makes one a better lawyer.”

During my traineeship and in the early stages of my career, I was something of a general practitioner, covering everything from criminal advocacy in Sheriff Court, to personal injury work, to wills, and residential conveyancing.  Not long after I completed my traineeship, two colleagues moved on to another firm and I inherited their fairly substantial conveyancing workload, and the rest is history.  I continued with that firm for further twelve or thirteen years with a mixed bag workload, but since I moved to my present firm six years ago, I have solely focussed on property work.

I have always had an interest in property, and property law, though, which I think is linked in part to my interest in history.  I studied History at university alongside law, and took an honours course led by a Professor of Architectural History on the development of Scotland’s burghs in the eighteenth century, which kickstarted an interest in town planning, architecture and the urban physical environment.  I am also interested in patterns of landownership – the rise of the mercantile elite to the status of laird in the eighteenth century, the huge changes in landownership after the First World War, and the vast increase in owner occupation of individual dwellings in the late twentieth century.  All of those major shifts were led by economics, and perhaps assists us in trying to assess what the twenty first century might hold. 

I am interested in property in both urban and rural settings.  My undergraduate dissertation was on the evolution of crofting law and what is now the Crofting Community Right to Buy, which was just at the White Paper stage at that time.  I grew up in the North of Scotland and my grandparents owned a farm on the Black Isle.  My Grandfather was an NFU rep and was an agricultural adviser to Highlands and Islands Enterprise in its early days, when he authored a report on the importance of agriculture (whether on farms or on crofts, and whether carried out by those who owned the land or tenanted it) to the economy of the Highlands.  Of course, there is a huge social and cultural aspect to land, its use, and its ownership, which is perhaps heightened in that rural context.

I spent a useful summer during my student days working in a local authority housing office, which reinforced in my mind just how fundamental it is to have a secure, safe home, and the role played by social housing in giving the best start in life to millions of people.  Land is political, land is social, and land is economic, and land law touches on each of those strands.  I acted for a social landlord at one time, and whilst occasionally I obtained decree for recovery of possession, much of the time I was explaining to the Court the support being provided to avoid eviction.  I enjoyed acting for that Housing Association in the acquisition of new sites for regeneration here in Perth, and making my own small mark on the physical appearance of the city. 

So much has been written on the importance of Place culturally.  The places in which we choose to live and work have such importance as the background scenery of our lives, and it is a privilege to assist people purchase and sell property, or resolve property disputes.  Ignoring the big themes, our homes are so important to our identities.  Helping individuals buy their first flat, or move up to the home in which they will raise their family, or downsize in later life, is a huge privilege.  Conveyancing is about people and place, and both are endlessly fascinating. 

3. Please tell us about some highlights of your career to date?

I enjoyed moments in the Sheriff Court – securing a family home which was subject to an action for recovery by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, and allowing three generations of the same family time to resolve matters themselves; instructing counsel in a (subsequently reported) case about financial provision on death, and whether heritable property outside Scotland can be dealt with by the Scottish courts (the courts ultimately decided that the deceased’s co-habitant had no claim to heritable property in Ireland, preserving the property for the deceased’s children from his marriage by whom I was instructed); and securing a large settlement in a personal injury action for a farm worker injured in a road accident during harvest.  The accident left him unable to work and he required to vacate his tied housing.  The settlement was large enough to buy him and his wife a home and live comfortably.

There have been standout conveyances too – a lighthouse, a castle with an iconic lodge built on top of a bridge, and properties where the “other side” have been well-known personalities.

4. In what way has the WS Society played a role in your career?

I trained at a WS firm – three of the four partners were WS.  The senior partner had served a WS apprenticeship with a firm in Leith in the 1970s, and served on Council in the middle 2000s.  I was therefore encouraged to complete my Professional Competence Course at the WS, which gave me the opportunity to spend a fortnight roaming around the Signet Library!  My boss was on Council when affiliate membership for trainees and NQs was first introduced, and I was one of the first AffWS’s in around 2007, before taking full membership a couple of years later.  Since then, quite frankly, I have simply turned up to the Crofting Law Conference, the Charity Law Conference and one or two other functions.  I have only been to the dinner once!

