News In Focus
6 April 2007
Engaging tomorrow's lawyers today
by Collette Paterson
Since August 2006, the Society has been exploring how best to connect with the next generation of solicitors in Scotland for the long-term benefit of the profession, particularly as we anticipate significant changes over the next few years. More than ever, law students, trainees and newly qualified solicitors (collectively, “new lawyers”) should be qualifying into a profession which they feel they belong to, have a sense of responsibility to, and which they want to help remain prosperous.
Two events already held by the Society have helped to inform the content of “Engaging Tomorrow’s Lawyers Today – the New Lawyers’ Conference”, to be held in June (date to be announced).
On 28 February, for the first time, law student representatives from the LLB-providing universities met at Drumsheugh Gardens, for what was a highly productive step in the objective-setting stage of the Society’s engagement strategy.
Students’ perceptions on what the Society could be doing to instil faith and lead to sustainable engagement with the Society from the outset, also informed discussions at the strategy away-day with committee members of the Scottish Young Lawyers Association (SYLA) on Saturday, 24 March.
Next on the Society’s agenda is the 50-strong conference.
Support from Cuthbert Recruitment has allowed the Society to plan the event, at which near-final objectives and strategies will be revealed for members of each target audience, and others interested, to discuss and help develop a final product for autumn – The New Lawyer’s Engagement Strategy.
The crux of the issue is that the Society is relevant, and has a pastoral responsibility from the minute someone decides to embark on the study of law. Generally, focus on first year transition, and the idea that the Society must capture students’ attention from day one of their studies is something that I think will emerge as a key theme of the eventual engagement strategy – if the conference-goers agree with the Society’s work so far, that is!
I also hope the recent SYLA away-day was the start of closer links. The SYLA will always remain independent in its representative function, but, like the Society, wishes to educate those new to the profession. Together we are looking for the vehicles that will work best for new lawyers.
The extensive education consultation and increasing change within the profession will have a knock-on effect on those coming through the ranks. The conference will be the last of three important steps we have taken to ensure that those we are seeking to engage, and other stakeholders, have been involved from the earliest stages.
While attendance at the New Lawyers’ Conference will be by advance invitation, the Society has four spaces to offer to members of the profession, or other readers of the Journal, with a genuine interest in helping to shape the future methods through which the Society will accompany new lawyers through the qualification process and into the profession.
Log on to www.lawscot.org.uk/training/newlawyers for information on the conference, which will be updated regularly, and for your chance to be invited along.
Collette Paterson, New Lawyers’ Coordinator