Employee Spotlight on Matthew Bruce

Matthew Bruce 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 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’s 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 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!

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

I did not know what ‘WS’ meant when I first saw it in our head of law’s email signature as a first-year student. 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 which I attended with my good friend and fellow new student member Sharon Shanley. I remember that afternoon very well. I was slightly worried 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. In 2022, 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 Hamiton’s enthusiasm for helping members of the Society with their work, and external researchers with their enquiries, is tremendous and so valuable. The exhibitions 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 6 months, Sophie and colleagues have offered me valuable, detailed training and a well-rounded introduction to the legal profession. I am 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 career development and 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.

Spotlight on Thomas Murdock WS

We are delighted to introduce our new feature, Spotlight. Spotlight will showcase WS members and WS employees.

Our first member is Thomas Murdock WS. Thomas is Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel EMEA at Blue Yonder and a WS Council member. We asked Thomas about law as a career, law in commercial tech and what being a member of the WS Society means to him.

What/who made you consider law as a career?

I actually moved into a graduate LLB after studying music at undergrad level, and my plan was to find a way of combining these two interests. But when I qualified in 2012 there wasn’t a great deal of opportunity for a Scots lawyer without the right connections to move into media law, plus there wasn’t really a media law presence in Scotland at that time. I took an NQ job at a venture capital plc specialising in tech startups in a very commercial role crossing business, tech and law, and the rest is history.

Law wasn’t actually my first choice of career, more of a pragmatic solution, and I don’t think it’ll be my only career. I’m really excited about portfolio careers, the agility and portability of skills in the workplace now and in the future. I think it’s fair to say that the legal profession was brought hesitantly into the 21st century and I think necessity will dictate that traditional roles will give way to something more dynamic, as the commercial landscape changes and integrated AI solutions become an accepted norm. Change is the only constant, and I’m excited about what the future holds.

What attracted you to work in commercial tech?

Something I came to realise as I got older was that I have a short attention span and can get bored easily, so moving into a dynamic area like tech made sense, since the landscape is constantly evolving. I also knew I was unsuited to private practice – the suit and tie, time-served, deferential thing just didn’t click with me. Tech companies seemed to have a more youthful, diverse, meritocratic outlook and so I fitted in much better with my growth/ disruptive mindset, particularly working in-house viewing everything through a commercial lens. For me, Tech was the antidote to what I’d experienced in private practice, and felt full of opportunity.

Tell us about your role and what a typical week looks like, for you?

I’m one of the three regional heads of legal in a global tech business with 7,000+ employees, so anything and everything can (and does) hit my desk within my EMEA purview. My team primarily focus on revenue transactions, negotiating complex and high value deals, but Blue Yonder is in a transformative period and so there’s no shortage of strategic projects to work on, like acquisitions, integration, go-to-market planning, training, and the usual in-house lawyer staple of implementing process (especially using tech) to grow and scale. I also look after EMEA housekeeping items like HR escalations, bricks and mortar management, and working with our global Privacy and Compliance leads to navigate and cascade EMEA-specific considerations amongst my team and the business.

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

I first came to hear of the WS Society as a child, seeing ‘WS’ on law firm letterheads and wondering what it meant. Fast-forward to my traineeship and I remember discussing with one of the Edinburgh-based partners, who was a WS, about the Society and what it meant to them. Being a relative outsider, becoming a WS did feel something unattainable and like ‘part of the establishment’, but that posed an instant challenge and becoming a member was intriguing to me.

“My WS membership has extended my professional network, and provides a sense of belonging to a heritage where law, history, and culture interconnect and inform.”

After nearly 10 years of membership, in November 2023 I also became one of the WS Council members. The Council has an important consultative function in providing the Society’s Trustees with feedback on the Society’s activities, in pursuit of our charitable objects and providing subscriber engagement.

Being able to bring my experience to the table at the WS Society, both as a member and Council member, felt important to me. I’m an out gay man, and although that does not define me, being my authentic self has not always been easy in the workplace. Having experienced rejection, prejudice and both conscious and unconscious bias in my career, I’ve tried to take every opportunity to represent and advocate for diversity and inclusion within the roles that I’ve had, both employed and voluntary. I’ve found the WS Society to be open, inquisitive, inclusive and evolving to be fit for purpose now and in future.

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

The WS Society offers professional, social and networking opportunities, both in Edinburgh and remotely, and has reconnected me with past colleagues. There’s also an excellent CPD programme, the extensive library itself – which can also be used as a great place for quiet working – and a variety of events throughout the year, for example when Senator John Kerry came to present last summer.

I’ve worked with a number of US and international tech companies since qualifying, and made some assertive career moves. Being a ‘WS’ has prompted questions and raised the profile of my Scots Law background amongst hiring managers, started interesting discussions and set me apart from other candidates. When potential employers understand more about the WS Society and the role it plays within the Legal profession in Scotland, it’s been seen as a positive differentiator.

What would you say to any lawyer considering WS membership?

My WS membership has extended my professional network, and provides a sense of belonging to a heritage where law, history, and culture interconnect and inform. The WS Society has changed a lot over the years and will continue to evolve, with a real focus on increasing diversity. In doing this, we hope to achieve a sense of belonging for our members. It’s crucial that we continue to attract and embrace lawyers with diversity of background, beliefs and journeys into law, and so I’d encourage anyone interested to visit the website or social media to find out more, and take the plunge.

If you would like to feature in a future Member Spotlight please contact Sarah Leask, Director, Engagement and Membership (sleask@wssociety.co.uk).