5. You recently became a trustee of the WS Society, please tell us about this decision?

I have always been proud to be a WS.  My Granny started her working life in a bank, but when she married my grandad, who worked in the same bank, she found herself looking for new challenges.  She took a job typing up the memoir of a local farmer and county councillor called Joseph Budge.  Joe had a CBE for services to agriculture and an MC for acts of bravery during the First World War.  But, Granny claimed, the postnominals Joe valued above all others were WS, as he had served a WS apprenticeship with Morton, Smart, Milligan and Prosser before going to War.  So, when Robert Pirrie asked me to consider allowing myself to be nominated, Granny was in my thoughts, as were some illustrious WS ancestors of the eighteenth and nineteenth century.  Most of all, though, I thought what an enormous privilege, and responsibility, it would be to be one of those charged with looking after this very special institution, its stunning home and its internationally renowned collections.  Who could turn down such an invitation?

6. What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

As a constituent part of the College of Justice, as an organisation which has been on the go for five, six, seven hundred years, and has boasted so many illustrious names from the solicitor branch of the profession amongst its membership, it continues to live its values of “excellence, permanence and integrity”.  Join for the excellent CPD, the ability to visit and make use of the library, to socialise with likeminded people in the Special Interest Groups, or attend the magnificent dinner.  Join because of a regard for history, or because being a WS marks you out as being of a particularly independent mind in a profession of independent minded people.  Join because engaging in broad cultural pursuits makes one a better lawyer.  This is not an original thought: none other than Robert Pirrie once said that an engagement with history, continuity and Scottish legal heritage is important and makes you a more interesting, better, lawyer.  I read that interview [read here] with Robert and it articulated my own thoughts about the WS Society so clearly.  The Society really is special.

Employee Spotlight on Ben Braidwood

Ben Braidwood is the WS Society’s Operations Assistant.

Sarah Leask spoke to Ben about his role at the Society and learnt about some of his interests outside of the Signet Library.

1. You joined the WS Society in 2024, as Operations Assistant. Please tell us about your role at the Society?

My role at the Society encompasses supporting the front of house and operations team. I help with the day to day running of the building and making sure that everything runs smoothly. In addition to this, I help with some administrative tasks and with the set up and running of any events held at the Signet Library. I also help at reception from time to time, so some members may see me when they come into the building either to use the library or if they are taking advantage of the meeting spaces we have.

2. Since joining the Society, what have been your highlights?

Despite being with the WS Society less than a year, there have been many highlights. Most notably the successful running of the Annual Dinner in November, a fabulous event with many members and guests attending. It highlighted all the best the Society has to offer. Another highlight has to be the Scottish Global Dialogues event alongside Beyond Borders Scotland. This was a highly successful and interesting event (that highlighted conflicts and issues around the world and the work done by the United Nations) which was led by Martin Griffiths OBE. Another highlight was the WS Christmas carol concert, a wonderful festive event with wonderful singing from pupils of St Mary’s Cathedral Music School. A wonderful event that put me in the festive spirit.

3. I hear that you have played American Football, in the past. Please tell us a bit more.

Yes, I played American Football while at university for the Edinburgh Napier Knights for 4 years and thoroughly enjoyed playing the sport as I had never thought it was a possibility in Scotland! While playing at university, I also took up coaching for the Knights Youth Team which was set up while I was at University and I found this thoroughly rewarding to pass on any knowledge I had and to see young people play the sport I love. I also played at Under 19 Level and Senior Level for the East Kilbride Pirates before injuries cut my playing career short unfortunately. I also coached the Edinburgh Napier Knights University Team and the Scotland Under 19 team which was created to get young Scottish players seen and, on the map, to be scouted for bigger and better things. During my time on the coaching staff we successfully ran training camps and played games against the NFL academy and Team North from Northern England. My time playing and coaching American Football was highly rewarding and something I enjoyed doing.

