Supreme Court allows appeal in part in Venezuela gold case

The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed the appeal in part of a board claiming entitlement to give instructions on behalf of the Central Bank of Venezuela and has dismissed the cross-appeal of a contender board.

Lord Lloyd–Jones, with whom Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Hamblen and Lord Leggatt agreed, gave the court's judgment.

In May 2018, a presidential election took place in Venezuela, which the incumbent, Mr Nicolás Maduro Moros, claimed to have won. Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom ("HMG") considered that this election was deeply flawed. On 15 January 2019, the Venezuelan National Assembly announced that Mr Juan Gerardo Guaidó Márquez was the interim President of Venezuela. On 4 February 2019, the then UK Foreign Secretary declared that the United Kingdom recognises Mr Guaidó “as the constitutional interim President of Venezuela, until credible presidential elections can be held”. That statement was reiterated by HMG in a subsequent letter and in statements made to the Court on behalf of the Foreign Secretary in these proceedings.

The Maduro Board and the Guaidó Board both claim to act on behalf of the Central Bank of Venezuela (the “BCV”). The Maduro Board claims to have been appointed to represent the BCV by Mr Maduro as President of Venezuela. The Guaidó Board claims to be an ad hoc board of the BCV, appointed by Mr Guaidó as interim President of Venezuela under a ‘transition statute’ passed by the Venezuelan National Assembly. The Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (the “STJ”) has issued several judgments holding that the transition statute is null and void. The Maduro Board and the Guaidó Board both claim to be exclusively authorised to act on behalf of the BCV, including in arbitration proceedings in the London Court of International Arbitration and in respect of gold reserves of about US$1.95 billion held by the Bank of England for the BCV. The central issue in this appeal is which of these two parties is entitled to give instructions on behalf of the BCV.

The Commercial Court ordered a trial of two preliminary issues. The first (the “recognition issue”) is whether HMG recognises Mr Maduro or Mr Guaidó and, if so, in what capacity and on what basis. The second (the “act of state issue”) is whether courts in this jurisdiction may consider the validity under Venezuelan law of (among other things) the appointments to the BCV board made by Mr Guaidó and the transition statute passed by the Venezuelan National Assembly.

At first instance, Teare J held, in respect of the recognition issue, that HMG had conclusively recognised Mr Guaidó as Venezuela’s head of state. The judge further held that the validity of the transition statute and the appointments of Mr Guaidó engaged the act of state doctrine and were thus non–justiciable. The Maduro Board appealed successfully to the Court of Appeal on both issues. On the recognition issue, the Court of Appeal considered that HMG had recognised Mr Guaidó as the person entitled to be head of state (de jure) but had left open the possibility that it impliedly recognised Mr Maduro as in fact exercising some or all of the powers of head of state (de facto). It considered that this issue was best determined by posing further questions of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and remitted the matter to the Commercial Court for this purpose. The Court of Appeal held that the act of state issue could not be answered at that stage without considering both whether HMG recognises Mr Guaidó as Venezuela’s head of state for all purposes and whether the STJ judgments should be recognised by courts in this jurisdiction.

Reasons for the Judgment

The recognition issue

Under the United Kingdom’s constitutional arrangements, the recognition of foreign states, governments and heads of states is a matter for the executive. Courts in this jurisdiction thus accept statements made by the executive as conclusive as to whether an individual is to be regarded as a head of state. This rule is called the ‘one voice principle’. Its rationale is that certain matters are peculiarly within the executive’s cognisance. Historically, courts have drawn a distinction between the recognition of a government de jure and de facto. This distinction is now unlikely to have any useful role to play before courts in this jurisdiction.

HMG’s statement was a clear and unequivocal recognition of Mr Guaidó as President of Venezuela, which necessarily entailed that Mr Maduro was not recognised as the President of Venezuela. Under the one voice principle, it is therefore unnecessary to look beyond the terms of HMG’s statement. No question of implied recognition thus arises, and the Court of Appeal was wrong to think it did. The Court of Appeal’s reliance on the outdated concepts of de jure and de facto recognition was also misplaced. The question of recognition in this case has also been unnecessarily complicated by the distinction between whom HMG recognises as Venezuela’s head of state and whom it recognises as head of government. The relevant matter in these proceedings is the identity of Venezuela’s head of state, not its head of government.

It follows that courts in this jurisdiction are bound to accept HMG’s statements which establish that Mr Guaidó is recognised by HMG as the constitutional interim President of Venezuela and that Mr Maduro is not recognised by HMG as President of Venezuela for any purpose.

The act of state issue

There are two aspects of the act of state doctrine with which this appeal is concerned. The first (“Rule 1”) is that the courts of this country will recognise and will not question the effect of a foreign state’s legislation or other laws in relation to any acts which take place or take effect within the territory of that state. The second (“Rule 2”) is that the courts of this country will recognise, and will not question, the effect of an act of a foreign state’s executive in relation to any acts which take place or take effect within the territory of that state. Although Rule 2 has been doubted, in light of the substantial body of authority in its support its existence should now be acknowledged. Furthermore, there is no basis for limiting Rule 2 to cases of unlawful executive acts concerning property, such as expropriation or seizures.

Rule 2 thus applies to an exercise of executive power such as Mr Guaidó's appointments to the BCV’s board. However, there are several exceptions to the act of state doctrine, including for acts which take place outside a state’s territory, for challenges to acts which arise incidentally, and for judicial acts . The extra–territorial exception does not apply in this case because the relevant acts of appointment were made within Venezuela and were not in excess of the jurisdiction of Venezuela in international law. The incidental exception does not apply either, because these proceedings involve a direct attack upon the validity of Mr Guaidó's appointments to the BCV’s board. However, judicial rulings of a foreign state are not subject to the act of state doctrine. For a court in this jurisdiction to decide whether to recognise or to give effect to the STJ judgments would therefore not engage the act of state doctrine. This is a matter which falls outside the preliminary issues and must therefore be remitted to the Commercial Court for further consideration. However, courts in this jurisdiction will refuse to recognise or give effect to foreign judgments such as those of the STJ if to do so would conflict with domestic public policy. The public policy of the United Kingdom will necessarily include the one voice principle which is a fundamental rule of UK constitutional law. As a result, if and to the extent that the reasoning of the STJ leading to its decisions that acts of Mr Guaidó are unlawful and nullities depends on the view that he is not the President of Venezuela, those judicial decisions cannot be recognised or given effect by courts in this jurisdiction because to do so would conflict with the view of the United Kingdom executive.

The transition statute is foreign legislation. Its validity may thus fall within Rule 1. There is no doubt about the existence of Rule 1, which would ordinarily prohibit challenges to the transition statute. However, the validity of the STJ judgments impugning the transition statute is not subject to the act of state doctrine. In any event, Rule 1 is not necessary to the analysis because, subject to the effect to be given to STJ judgments, Rule 2 precludes questioning Mr Guaidó's appointments to the BCV’s board.

