The Schools Citizenship And Law Project
(SCALP)

 
 

 

 

Legal Achievers

Work through the simple questions on our Legal Achievers to discover the wide variety of career paths a law degree can open the door to.

The individuals featured are at various stages of their career and reflect many different areas of interest.  The questions are found in the grey box at the top of each profile.

 

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Q.  Who made Douglas Alexander a Minister in the Government?

Douglas Alexander

Park Mains High School
Renfrewshire

Many lawyers have done well in the world of politics. Douglas has impressed many with his quick progress as an MP.  Former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is an admirer and did not hesitate to make Douglas a Minster in the Labour government at a young age.  The current Prime Minister Gordon Brown has retained him as a senior Minister. (more)

Q.  How did Elish Angiolini make legal history in 2001?

Elish Angiolini


 

 

Elish made legal history in 2001 when she became the first woman to serve as Solicitor General for Scotland. She grew up in Govan in Glasgow and after graduating from Strathclyde University, began her training with the Procurator Fiscal Service. She has worked in courts around Scotland as well as advising the government on important matters of law.

Q.  Why is 'attention to detail' an important skill for Aisha Anwar?

Aisha Anwar

Portobello High School
Edinburgh

Attention to detail is an important skill for Aisha as she often deals with highly complex business disputes. She must be good at it judging by the success she has enjoyed! Aisha works in Edinburgh for top law firm, Maclay Murray and Spens. She was School Dux at Portobello High before studying law at Edinburgh University and following this up with a Masters degree from Oxford University. (more)
Q.  At which two universities did Ross Allardyce study law?

Ross Allardice
 

Perth Academy
Perth & Kinross

Ross showed great talent while still a law student first at Cambridge University and then Dundee University by winning a host of prizes and distinctions.  He then completed his training at the major Scottish firm Dickson Minto W.S.  Ross has since moved to top international law firm, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he is a corporate associate in the London office.  Ross has worked on a number of highly complex but very interesting business deals. (more)

Q.  Sarah Baillie is also a qualified _____ ______as well as a solicitor.  Complete.

Sarah Baillie

Banchory Academy
Aberdeenshire

 

Before studying law at Edinburgh University, Sarah graduated with an Honours degree in Environmental Planning from Strathclyde University. As a result, she became one of only two practising solicitors in Scotland who is also a qualified Town Planner. This means Sarah is well placed to advise clients on planning and environmental issues for multi-million pound land developments.
Q.  Why is it important that Ken Baird has a head for figures and detail?

Ken Baird

 

Ken is a highly talented finance lawyer and a partner in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, one of the world's leading international law firms.  He leads the firm's restructuring and insolvency practice and must have a head for figures and detail because he works on highly complex business deals where mistakes can cost a great deal of money.  Ken studied Law at Glasgow University and has since qualified as a solicitor in both Scotland and England. (more)
Q.  In which US State did Hazel Barclay complete an internship after leaving university?

Hazel Barclay

Mearns Academy
Aberdeenshire

Hazel graduated from Aberdeen University with a law degree before spending a summer in the USA completing an internship for the presiding judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit of Alabama!  Hazel learned a lot from the experience and shortly afterwards began as a trainee solicitor in the Aberdeen office of one of Scotland's largest law firms.
Q.  Leo Blair went to the same school as Sir Alex Ferguson.  Name it.

Leo Blair

Govan High School
Glasgow

 

Tony Blair's father, Leo, was adopted by a Govan shipyard worker in the 1920s. He attended Govan High School, where Sir Alex Ferguson was also educated. During the Second World War he joined the army and rose to the rank of Major.  In the years that followed, Leo became a top lawyer.  He hoped to become an MP but ill health prevented this.  In the 1990s, he watched his son became one of the most powerful Prime Ministers in history.
Q.  What type of law did Tony Blair specialise in before full-time politics?

Tony Blair

Fettes College
Edinburgh

Tony Blair was born in Edinburgh but spent most of his childhood in Durham.  His father Leo (see above) was a barrister so it was no great surprise when Tony also decided to study law. He went to Oxford University and eventually become a barrister himself.  He specialised in employment and industrial law before opting for full-time politics.  Like many lawyers, Tony Blair performed well in Parliament.  A rapid rise followed taking him all the way to No. 10 Downing Street.
Q.  Pauline Bradley has worked in three different sectors.  Name them.

Pauline Bradley

 

People who are successful corporate lawyers are normally happy to continue with their legal career. However, Pauline  decided to see what she could achieve in in the world of corporate banking.  Having made this unusual move, she quickly made a name for herself and went on to fill a top post at Bank of Scotland. She later became Chief Executive at Kenmore Property Group Ltd.
Q.  What was Robert Brown's job in Dumbarton?

Robert Brown

The Gordon Schools
Aberdeenshire

Robert gained a 1st Class law degree at Aberdeen University and then trained with an Aberdeen law firm. He became a Depute Procurator Fiscal in Dumbarton before joining Ross Harper Solicitors where he was appointed as a Partner.  Robert has a strong interest in politics and in 1999 was elected as an MSP for the Glasgow Region.
Q.  What is John Buchan probably best remembered for?

John Buchan

 

Hutcheson's Grammar
Glasgow
John Buchan studied Classics at Glasgow University and then Law at Oxford University. He was a brilliant individual.  Indeed, during his life he became a diplomat, barrister, journalist, historian, poet, statesman and novelist!  Perhaps he is best remembered for his famous novel The Thirty-Nine Steps!
Q.  What does Pamela Buxton feel is one of the big challenges of the legal profession?

Pamela Buxton

 
Pamela has enjoyed an interesting and unusual career since qualifying as a solicitor, including a spell as an in-house lawyer with a large whisky company, followed by a move to London and one of the world's largest and most successful legal firms, Lovells.  Pamela's ability, along with her knowledge and experience of commercial law, led to her being appointed as a Partner at Lovells and she regularly worked on high-level business deals involving millions of pounds.  However, when her young family arrived, Pamela decided to adopt more flexible working patterns.  She stepped down as a Partner and returned to Scotland where she now enjoys time at home with her children but still acts as a Consultant to Lovells, working remotely and on a flexible basis.   Pamela is delighted to have found a way combining a family and career which is something she feels is definitely one of the big challenges of the legal profession!

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