4. Tell us something about the Signet Library that our members might not know?

One thing about the Signet Library that members may be unaware of is the amazing discounts that you can get in the Colonnades café and on venue hire. Upon becoming a member you have access to a 15% discount on items at the Colonnades café and the fabulous afternoon tea. Also, members can take advantage of a discount on venue hire at the Signet Library. Some excellent benefits to being a member and using the wonderful space we have here. It is a real perk of being a member!

Member Spotlight on Alisdair MacPherson WS

This month’s Member Spotlight features WS Society Council member, Dr Alisdair MacPherson WS, who talked to us about how studying law changed his understanding of the world and what being a member of the WS Society means to him.

“Whether you’re interested in legal history, networking opportunities, CPD or special events, the WS Society has a lot to offer.”

— Dr. Alisdair MacPherson

1. What made you consider law as a career?

History was my first love, and so I decided to study it at the University of Edinburgh. As I approached the end of my degree, I was contemplating next steps and career paths that might fit well with my interests and skills. After some reflection, and discussions with friends and family, law became the frontrunner. However, I’m quite cautious by nature, and so wanted to be sure before embarking on a law degree. I therefore decided to obtain relevant experience, which I did in administrative roles with the Scottish Government (in community justice) and the Procurator Fiscal Service. These experiences helped confirm that I wanted to be a lawyer. I commenced an accelerated LLB. It was a great decision. Studying law completely changed my understanding of the world. I’ll be forever grateful to my younger self for making the decision to study law as a second degree, despite the significant financial costs and time commitment.

2. You are currently a Senior Lecturer in Commercial Law at the University of Aberdeen. Please tell us about your law career?

I suppose my career path is unusual in comparison with other members. After my LLB and Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh, I undertook a traineeship with a large commercial law firm. I enjoyed my time there and learnt a lot. But I was more attracted by the prospect of an academic career. I was inspired by my lecturers at university, and I wanted to explore in greater depth some of the issues that they had raised. I therefore obtained funding for a PhD on floating charges in Scotland, supervised by Scott Wortley and George Gretton (two of the lecturers who had inspired me in the first place).

During my PhD, I also had a very memorable year at the Max Planck Institute in Hamburg. After finishing my thesis, and spending time tutoring and lecturing at Edinburgh, I moved north to Aberdeen in 2018. I didn’t know the city well but it has become home and I’m very fond of it and the surrounding countryside. The University of Aberdeen provides a supportive environment, with fantastic colleagues, and it has been great to teach students at all levels over a number of years and to see many of them join the legal profession. I’m currently on research leave until the summer, so I’m working on a few articles and books, mainly in my principal research areas, the law of debt and insolvency law. Hopefully one or two of these will be published soon!

3.  How did you first come to hear about the WS Society and what made you want to become a member?

I had a general awareness of the WS Society even before I became a law student. I think I must have encountered it while studying Scottish history, which I suppose reflects the significance of Writers to the Signet over the centuries. During my legal studies I learned more about the Society and its status and work in the present day. A few years after becoming an academic lawyer, I decided that I’d like to join, in part because I wished to retain strong links with the legal profession in Scotland. I was also keen to become a member of an esteemed membership organisation, and to contribute to its ongoing success.

4. What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

I would encourage them to apply. Whether you’re interested in legal history, networking opportunities, CPD or special events, the WS Society has a lot to offer. The Signet Library is of course a beautiful venue for any occasion. Another incentive is that there are various ways in which members can shape what the Society does, including with respect to the activities mentioned above. And, while it may seem grandiose to say, the Society denotes long-standing excellence at the heart of the Scottish legal community. I am proud to be a member.

Member Spotlight on Zoe Hamilton

Zoe Hamilton WS, in-house corporate lawyer at Lloyds Banking Group, has recently joined the WS Society.

Sarah Leask recently sat down with Zoe to find out about her path to law, career highlights and what her first impressions are of the WS Society.

