So you want to be a lawyer?
13 Nov 06
Report of a session encouraging young people from non-traditional backgrounds to consider a career in law
On 18 October, the University of Edinburgh’s magnificent Playfair Library played host to over 50 S5 and S6 pupils, students from the university, and members of the profession, for “So You Want to Be a Lawyer”.
The session was part of the university’s award-winning initiative, Pathways to the Professions, which encourages young people from non-traditional backgrounds to consider a career in the professions. For many, they represent the first generation in their family to go to university. Each year, the Society is delighted to support the day.
An enthusiastic and diverse group of speakers, with their employers’ support, gave up either a half or full day to take part: Lianda Barnes and Simon Hammond (Digby Brown), Andrew Brown (Anderson Strathern), Mhari Gibson (Scottish Parliament), Frances Horsburgh (Standard Life), Anna Macgregor (Dundas & Wilson secondee to Stirling Council), Jennifer MacDonald (Bank of Scotland), Richard Pugh (Drummond Miller and SYLA President), Andrew Stewart (Faculty of Advocates), Alasdair Sutherland (Dundas & Wilson), and Elaine Tyre of the university’s School of Law.
They spoke frankly about the work of solicitors, but kept the tone light, and anecdotes of life as a trainee raised a smile from the pupils. Andrew Stewart gave the audience an informative and witty insight into the world of advocacy.
Organiser Alan MacLachlan, had briefed them: “Some pupils can be reticent to say something for fear of asking a ‘silly’ question. Many of them do not know much about studying law, or the legal profession, so we need to encourage them to feel comfortable enough to speak and participate by making each session informal.”
The winning session of the day was the afternoon debate. The pupils devised some wonderful arguments on the motions “This House would ban international adoption”, “This House would introduce a curfew for teenagers”, “This House would lower the voting age to 16”, and were articulate and confident on their feet. Helping hands came from four Edinburgh University law students who had themselves attended Pathways as pupils.
Collette Paterson, New Lawyers’ Co-ordinator at the Law Society of Scotland said: “Pathways is a leader in this field. It’s very encouraging to see so many members of the profession willing to spare their time to talk about their experiences to those who are interested in becoming the trainees and new solicitors of the future.”