Courts in this jurisdiction will therefore (subject to the effect to be given to the STJ judgments) not question the lawfulness or validity of the appointments to the BCV board made by Mr Guaidó. However, it remains necessary to consider whether the STJ judgments should be recognised or given effect in this jurisdiction. The proceedings are remitted to the Commercial Court for it to do so.

A solemn end to a difficult year

It has been another difficult year for us all as the threat from the virus ebbs and flows. Against this backdrop, the ideological fault lines in wider society have become clearly visible in the legal profession too: whether in debates about the powers of the executive and judiciary or the presumption of innocence and role of juries, carefully considered views are out of fashion.

The exchanges over the 'not proven' verdict, which is likely to be abolished to much fanfare next year, continues. Elsewhere, the press has given voice to arguments that seek the same outcomes, but for ideological reasons. It is intellectually unbecoming of lawyers to endorse poor reasoning, whether it is made for or against the verdict.

As for juries, they are, in the modern parlance, in danger of being 'cancelled'. What would have seemed scarcely believable a few years ago is coming to pass. As the historian Barbara Tuchman says, "In the midst of events there is no perspective" and as we learned in school, such changes do not occur in the singular. Whatever the resolution of these problems, it will be made politically, not rationally.

This month, however, has been particularly difficult for the legal community as it bore the loss of a senior lawyer held in great affection by all: Stephen O'Rourke QC, to whom we pay tribute in our final edition of the year. Restrictions prevent us from honouring him in person but SLN includes below some thoughts from his friends and colleagues. The comments are from those who could say something – there are many more for whom the pain is still too great to say anything. Yet what we record here proves that our little jurisdiction has a big heart and that Stephen's name will never be forgotten. As Lord Hodge counsels readers today: we must look after one another. Hard times are the rule, not the exception; these are ours.

We look forward to seeing you again in 2022. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Kapil Summan
Editor

Obituary: Stephen O’Rourke QC

This obituary is reproduced by kind permission of The Times.

Stephen O’Rourke’s novel, The Crown Agent (2019), started life seven years earlier as the winning entry in a national newspaper’s short story competition. “The theme was ‘tropical’ but I didn’t want to write about palm trees and golden beaches,” he said. “For some reason, I had this idea of an older professor at Edinburgh University who lectured in the movement of the seas, tides and oceans, but who had never been outside of Scotland.”

He was researching and writing the first draft from 2012 to 2015, later reflecting that the analytical nature of his job as a lawyer was the ideal background for investigating life in early 19th-century Scotland. “Much of the book is set in Jamaica, so at one point I had shelves of books and maps about the history of Jamaica,” he said. “I also plundered the archives of various organisations for the Scottish research . . . One of the things I really enjoyed discovering was just what the journey from Edinburgh to Glasgow would have been like then. Today you can do it in the blink of an eye, in those days it could take two or three days.”

The Crown Agent, which was shortlisted for Bloody Scotland’s Scottish crime debut of the year award, tells the tale of disillusioned young doctor, Mungo Lyon, who in 1829 is recruited by the Crown to investigate a murder and shipwreck off the coast of Scotland. It was an era that fascinated O’Rourke, not least because of the debate then raging over slavery. Two years ago he was involved in a modern-day slavery case, Miller v HM Advocate, and donated some of his book’s royalties to the Tumbling Lassie Committee, a campaign set up by Scottish lawyers to address modern-day slavery and help victims of human trafficking.

O’Rourke, an affable, generous man with a wry, lopsided smile, was the first lawyer in his family. He may have found his job stimulating, but he said writing provided much-needed respite from its pressures. “Over time I’ve been a High Court prosecutor, I’ve defended in the High Court and I’m doing a number of mainly civil cases at the moment that are very demanding,” he said in March.

“Many people have a hobby, whether it’s rebuilding MGs or playing golf. Writing is my hobby, my downtime, and is a complementary release for the kind of work I do . . . It is something that I really enjoy and get a big kick from.”

Stephen Robb-Russell O’Rourke was born at Greenock, Inverclyde, in 1976, the son of Jim and Patricia O’Rourke (née Barnett). He had a sister, Janet, and a brother, Brian. He was educated at St John’s primary school, Port Glasgow, and St Aloysius’ College, Glasgow. “At school I had the idea of having a vocation, doing something as a professional calling was important,” he said.

He read law at the University of Edinburgh. “When I came here in 1994 there was still very much a sense Edinburgh was the other side of the world,” he told The Scotsman. “I could count on one hand the number of times I’d been to Edinburgh in my life, although there is a picture of me, aged four, sitting on Mons Meg [the medieval cannon at Edinburgh Castle].”

His studies took him to the University of Bologna in Italy, and in 2004 he edited the fourth edition of Green’s Glossary of Scottish Legal Terms, the first of three he would edit. That year he also married Joanna Baird, although the marriage was dissolved last year. He is survived by their daughter, Martha.

O’Rourke had been called to the Scottish bar in 2002, and joined Terra Firma, the Edinburgh chambers. He went on to spend four years on the Scottish Sentencing Council, took silk in 2017, and the following year was also called to the bar of England and Wales.

In 2012 he was the prosecution lawyer in a case in which a Nepalese woman set herself on fire after failing her driving test four times. He acted for the prosecution in a case in which a man burst in on his former partner and her new lover while they were having sex on the kitchen worktop, and stabbed the lover to death. There were cases involving a lorry driver who fell asleep at the wheel, a fraudster who tricked a pensioner out of £500,000, and an array of drugs and firearms cases, many involving violence.

In the early 2010s he spent time in New York, becoming an accredited mediator at the Center for Understanding Conflict. Mediation became a theme in his legal life and last year he oversaw two successful days of mediation between Edinburgh City Council, developers of the new St James Centre, and the developers behind the planned concert hall on St Andrew Square.

Ranked as a leading silk for commercial litigation, O’Rourke was elected keeper of the Advocates Library in February this year, writing in Scottish Legal News that it was “at the heart of Scotland’s legal system and the heart of an advocate’s daily practice”. Three months ago he was appointed principal crown counsel in succession to Alex Prentice QC. The Legal 500 summed up his abilities by saying he was “exceptionally good at dealing with clients in difficult sets of circumstances”.

Paying tribute to O’Rourke, Roddy Dunlop QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, voiced concern about the “isolating effect and impact on wellbeing” of coronavirus restrictions. O’Rourke had alluded to such dark moments in a quote from Dante’s Inferno on the title page of The Crown Agent: “Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost.”

The Crown Agent – ‘a rollicking tale’

Editor's note: This article was originally published in SLN on 4 October 2019. Stephen told me that day that he was "overwhelmed by Bill’s kind review".

I was fortunate enough to be sent an advance reader copy of Stephen O’Rourke’s historical novel, The Crown Agent, which I raced through one Sunday afternoon recently; it’s that kind of book.