1. What/who made you consider law as a career?

Like many who end up in the law, I was better at Arts subjects at school than maths and science (failing a test on wiring a plug in Secondary Three was a particular low point). My parents didn’t go to university and there aren’t any lawyers in the family. I was aware that a friend a couple of years above me at school (the screenwriter Nicole Taylor) was going to read law, and that piqued my interest. In 1999 the only access I had to information about universities was prospectuses in the school library – and what I read about studying law really appealed to me aged 16.

2. Tell us about your path to Corporate Law?

I studied at the Edinburgh Law School – I did a summer placement at Dickson Minto W.S. aged 20 and was offered a traineeship in corporate law. I then spent seven happy years in the Corporate team at the Edinburgh office of Dundas & Wilson CS LLP, and I’ve now been an in-house corporate lawyer at Lloyds Banking Group for ten years, which have gone by incredibly quickly.

3. Please tell us about career highlights, to date.

I’ve been very fortunate to have worked on some fascinating projects and transactions, both in private practice and as an in-house lawyer. My career at the bank has spanned significant changes in banking and I’ve worked on matters like the Brexit-driven transfer of our Dutch and German businesses into our new German bank, and more recently, on the creation of a new industry-owned company protecting access to cash within the UK.

4. You have recently joined the WS Society. How did you hear about the WS Society and why did you become a member?

As I trained at Dickson Minto W.S. (and took the Professional Competence Course with the WS Society back in 2006), I’ve always been aware of it, but hadn’t really considered being a member until quite recently, when I read that my old friend Chris Nicholson WS was now one of the Society’s council members, and I’ve moved office location to The Mound, just round the corner from the Signet Library. Now that I’m based nearby, being able to use the library resources was very appealing. I wish I had thought about it sooner – Lady Elish, Dr Pirrie, Sophie, Sarah and the whole team have been so welcoming.

5. What would you say to any lawyer considering the WS membership?

I regret not joining earlier – there is a very well-resourced library for practitioners, and members have access to both the facility of the library and the community of the Society. It is an honour to be part of this society with hundreds of years of heritage, and to help maintain and develop it for future generations. Whatever stage of your legal career you are at, there is something for you at the WS Society.

Employee Spotlight on Sandra Morel

Sandra Morel has been the Front of House and now Membership Associate since 2019. She is the first person visitors to the Signet Library will be welcomed by and has supported many events over the years.

Here she talks to Sarah Leask about her time at the WS Society, highlights and shares memorable moments.

Most visitors will be greeted by you, when visiting the Signet Library. Tell us about your role as Front of House and now Membership Associate.

I manage a variety of tasks including welcoming members and visitors, booking meeting rooms, handling subscription payment over the phone, and overseeing administrative tasks related to CPD bookings. I also provide support to Sarah Leask with new membership applications and enquiries. Since the Signet Library is just off the Royal Mile, I often provide assistance to tourists who are interested in the history of the building.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

I gain satisfaction from the events that WS puts on, such as the Annual WS Dinner and a memorable occasion was Secretary John Kerry’s phenomenal address on the Climate Crisis in 2023.

The variety of events, from corporate gatherings to weddings, showcases the Signet Library in diverse ways, highlighting its versatility and beauty. The WS Society team demonstrates remarkable flexibility and adaptability, skilfully managing a diverse array of events, from high-profile Royal visits to engaging Mock Court Sessions, ensuring each occasion is executed seamlessly and meets the unique needs of participants.

You joined the WS Society in 2019, please share some memorable highlights?

Witnessing the organisation required for the Royal family’s event was fascinating. And what a memorable moment when the security guard of the King asked for a glass of water for His Majesty, while attending an event at Parliament Hall!

The Signet Library and the WS Society supports events arranged at St Giles Cathedral such as the St Andrewstide Service and the Thistle Service. The Signet Library is often used for robing and crowd holding and this is an opportunity to see members of the WS Society walk alongside the Knights of the Order of the Thistle and other distinguished offices including Senators from the College of Justice.

Member Spotlight on Jennifer Skeoch

This month’s Member Spotlight features a member of the WS Society, Jennifer Skeoch.

