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!