From the moment Dr Mungo Lyon is asked to work undercover for the government he is in danger, a target for the forces of an organized criminal fraternity operating in the upper echelons of society. Action-packed with short chapters and cliff-hanger endings, the reader is propelled through an exciting tale of corruption and skullduggery in early 19th Century Scotland, all as seen through the eyes of the highly principled and determined young doctor.

From Edinburgh we are taken at breakneck speed across country to Greenock and Campbeltown and onwards to Jamaica, as with bags of suspense, twists and turns Mungo must employ desperate measures to survive, his only aid coming from an extremely unexpected source – no spoilers.

Even amidst all the frantic action, one can appreciate the long hours of research and fine writing required to so richly convey the story’s sense of period, with dialogue effortlessly authentic and of its time, never stilted or forced. This is the type of book that can be read and appreciated by all ages, the sort of story that took me back to my younger days reading tales of derring-do.

I’m aware The Crown Agent has been compared to the style of Robert Louis Stevenson and John Buchan, and can understand why for there is a quality feel to the writing and a man-on-the-run plot similar to those in Kidnapped and The 39 Steps, and the beginning of the book brought to mind G.K. Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Thursday.

It’s high company, but thoroughly deserved. All in all, The Crown Agent is a rollicking tale that grips the reader from beginning to end and is one I’d heartily recommend with a loud huzzah! And God Save the King!

Willie McIntyre

The Crown Agent by Stephen O'Rourke. Published by Sandstone Press, (£14.99 Hardback) 228 pp.

Stephen O’Rourke remembered

Today we include comments from Stephen's fellow members of Faculty and the wider profession. They attest to his kindness, intelligence and humility as well as the grief and deep well of feeling his death has brought to all who knew him.

Advocate Calum Wilson, who devilled with Stephen, said: "I had the privilege of being not only a colleague but also a friend of Stephen’s. We first met some 20 years ago in 2001 when Stephen and I were two members of a close group of five who were all devilling together. We remained good friends. We all met and spoke regularly to each other, including online during the last 20 months of almost complete absence from Parliament House due to Covid-19, discussing our case triumphs and occasional failures."

He added: "Stephen’s professional and literary achievements have been spoken to by many since his passing and speak for themselves, but in addition to being an impressive lawyer and a man of great intelligence and many talents, Stephen always embraced whatever he did with enthusiasm and energy. He was also a man of deep faith and loyalty. He will be sorely missed by his friends and all who knew him."

Alasdair Sutherland, a partner at Burness Paull, said: “No matter the circumstance, Stephen was someone you were always pleased to see. In court, out of court, at a dinner, or just a chance encounter on the street. Every occasion was better for Stephen being there. We will miss him.”

Advocate Gordon Balfour commented: "Stephen was truly remarkable. He seemed to know everybody. He was universally liked – nobody had a bad word to say about him. And perhaps even more remarkably, he never had a bad word to say about anyone else.

"He always saw the best in people and had that rare ability of making you feel better about yourself. Just to be in the company of someone so intelligent, generous and funny was enough to give you a lift.

"My life was much better for having Stephen in it. I am heartbroken at his death."

Andrew Bowen QC described Stephen as "unfailingly considerate and kind, always eager to help and a great colleague".

Advocate Denis Garrity said: "Stephen was a wonderful friend and colleague who had time and talent for all who needed it – skilled, respected and liked in equal measure. He was also full of fun and laughter, and great company out of the courtroom. He will be sorely missed."

James Findlay QC said: "Having led Stephen to disaster in the Supreme Court, I am sure Rudyard Kipling would have been impressed how wholly unaffected he was, both by that disaster but also by his many triumphs. I certainly was."

Nicola Brown, of Blackadders, commented: “I instructed Stephen on a number of occasions and it was always a pleasure working with him. He was approachable and generous and possessed a brilliant legal mind. He was unfailingly kind and always willing to step in to help when clients were struggling.”

Stuart Gale QC said: "His death has devastated all of us in our chambers – the clerking team and the members as well as in the wider Faculty and the profession. Stephen was a distinguished advocate and he was a thoroughly nice and good man."

He added: "Coming to terms with both the fact and manner of his death is difficult for us all but it will be as nothing to the loss and grief now being borne by those whom he loved and loved him. They are in our thoughts and prayers."

Angela Grahame QC said of Stephen: "He was compassionate, kind and non-judgemental of others and he was someone I felt I could always approach. I am desperately sad that he did not feel he could get the same support from me or others.

"I have never known such an outpouring of grief at the death of a member of Faculty. Even in death, Stephen has brought people together and many of us are sharing memories of him. He appeared to be riding the crest of a wave professionally, but his death reminds us that it is important we take the time to look behind the façade and listen to each other, especially at this busy time of year.

"His memory will remain with me throughout my life. He will be missed."

Vice-Dean of Faculty, Ronnie Renucci QC, said: "When someone dies it is not unusual for people to say nice things about them, what is perhaps unusual is that in Stephen's case the many tributes that have been paid to him are absolutely true. Stephen was a friend, a colleague and an accomplished advocate, but first and foremost he was a genuinely lovely person. His loss will be felt by all of us at Faculty for some time to come."

Dean of Faculty, Roddy Dunlop QC, said: "Stephen’s passing has hit many members of Faculty, and in the wider legal community, very hard. He was a gracious man, entirely without conceit, who perhaps struggled to recognise his own talents.

"He was loved and respected across the board, and my greatest regret at this time is that he doesn’t appear to have appreciated that. 'Lord Percy', his nickname amongst his many friends, will be sorely missed.”

Robert Milligan QC, who was Stephen's principal devilmaster, said: “Unlike many intelligent and articulate people, Stephen was incredibly self-deprecating, as demonstrated by his nickname of Lord Percy, from the Blackadder series. As well as bearing a physical resemblance to the character, Stephen loved to play up to the clownishness of Lord Percy. Like many clowns, this may have hidden a sadder side to his personality, but to all who knew him, Stephen was unfailingly kind, considerate, caring and entertaining. 

"I have never known a death to have such an impact on the whole Faculty of Advocates, or to be so widely mourned. He will be very deeply missed.”

Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Lord Hodge, told SLN: “Stephen’s untimely death is a great loss to the Faculty of Advocates, his family and his many friends.

"He was a very able counsel with great versatility as he practised successfully in diverse fields of the law. He was qualified both in Scotland and England; and his career was on an upward trajectory with his appointments this year as keeper of the Advocates’ Library and as principal crown counsel.

"More importantly, he was a dear friend and inspiration to many who will miss him greatly. His death is a terrible reminder to us all to look after each other in these dislocated times.”

Letter: Independent regulator is a slur on Faculty

Dear Editor,

The Faculty of Advocates is, understandably, opposed to the suggested independent regulator for legal services in Scotland. I am not and never have been a member of Faculty and so I am independent in the true sense. I am not in the Dean’s pocket, nor is he in mine.

An essential question, as the Dean says, is what is wrong with the current system? The proposal is not only a slur on the Faculty as a whole, and its office bearers, past and present, to infer that they should not be allowed to deal with entry to the Faculty etc., but it is a slur on judges to take from them an important role in relation to those who appear in the courts — all courts.