We asked Jennifer about her inspirations to pursue law as a career, law in employment and discrimination law, career highlights and how the WS Society has impacted her career.

1. What/who made you consider law as a career?

Now this will date me, but I have to be completely honest and say that watching Ally McBeal and Legally Blonde contributed to my decision to pursue a career in law! I’m still waiting for the glamourous part to kick in! In all seriousness, I didn’t know anyone who already worked in the profession, so it was quite an abstract concept for me. My grandpa – who was an incredibly wise and special person – told me that he had wanted to study law when he returned from serving in the Second World War, but his father told him he needed to get a proper job(!) so he didn’t get the chance. He suggested it would be a good career path for me because he thought I was analytical and he rated Edinburgh as the best University in the world, so I took his advice and never looked back.

2. What attracted you to employment and discrimination law ?

I had a very well-rounded traineeship but as soon as I was exposed to employment and discrimination law I was completely hooked. I absolutely love the blend of people issues with some really challenging (and constantly evolving) legal frameworks. Knowing the law is the baseline for advising on employment and discrimination issues; the true experts overlay that knowledge with insight and experience of how people interact with each other at work, what matters to them and how issues can be resolved successfully. This added dimension makes it a unique and often highly charged practice area – something which keeps me engaged and on my toes constantly.

3. Please tell us about career highlights, so far.

I have two anchors when it comes to work: my team and our clients – it might sound cheesy but all of my highlights revolve around them.

Ever since I started in my team as a newly qualified solicitor, I have been trusted with some incredibly challenging and rewarding work, and supported to reach my potential. One of the biggest professional highlights for me was being promoted to partner in a team and firm that has invested so much in my development (and I still have a voicemail from my grandpa telling me how proud of me he was when that happened, something I’ll always treasure). This platform has then allowed me to contribute to bringing on our next generation of lawyers and this makes me so happy and proud – they’re genuinely brilliant people and such talented professionals.

From a client perspective, an ongoing highlight for me is the longevity and meaningfulness of the relationships I have. The level of trust placed in us by our clients was never more pronounced than during COVID, when - overnight - employment lawyers were needed to advise on completely surreal and uncharted legal territory. I have to say our team refuse to use the “f” word (too many bad memories of late nights and badly drafted non-statutory guidance), but that intense period of advising clients who were all handling their own crises really did cement our status as trusted advisers. We often reflect with clients that if we could all get through that time together, we can handle anything.

4. How did you first come to hear about the WS Society and what made you want to become a member?

I first encountered the WS Society when I was at University and attended a number of conferences after that, including the specialist employment and discrimination law conference. I became a WS member on the recommendation of Mandy Laurie WS – our current Deputy Keeper – who spoke about the WS Society with such enthusiasm and positivity that I immediately wanted to be part of it.

5. In what way has the WS Society played a role in your career?

Being a WS has contributed immeasurably to my development – both in terms of the professional opportunities it has generated and from a personal perspective. I feel really strongly that the WS Society provides a platform for lawyers to engage with each other and share insight in a unique way. We all leave our “day jobs” at the door and the focus is always on sharing knowledge and experience, helping each other to develop our skills and grow our networks, and honouring the integrity of our profession.

I have learned so much from the members of the WS Society and in particular would like to highlight the amazing Malcolm Mackay WS who is a legend in the employment law world, a wonderful mentor to me and a true gentleman.

The WS Society’s charitable objectives add such a valuable dimension to membership and this is something which makes the Society uniquely placed to make a real difference.

6. As a Trustee of the WS Society, what would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

I cannot overstate how rewarding and positive membership of the WS is for lawyers! What I would say to people considering membership is: be curious – set up a call or in person chat with a trustee or member of the WS to find out more, and ask the questions that are on your mind. If you’re someone who wants to grow your network beyond your own practice area or firm/organisation and you have a passion for making a wider contribution to the profession and our communities, then I can guarantee you the WS Society is for you!

