WS Special Interest Groups

The modern WS Society supports legal careers and well-being. We aim to enrich life both inside the legal world and in outside interests, such as history, literature, arts, and culture. This is what it means to belong to a lawyers’ institution where law, history and culture converge.

We therefore encourage all members — from student to employment to retired — to join our Special Interest Group (SIG) initiative.

Each SIG takes the form of a regular meeting covering a specific interest, whether a legal or industry specialism, or a subject outside the law. SIG meeting dates and registration links will be advertised in our monthly Signet Post e-bulletins. An enthusiastic member will take responsibility for organising discussion and meeting dates. Simply register via the link below for any meeting you would like to attend. Most meetings will be by Zoom. 

We are pleased to be hosting five SIGs and welcome proposals for others.

HISTORY

Inducing Intimacy: Deception, Consent and the Law

Date: Thursday 30 January 2025, 6 pm for 7 pm

Register here.

Ai

Lead: Fiona Killen

First meeting: Thursday 6 February, 12:30 – 13:30

Location: Zoom, (click here to register)

CHARITY AND THIRD SECTOR

Lead: Sarah Brown WS

Second meeting: Thursday 20 February, 12:30 – 13:30

Topic: We are delighted that a member of the team from OSCR will be joining this session to discuss upcoming changes to charity law’

Location: Zoom, (click here to register)

BOOK CLUB

Lead: Caroline Docherty WS

Third meeting: Tuesday 25 February, 17:30 – 18:30

Third book: The Importance of Being Seven, Alexander McCall Smith

Location: Zoom (click here to register).

SIG ART

Meet and Greet the Artist:  Peter Graham ROI RSW 

Time: Sunday 26 January 2025, 2:30 pm

The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour

Location: The Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh.

Note interest in joining this group: email membership@wssociety.co.uk

fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  •  To give members the space to foster connections, share knowledge and advance their specific interest areas.  

  • Each SIG is open to all categories of member, from student to employed to retired. No level of experience or expertise is required.

  • Joining a SIG is free and included in WS membership. There may be ad hoc expenses as dictated by the group from time to time e.g., travel expenses, dining, museum entrance fee etc.

  • The SIGs are a WS membership benefit and meetings are not open to non-members (with the exception of guest speakers or invited guests as dictated by the SIG lead).

  • As many as you would like.

  • Meeting dates will be set by the SIG lead and published monthly in Signet Post. 

  • This will be dictated by the SIG attendees. Meetings can be held in person at the Signet Library or a venue of the SIG’s choice or online. If online, meeting links will be circulated by the WS Society.

  • A link to register your attendance will be circulated with the joining details of each meeting.

  • If you have an idea for a new SIG or would like to become involved in leading a SIG, please contact Sarah Leask.

  • This will be dictated by the attendees and the WS Society will not be involved in arranging the mentorship.

  • We will advertise SIG meeting dates and registration links in our monthly Signet Post e-bulletins.

  • Not at present.

  • Please contact Sarah Leask.

  • Please direct any questions to Sarah Leask, sleask@wssociety.co.uk.