It is, for me, naive to think that the independent regulator will be wholly independent of government. It may, for example, be told that there are not enough of this type in the legal profession and we must have a fair representation of the community. In my opinion, the Scottish government wants this new body so that it can control every aspect of the provision of legal services, whether they have any knowledge of the system or not. Goodbye, independent legal profession. For them, or some of them, the legal profession is “elitist” and every member went to a fee-paying school and, so, they will be “out of touch” with what “the ordinary person needs” and other such nonsense.

The final point is why just the provision of legal services? Why not have a series of bureaucratic and expensive bodies to control doctors, dentists, teachers, vets and every other profession?

Any why just professions? A “cowboy” builder, for example, can cause financial ruin. “That way madness lies". Thankfully, I have just destroyed my chances of being on this “independent” regulatory body.

Douglas J. Cusine

Profits rise to £4m at Ledingham Chalmers

Pre-tax profits at Ledingham Chalmers have risen to £4 million, up from last year’s £3.6m.

Turnover in the latest period totalled £12.3m, down from £12.7m the year before.

The firm said it intended to invest a “six-figure sum” over the coming year as part of its growth strategy to double revenue to £25m by 2025.

Staff shared a bonus pot worth £150,000. This equates to a distribution of £1,250 for those working full-time. 

Partners received average remuneration of £160,549 during 2020-21, with the biggest sum being £370,352. 

Managing partner Jennifer Young said: “Reading or watching anything over the past 18 months or so you’d be hard-pressed to miss words and phrases like ‘unprecedented’ and ‘year like no other’.

“That meant the process of making predictions for our business at the start of the pandemic was all-the-more complex.

“What we could see coming through was the effort and commitment from colleagues across all our offices, which resulted in a strong performance across the board.”

Of the six-figure investment, she said: “The pandemic has permanently changed the way we work and support our clients, so we have to adapt quickly and effectively to respond.

“For example, as well as updating our financial management system and processes, we are spending more on our external presence and internal communications.

“This includes our website, a new intranet as well as our virtual conferencing facilities, not least because hybrid working and virtual court hearings, certainly for civil proceedings, are here for the long term.

“Looking to double our revenue to £25m in the next five years is a challenge, but it’s the basis of our growth strategy.”

Celtic confirms Michael Nicholson as chief executive

Celtic Football Club has announced the appointment of Michael Nicholson as chief executive with immediate effect.

Mr Nicholson has held the position of acting chief executive since early September. He was formerly Celtic’s director of legal and football affairs and has been with the club since 2013. Following a successful career in sports law, he joined Celtic in 2013 as company secretary and head of legal.

He said: “As a Celtic supporter all my life, I will do everything I can to drive the club forward, working at all times in the best interests of Celtic.

“I have been fortunate to be part of this great institution for a number of years and it is a privilege to now hold this new responsibility. We have a team of brilliant people who are absolutely committed to Celtic and we will work together to deliver success for the club and our supporters.

Celtic chairman Ian Bankier said: “We are delighted to confirm this appointment. Michael is well known and highly respected across football domestically and internationally. He has the ability and experience to take Celtic forward positively and achieve great results."

Shoosmiths lands spot on Taylor Wimpey’s Scottish legal panel

Shoosmiths has been appointed to Taylor Wimpey’s Scottish legal panel.

Shoosmiths is the only firm to secure a place on the housebuilder’s legal roster in Scotland, and England and Wales. This follows Taylor Wimpey concluding its latest panel review.

The Scottish panel will commence in January 2022 for three years. Shoosmiths’ appointment is on a full-service basis, with the firm able to provide legal support on matters including core real estate, planning, strategic land, construction and regulatory.

Janette Speed, real estate partner and head of Shoosmiths Scotland, said: “A month on from opening our new office in Glasgow, this latest appointment reaffirms our strategy for growth and the strength of Shoosmiths’ Scottish real estate division and presence in the living sector. Taylor Wimpey shares our focus on providing an excellent client experience, which we believe will help to underpin our work together.

“We know many of the Taylor Wimpey team and are looking forward to building on these already strong relationships.”

Employment Law Solicitor (Housing and General Court Department) – Legal Services Agency

Salary

£27,082 to £38,447; SP 27- 39 (placing on scale dependent upon experience) plus pension contribution

Experience

Ideally 1-3 years' PQE or equivalent practical experience, however newly qualified applicants specialising in employment law during their traineeship welcome

Contract

35 hours per week

Location

Glasgow (Due to Covid-19, currently operating blended office based and remote working service)

Closing date

21 January 2022 at 5pm

Interviews

Mid-February – date to be confirmed

Legal Services Agency (LSA) has an exciting opportunity for enthusiastic and committed individual to lead and develop our employment law advice service. We are seeking fully qualified solicitor holding an unrestricted Scottish practicing certificate with interest in social justice and upholding employment rights.

LSA is one of Scotland’s largest Law Centres. Through its solicitors and other staff, operating as Brown & Co. Legal LLP, LSA has a 30-year legacy of serving individuals, families and communities across Scotland, addressing unmet legal need and the effects of poverty, disadvantage and discrimination.   LSA’s legal service has developed pioneering legal remedies through test cases and campaigns on issues such as dampness, housing repair and evictions, Criminal Injuries Compensation, mental health law and asylum and immigration law. LSA also delivers a wide range of seminars and training programmes and publications on legal themes.  

We provide high-quality legal advice, assistance, and representation in areas of housing law, preventing homelessness, mental health, discrimination, welfare benefits and social security, community care, criminal injuries compensation and employment law.

The work is rewarding, and the expertise of the Service is highly regarded and nationally recognised. The position offers considerable scope and opportunity for personal and long-term professional development.

About you

You will be a highly motivated and resilient individual who welcomes challenges. You will have experience of handling your own caseload and accustomed to dealing with a diverse range of clients.

You will be an excellent team player with a commitment to equality and diversity and an eagerness to tackling the unmet legal needs of those in disadvantage. You will have experience of civil legal aid and ideally experience of working on claimant matters on a range of contentious employment matters including tribunal representation. You will have experience and or an interest in raising awareness of rights through dissemination of information design and delivery of training on aspects of employment law for lay representatives.

Application process:

We would keen to hear from applicants committed to equalities, social justice and providing a voice for those marginalised.

Please submit your CV with a covering letter addressing the job description and person specification stating why this post is of interest to you to: elizabethstewart@lsa.org.uk. Please include details of your current salary, notice period and a note of two referees one of which should be your most recent employer. For equality purposes, please do not include your full name on either the covering letter or CV, only in your email. The personal information in your email will not be made available to the selection panel.

Please indicate whether you are eligible to work in the UK and if you require a work permit/visa to work in the UK.

Please also indicate if you have you any convictions (other than spent convictions) under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.   If yes, please give details.  