On a personal level, it would be remiss of me not to mention that I got married at the Signet Library in 2022 and it was the best day of my life! Not only did I feel so relaxed and “at home”, but being a WS I got some personalised merchandise curated by the Society’s Chief Executive, Dr Robert Pirrie – now if that’s not an enticing benefit of membership then I don’t know what is!

Employee Spotlight on Sarah Leask

This month’s Employee Spotlight features Sarah Leask, Director Membership and Engagement. Sarah re-joined the team in February in a new role. She talks about her role and what the WS Society membership offers. 

You joined in February 2024, what attracted you to work at the WS Society?

Not many people will know this, or realise, but I actually worked for the WS Society many years ago. Although the building remains the same, as does the history of the Society, a great deal has changed.

Since leaving university, I have worked in many roles, all have been customer centric and focused on enriching customer relationships and experiences. My role at the Society of Director, Membership and Engagement utilises my experience of working with professional service accounts during my recruitment career, along with my background of working with and supporting charities. I sincerely believe that building meaningful working relationships with integrity and respect is essential and translates universally.

Something I am passionate about, hopefully everyone is, is equality, diversity and inclusion. We need to ensure that all lawyers who want to become members of the WS Society have the opportunity and access to do so. Once admitted as a member, I hope all members will have a sense of belonging and identification with the Society and fellow members. This sense of community is what I want to build on and use as a significant part of the attraction to joining the Society.

So far, what have been your highlights whilst working for the WS Society?

I have had a busy first (nearly) year, with lots of highlights. I have been so impressed by all the work that goes on behind the scenes to produce the events at the Signet Library. It was really fascinating to work with all my colleagues to support the hosting of the Scottish Global Dialogues Lecture with Martin Griffiths OBE and First Minister John Swinney MSP. Recently it was our Annual Dinner and, again, it was a privilege to work with the executive team and Heritage Portfolio to produce such an exquisite event.

The Diet of Admission ceremonies that we host for our new members are wonderful events, rich in history and tradition. We do offer the option to swear the oath online, albeit that is a more functional experience and I recommend the magic of the in person version.

A new membership benefit which we have introduced, since I joined the Society, is our Special Interest Groups (SIGs). It’s so important that we support our members and offer the opportunity for them to meet one another and share their interests, knowledge, learnings and wisdom. The SIGs have just launched and are proving popular. We hope to grow this initiative, with the support of our members. Seeing the SIGs go from concept to completion has been a real highlight.

We also launched the Spotlight feature and here I am!

Tell us some facts about the WS Society membership benefits, that people might not know

Members are free to work in the West Library by prior arrangement with our Research Principal, James Hamilton. James is on hand in the West Library to provide research support. To have James on hand, with his knowledge and expertise, is an incredible benefit in itself and to have this work space available, in such splendid surroundings, is an added bonus! For members requiring a private space for a meeting or to work, the Commissioners’ Room, Minto Room or Napier Room are available to book. Members of the WS Society are eligible for up to three hours of meeting room hire free of charge per week. There are discounted rates for our much acclaimed CPD events, and members receive a 50% discount on venue hire rates and a 15% discount for Colonnades.

As mentioned, we have introduced Special Interest Groups. This is already proving to be a popular benefit and we want to make this a core privilege of being a member, having access to these group meetings. It’s a great way to meet other members — students, affiliates, associates working and retired WS — where everyone has a perspective and can contribute. We need our members to take the initiative to establish more SIGs, whether it’s in their practice area or sector, or whether it’s an interest outside the law. Meetings can be organised online on Zoom to allow everyone access regardless of location, and the Signet Library is always available as a special venue for an in person meeting from time to time, when suits. Often the library will be able to contribute something relevant to the discussion from its collections in law, literature, history and culture. SIG meetings are open to all members, regardless of qualification or level of knowledge.

The SIGs are by members for members with the Society as the organising nexus. I urge any member with an idea or desire for a SIG to get in touch with me, please. I will make it happen!

Contact

Sarah can be contacted at sleask@wssociety.co.uk.