Legal Services Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

Legal Services Agency Ltd. is a registered charity no SC017160 and a company limited by guarantee, registered no. SC12391

The post is partly funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Legal Services Manager – Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

£55,848 - £60,141

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would like to invite applications for the post of Legal Services Manager on a permanent basis based at West SDA Headquarters, Hamilton. This is a full-time opportunity, working 35 hours per week.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's Legal Team. The successful candidate will be required to provide Strategic level legal advice to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS's) Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and Communications Directorate and the Services strategic managers. You will provide effective delivery of a range of legal services for the SFRS as a whole and in particular legal work associated with litigation, ensuring legal correctness of Policy and Procedure generated by the SFRS, horizon scanning for changes in the legislative environment the service operates in and to provide legal advice and assistance as required.

For an informal discussion about the role contact –

Sharon Clelland, Legal Services Manager via email - sharon.clelland@firescotland.gov.uk

Closing Date: 12 Jan 2022

Solicitor (Litigation) – Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

£35,313 - £38,940

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would like to invite applications for the post of Solicitor (Litigation) on a permanent basis based at West SDA Headquarters, Hamilton. This is a full-time opportunity, working 35 hours per week.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Legal Team (SFRS). It is key role working as part of a small, but busy Legal Services Team. Reporting to the Senior Solicitor (Litigation) and Legal Services Manager. You will be required to deliver a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary legal services to the SFRS. In particular, legal work associated with employment law (contentious and non-contentious), enforcement, data protection and freedom of information.

For an informal discussion about the role contact –

Sharon Clelland, Legal Services Manager via email - sharon.clelland@firescotland.gov.uk

For further information and to apply please click here

Closing Date: 12 Jan 2022

Solicitor (Commercial) – Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

£35,313 - £38,940

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would like to invite applications for the post of Solicitor (Commercial) on a permanent basis based at West SDA Headquarters, Hamilton. This is a full-time opportunity, working 35 hours per week.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Legal Team (SFRS). It is key role working as part of a small, but busy Legal Services Team. Reporting to the Senior Solicitor (Commercial) and Legal Services Manager. You will be required to deliver a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary legal services to the SFRS. In particular, legal work associated with contracts and procurement.

For an informal discussion about the role contact –

Sharon Clelland, Legal Services Manager via email - sharon.clelland@firescotland.gov.uk

For further information and to apply click here

Closing Date: 12 Jan 2022

Solicitor – University of Dundee

 Fixed term – until August 2024

The University of Dundee purpose is to transform lives.

The University’s Legal Team helps by protecting and informing the University in relation to legal risks across its business areas.

We develop close working relationships with other parts of the organisation and pride ourselves on being part of the conversation at the heart of the University.

Job description

Are you seeking a role where you can make your own mark?

We are looking for a talented individual to join our lively, pioneering, and friendly Legal team. Reporting to the Director of Legal, you will be given an exceptional and fulfilling role where your advice will have real impact on an inspirational international organisation.

We need someone who is motivated to get involved in a wide variety of work related to collaborations with international aspects. You will be working alongside some very smart people who are leaders in their field, in a supportive learning environment.

We are interested in speaking to you if you are inspired by this challenge and wish to make your own impact in this global organisation. Application of creative commercial judgement to legal issues will be central to success.

You will be a qualified lawyer with an unrestricted practicing certificate. The University is currently operating on a hybrid working policy pilot and flexible working policies are available.

Whilst previous in-house and commercial/corporate experience is desirable it is not essential, and we will consider the right candidate.

If you are interested in applying, please submit your note of interest together with your CV to u.z.sarwar@dundee.ac.uk.

A full job description is available on applying.

The University of Dundee is an equal opportunity employer.

Legal Vacancies – East Dunbartonshire Council

Are you a solicitor or a paralegal seeking to join a successful, commercially focussed and multi-skilled in-house legal team?

East Dunbartonshire Council is looking for talented, adaptable and enthusiastic legal professionals to enrich our growing legal services team, and provide insightful, proactive and commercial legal support in a post-Brexit and Covid-19 context.

We have a Litigation & Licensing Team, a Commercial Team and a City Deal Project Team and have the following vacancies:

• Solicitor – Commercial Team – Permanent – experience in Construction Law would be beneficial.
• Solicitor – Commercial Team – Temporary
• Solicitor – Litigation and Licensing Team – Permanent – experience in Licensing Law would be beneficial.
• Solicitor – Litigation and Licensing Team – Temporary
• Paralegal – City Deal Project Team – Permanent

What do we need?

Experience in a variety of areas including construction, property, data protection, housing, general litigation and/or licensing; experience is desirable but enthusiasm, flexibility and a commitment to working in local government are essential.

You should have initiative, excellent communication, influencing and people skills and a positive and pragmatic approach. A ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to provide a first-class, solutions-focused service to the Council is essential to all roles, with a willingness to take on new challenges, sometimes on a daily basis.

What you can expect

In addition to a competitive salary, all the benefits of working for a public sector organisation apply, and you will joining a friendly, supportive and talented in-house legal team.

For full details and role profiles please visit:

www.myjobscotland.gov.uk

For further information or to arrange an informal chat, please contact Andrew McLaughlin, Acting Legal Manager, by email to Andrew_McLaughlin@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

Closing date for all applications is 9 January 2022.

Administration Assistant – Weightmans

Solicitor – Clinical Negligence Team (3-5 years’ PQE) – Digby Brown Solicitors

Full-time, Permanent

Glasgow/Edinburgh

Digby Brown has been one of the success stories of the Scottish legal sector in the past decade – we now operate in seven regional areas across Scotland, having tripled in size in the last 10 years.

We are the only firm top ranked by Chambers and Legal 500 for personal injury work, which has been the case now for 16 years running. The Firm has also been voted Scottish Law Firm of the Year in three out of the last six years.

We have developed a reputation as a formidable court firm, focused on quality service for our clients and expertise in our people. We work in a distinctive way – what we do works and makes a difference in people’s lives.

Digby Brown is committed to being an employer of choice, which is evidenced by our competitive salary and benefits package, as well as the opportunities we provide for further development – a total of 14 of our 25 Partners joined us as NQs or Trainees.

To support the quality of service we provide to our clients, and our people’s personal development, we have innovated together and built a brand new, cutting edge, digital client case management system. We have focused on providing modern digital solutions and unique case workflow to our employees and we will continue to adapt this technology in line with our firm values.

In addition, the events of the past year surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic have enabled us to implement a more flexible working approach moving forward, which we are calling Hybrid Working. This will enable our people to split their working time between their homes and the office, on a pre-agreed number of days per week, in line with the needs of their department.

Due to ongoing growth within the business, an opportunity has arisen for a client-focused litigator to join our Clinical Negligence Team in either the Glasgow or Edinburgh office.

This post will suit a qualified lawyer who has between 3 and 5 years’ PQE in pursuer PI work - strong litigation skills are key and the successful candidate should have experience of ASPIC and Court of Session. Whilst direct experience of Clinical Negligence work would be advantageous, this is not a requirement – it may be that you currently work in another area of PI law and are looking to challenge yourself with more complex and high-value work.

We are looking for someone who has a keen eye for detail, the ability to act on their own initiative and a strong desire to assist others, displaying an empathetic and proactive approach in dealing with clients. Most importantly, we are seeking a team player – someone who can manage their own case holding, whilst also supporting others in the team with more complex cases.

This is a wonderful opportunity to join one of our specialist teams and develop your skills in a very challenging area of PI law.

If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and covering letter to David Hendrie, by e-mail at recruit@digbybrown.co.uk by Friday 7 January 2022.

5+PQE Construction Insurance Solicitor – DAC Beachcroft

As part of our growth and strategy, DAC Beachcroft is looking to recruit a 5+PQE Construction Insurance Solicitor to work alongside a Partner to build a practice out of our Glasgow office.

You will play an active role in the development, growth and success of the team in collaboration with our wider practice across Scotland, the North of England, nationally and internationally. You will act for all the main insurers and their developer, contractor and consultant insureds and will deal with the full spectrum of construction insurance work, across professional indemnity, project and CAR policies, involving policy cover, defence of claims and recovery. In return you will be intellectually challenged, but treated with respect within an environment where you can enjoy industry-leading work quality without compromising on client contact and business development and a position that offers genuine flexibility to allow you to meet your personal and work commitments.

For more information on this role (reference DACB/TP/28986/1334) and others and also in order to apply please go to https://apply.dacbeachcroft.com/jobs/search

Employment Solicitor/Senior Solicitor, Glasgow – Jackson Boyd Lawyers

Solicitor/Senior Solicitor depending on experience

Employment Department

Glasgow City Centre – initially home working before moving to a blend of office and remote working

Full time (35 hours), Permanent

Competitive Salary

Reports to: Partner

Description of Role:

Jackson Boyd are ranked as a leading firm by both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

We are currently looking for a Solicitor/Senior Solicitor (dependant on experience) to join our Employment team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for representing Claimant and Respondent clients in Employment Tribunal cases, as well as providing advisory services.

We require a driven and professional individual, with experience in employment law.

About Us:

Jackson Boyd are a leading litigation firm in the areas of Dispute Resolution, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence and Employment Law.

We aim to provide a positive and supportive working environment for our team. We have been awarded a Platinum Accreditation by Investors in People and also hold the Investors in Young People Good Practice Award.

We are based in modern office accommodation in the centre of Glasgow. We provide regular internal training for our staff, flexible and remote working opportunities and operate a “dress for your day” policy.

We offer our clients the highest level of expertise offered in a caring and compassionate way. From 1,093 reviews of our service on Trustpilot, 99% of our clients rate us as “Excellent” or “Great”.

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing a diverse caseload of contentious employment work, and operating a sophisticated case management system
• Responsibility for all Employment Tribunal proceedings including drafting pleadings, taking witness statements and appearances at the Employment Tribunal
• Responsibility for all client communications
• Complying with strict service level standards

Experience Required: 

• NQ - 2 years' PQE, with experience in employment law.

Knowledge and Skills Required: 

• Good written and verbal communication skills, including the provision of clear and concise advice
• Strong legal knowledge, analysis and experience
• Analytical ability and commercial focus, including assessing problems and information, evaluating options and risks and identifying appropriate solutions
• A conscientious and commercial approach to delivering a service that is of value and meets clients' needs.
• Ability to develop and maintain sound technical legal knowledge
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, influence and gain the respect of colleagues
• Well organised with strong administration and time management skills with the ability to work efficiently, adhere to service level standards and comply with deadlines.
• Ability to work autonomously, accepting responsibility for personal caseload
• Competent user of IT systems in order to maximise efficiency and effectiveness
• Demonstrates the willingness and ability to develop own knowledge and skills in line with business requirements

Application Process

To apply for this role, please visit our careers section at http://www.jacksonboyd.co.uk/about-us/work-for-us/ or send an up to date CV along with a covering letter and salary expectations to jobs@jacksonboyd.co.uk.

Private Client Paralegal/Solicitor (0-3years' PQE) – Stuart & Stuart

Fixed term post to cover maternity leave until Feb 2023

35 hours per week

We are seeking a Paralegal or junior Solicitor to join our busy private client department in our Edinburgh office to cover for maternity leave until, at least, February 2023. Diploma graduates may also be considered. The position is office based but hybrid working may be introduced.

The successful candidate will be working directly under the Head of Department and will be responsible for their own caseloads whilst assisting the department’s solicitors in all areas of private client work. The ideal candidate for this position will have proven private client experience, a strong work ethic, exceptional organisation and problem-solving skills and will be comfortable working in a fast-paced and busy workplace.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES include but are not limited to:

• Managing own caseload
• Dealing directly with clients and third parties
• Drafting wills and powers of attorney
• Administering executries (may include high-value estates if sufficiently experienced)
• Assisting with asset protection and capital gains tax mitigation in relation to executries
• Power of attorney registration through EPOAR
• Dealing with enquiries
• Managing a high volume caseload with minimum supervision
• Complying with our Anti-Money Laundering and Risk Assessment procedures/processes
• Producing fee notes and small executry accounts when required

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Paralegal qualification / Qualified solicitor in Scotland (0-3yrs)
• Previous private client experience
• Excellent written and oral skills
• Good time management skills
• Excellent I.T. skills
• Good team player
• A pro-active approach to work
• Able to work under pressure
• Good problem solving skills

DESIRABLE (BUT NOT ESSENTIAL):

• Registered with the Law Society of Scotland
• STEP membership – student or full
• SOLAS membership

SALARY:

A competitive salary is on offer and is aligned with applicants knowledge, skills and experience

APPLICATION PROCESS (NO AGENCIES PLEASE):

To apply for the position please email your CV and covering letter to cscott@stuartandstuart.co.uk

PRIVACY POLICY:

Please see the ‘Privacy Policy’ on our website (www.stuartanddstuart.co.uk) for an explanation about how we use information we collect from you.

Senior Associate, Non-Contentious Construction – Dentons

Glasgow, Edinburgh or Remote

Purpose of role

A unique opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and ambitious Senior Associate to join our growing non-contentious construction team either in our offices in Scotland or in a virtual capacity (from any location within the UK), acting in connection with local, UK-wide and international projects. The successful candidate will provide non-contentious construction support in respect of a variety of projects in the real estate development and investment, energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors.

Our UK team is going through a period of substantial growth meaning that a successful candidate would have significant opportunity to progress into a more senior role in the future and will benefit from Dentons award winning career progression support programme aimed at encouraging and growing our employees’ talent and career goals.

Given the range of sectors and jurisdictions in which the team works a successful candidate would gain experience acting on major projects for high profile clients across the whole of the UK and internationally as well as retaining a base load of domestic construction work. A successful candidate will have the opportunity to work both independently running matters and fronting client relationships whilst also working as part of a large cross-office team and having the benefit of the support network that this provides.

Responsibilities

• Supporting and leading on a large variety of transactions;
• Building and maintaining existing client relationships;
• Contributing to market knowledge;
• Contributing to business development.

Required experience, skills and attributes

• Strong academic background;
• Experience of the UK infrastructure and real estate markets preferable but not essential;
• Scottish or English qualified preferable but not essential;
• Experience of Construction Contracts (including main standard forms), consultant appointments, collateral warranties preferable;
• Wider experience of EPC contracts, operational and maintenance agreements, project agreements would be beneficial but not essential;
• Experience in working on projects in one or more of  the real estate, energy, transportation and/or PPP sectors preferable not essential;
• Strong team player.

But why Dentons?

During an unprecedented period, we have supported each other more than ever. We have listened and learned from our colleagues to find new ways to become even more connected and to build on our team's strengths all around the globe. This new dynamic has been a success and our talent and achievements continue to grow. With 33 new office openings and 325 awards globally, Dentons was the most awarded firm in the world in 2020.

Our working environment is dynamic, supportive and progressive. It enables our people to fulfil their potential by offering a world-class talent development programme and follows our vision to be the "law firm of the future". A key part of our Diversity and Inclusion strategy is to attract, retain and progress the best talent and to be the most inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds thrive and achieve their full potential. 

If you are interested in discovering more about this opportunity, please follow the link for a detailed job description and apply yourself.

https://www.allhires.com/dentons/PositionDetail.aspx?id=1593&a=&n=&returl=%2fdentons%2f

Commercial Litigation Associate/Legal Director – Thorntons

Commercial Litigation
Associate/Legal Director
Flexible on Location

Thorntons’ Commercial Litigation team has extensive experience across Scotland in a wide variety of contract disputes and we work closely with our clients to achieve the best outcome. Thorntons continues to expand and we are looking to make a senior level appointment to this team based from any of our locations.

Where every day is different

In joining us you will be working for a wide variety of individuals, businesses and educational clients and will handle a diverse range of disputes including contract disputes, professional negligence claims, company disputes, insolvency, property disputes and debt recovery. Our team are regularly engaged in both Sheriff Court and Court of Session cases as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution, where appropriate, including mediation and arbitration.

About you

We are looking to appoint an experienced candidate into a senior level role which can be based from any of our locations with flexibility to include home working. You will a solid bank of litigation experience, ideally with the confidence and technical expertise to manage complex cases and a busy caseload and to supervise and mentor more junior members of the team. You will ideally have some experience of both running substantive hearings in the Sheriff Court and instructing Counsel in Court of Session proceedings. We are interested in commercially focussed lawyers with great communication skills who are committed to the highest standards of client care.

About us

Thorntons is one of the largest and most respected full service law firms in Scotland, working with a broad range of clients across the private, public and third sectors. The strength of our foundations and diversity combines with an innovative and people–centred approach, differentiating Thorntons from many other law firms and resulting in significant growth in recent years, with ambitious plans for further expansion. Throughout our expansion, our focus has remained with our clients, colleagues and communities and people are at the heart of everything that we do.

We are progressive and ambitious. While we expect high standards from our people, we recognise and value the contribution they make to our business – and our success. We see the whole person, not just the person in the workplace – and we’re aware that our people have busy lives outside work. It’s simple common sense: do our best for our people and they’ll do their best for us.

At Thorntons we pride ourselves on doing what is right, and as two time winners of the Scottish Business Insider Employer of the Year Awards you can see why our People choose, and enjoy a career with Thorntons.

Hours

• Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, 35 hrs per week. (Happy to talk flexible working options)

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Investment in Training, Development and Career Advancement Opportunities
• 25 days holiday (rising with length of service to 30 days) plus 7 public holiday
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Corporate Discounts
• Cycle to Work

Please apply online at www.thorntons-law.co.uk/careers or send a CV to peopleteam@thorntons-law.co.uk

Commercial Litigation Solicitor/Senior Solicitor – Thorntons

Commercial Litigation
Solicitor/Senior Solicitor
Dundee

Thorntons’ Commercial Litigation team has extensive experience across Scotland in a wide variety of contract disputes and we work closely with our clients to achieve the best outcome. Thorntons continues to expand and we are looking to appoint additional skilled litigators to our team.

Where every day is different

In joining us you will be working for a wide variety of individuals, businesses and educational clients and will handle a diverse range of disputes including contract disputes, professional negligence claims, company disputes, insolvency, property disputes and debt recovery. Our team are regularly engaged in both Sheriff Court and Court of Session cases as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution, where appropriate, including mediation and arbitration.

About you

You will have some previous experience in any area of litigation and be keen to join a commercial litigation team with a varied caseload. You will ideally have experience of appearing in the Sheriff Court and exposure to Court of Session proceedings. We are interested in commercially focussed lawyers with great communication skills who are committed to the highest standards of client care. This role will be based in our Dundee office with the flexibility to work from home part of the week.

About us

Thorntons is one of the largest and most respected full service law firms in Scotland, working with a broad range of clients across the private, public and third sectors. The strength of our foundations and diversity combines with an innovative and people–centred approach, differentiating Thorntons from many other law firms and resulting in significant growth in recent years, with ambitious plans for further expansion. Throughout our expansion, our focus has remained with our clients, colleagues and communities and people are at the heart of everything that we do.

We are progressive and ambitious. While we expect high standards from our people, we recognise and value the contribution they make to our business – and our success. We see the whole person, not just the person in the workplace – and we’re aware that our people have busy lives outside work. It’s simple common sense: do our best for our people and they’ll do their best for us.

At Thorntons we pride ourselves on doing what is right, and as two time winners of the Scottish Business Insider Employer of the Year Awards you can see why our People choose, and enjoy a career with Thorntons.

Hours

• Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, 35 hrs per week. (Happy to talk flexible working options)

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Investment in Training, Development and Career Advancement Opportunities
• 25 days holiday (rising with length of service to 30 days) plus 7 public holiday
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Corporate Discounts
• Cycle to Work

Please apply online at www.thorntons-law.co.uk/careers or send a CV to peopleteam@thorntons-law.co.uk

Dual Qualified Commercial Property Lawyer, Glasgow – Harper Macleod LLP

Our award winning Commercial Property team is looking for a dual qualified solicitor to join us.

The Commercial Property team deals with commercial purchases and sales, leases and estate management work and offers an excellent opportunity for talented and driven lawyers. You will have direct client contact, opportunity for business development and support to make the most of your talent. There is huge opportunity in our business to grow a fantastic career.

This role will involve general commercial property work including acting for both landlords and tenants in commercial leases in Scotland and England, purchases and sales of commercial properties in Scotland and occasionally in England, providing estate management advice to clients in relation to properties in both jurisdictions. You will also provide commercial property support to our Corporate and Banking teams in relation to both Scottish and English properties, as well as generally assisting our clients across a variety of sectors.

Let your ambitions and ours go hand in hand

At Harper Macleod you’ll be part of a collective effort that is never satisfied: celebrating the successes and inspiring one another to always improve. You want to deliver extraordinary results for your clients. We want to deliver extraordinary opportunities for you, and encourage you to make a difference.

Harper Macleod’s culture is the sum of the actions of the people who make up our business – it’s built around taking calculated risks and pushing for innovative solutions. You know the law, but you also know that there’s much more to being a lawyer than that.

You know that doing things the right way is always the best way – the right things for clients, colleagues and our communities. We will never compromise on this.

We also embrace flexibility – including when and where our people work.

We are a business that has been named Law Firm of the Year eight times and ranked in The Times Scotland Best Law Firms 2020. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, an active colleague engagement & CSR programme and the opportunity to develop your career.

We believe the best is yet to come for Harper Macleod. If this sounds like the type of firm you’d like to be part of, maybe the best is yet to come for you?

To apply please send a CV and current salary details to Kirsty Hunter, kirsty.hunter@harpermacleod.co.uk

www.harpermacleod.co.uk

Property Solicitor (Rural), NQ–2 years PQE – Harper Macleod LLP

We are looking for a solicitor to join our market-leading Property and Estates team. In addition to being at the forefront of both Natural Capital and Land Reform in Scotland, we advise on all aspects of rural property. The successful candidate will join a leading independent Scottish law firm with offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Elgin, Lerwick and Thurso.

You will work closely with market-leading experts and deliver advice to and results for a wide range of public and private sector client’s including Scotland’s biggest landowner and other leading rural sector bodies.

The role would suit a newly qualified solicitor who has completed a property seat to work on property purchases and sales and associated land management. You must have good communication skills and a desire to develop professionally within a collegiate environment. 

Knowledge of rural property transactions may be beneficial but is not essential. Training will be provided as required.

Let your ambitions and ours go hand in hand

At Harper Macleod you’ll be part of a collective effort that is never satisfied: celebrating the successes and inspiring one another to always improve. You want to deliver extraordinary results for your clients. We want to deliver extraordinary opportunities for you, and encourage you to make a difference.

Harper Macleod’s culture is the sum of the actions of the people who make up our business – it’s built around taking calculated risks and pushing for innovative solutions. You know the law, but you also know that there’s much more to being a lawyer than that.

You know that doing things the right way is always the best way – the right things for clients, colleagues and our communities. We will never compromise on this.

We also embrace flexibility – including when and where our people work.

We are a business that has been named Law Firm of the Year eight times and ranked in The Times Scotland Best Law Firms 2020. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, an active colleague engagement & CSR programme and the opportunity to develop your career.

We believe the best is yet to come for Harper Macleod. If this sounds like the type of firm you’d like to be part of, maybe the best is yet to come for you?

Harper Macleod LLP is committed to promoting equal opportunities and developing a diverse workforce.

To apply please send a CV and current salary details to Rona Cargill, HR Director
 
rona.cargill@harpermacleod.co.uk

www.harpermacleod.co.uk

Corporate Lawyer, 3+ years PQE – Harper Macleod LLP

Ranked among the country’s leading dealmakers, Harper Macleod’s Corporate team continues to grow and we’re looking for a lawyer who has the drive and ability to join a group advising some of Scotland’s leading businesses.

Your role

You will work with Partner Paula Skinner and her team, advising diverse and exciting clients including entrepreneurs at all stages of their business life cycle, from start up to eventual exit. Joining a close-knit and fast paced team, your role will involve advising on investments, acquisitions and disposals along with shareholder arrangements and share incentivisation schemes.

You will be a self-starter, able to work well within a team environment and be capable of dealing directly with a high volume of varied client enquiries with excellent technical skills and attention to detail. Applicants must have corporate transactional experience and at least 3 years PQE. You will be able to take a transaction from beginning to end and have good drafting skills. You must have the ability to competently manage the day to day aspects of transactions and support the team.

This role would be ideally suited for someone who wants to progress in their career and is comfortable with a significant amount of client contact. This role will provide a platform for someone to take a step-up in their next role.

The entrepreneurial team forms part of the wider corporate department, a team of 30 people and continues to grow. We’re currently ranked in the Top 4 in Business Insider Deal & Dealmaker’s magazine and year on year, we are increasing our deal numbers. There is huge opportunity in our business to grow a fantastic career. We give our people a level of responsibility they are ready for – rather than a PQE way of working – so if you’re an ambitious self-starter, this is the role for you.

Let your ambitions and ours go hand in hand

At Harper Macleod you’ll be part of a collective effort that is never satisfied: celebrating the successes and inspiring one another to always improve. You want to deliver extraordinary results for your clients. We want to deliver extraordinary opportunities for you, and encourage you to make a difference.

Harper Macleod’s culture is the sum of the actions of the people who make up our business – it’s built around taking calculated risks and pushing for innovative solutions. You know the law, but you also know that there’s much more to being a lawyer than that.

You know that doing things the right way is always the best way – the right things for clients, colleagues and our communities. We will never compromise on this.

We also embrace flexibility – including when and where our people work.

We are a business that has been named Law Firm of the Year eight times and ranked in The Times Scotland Best Law Firms 2020. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, an active colleague engagement & CSR programme and the opportunity to develop your career.

We believe the best is yet to come for Harper Macleod. If this sounds like the type of firm you’d like to be part of, maybe the best is yet to come for you?

Harper Macleod LLP is committed to promoting equal opportunities and developing a diverse workforce.

To apply please send a CV and current salary details to Rona Cargill, HR Director
 
rona.cargill@harpermacleod.co.uk
 
www.harpermacleod.co.uk

Head Of Department – Johnson Legal

Salary: £50,500 - £85,000 plus bonus and pension
Location: Edinburgh \ WFH

Use your talent to shape our future

Who we are

We are a longstanding, boutique legal firm based in Edinburgh‘s West End. We pride ourselves on our excellent relationships with our clients and with other professionals. Our most important principle is that our clients know that we care about them.

The role

We have a well-established Private Client team supported by an experienced paralegal. We need a dynamic Head of Department. The right candidate will be at either partner or associate level.

Our private client work is for individuals and their businesses. Our people are supported by excellent knowledge management, a rich training programme and a supportive culture. If you invest the time in us, we will invest the time in you.

About you

We want someone ambitious and motivated to drive the business forward into the Exizent era. This is a real opportunity to lead and grow a team: the sky is the limit!

You must be a qualified Solicitor with current practising certificate from the Law Society of Scotland. STEP qualifications are an advantage. You’ll have an excellent understanding of private client law (including wills, executries and trusts), reliable legal judgement and a sound appreciation of legal risk. You will be able to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context to produce timely and bespoke advice. As a strong communicator, you’ll be able to make effective decisions, manage and work to deadlines. Ideally you will have experience of working with cloud based practice management systems.

For more information or to apply in confidence please email david@johnsonlegal.co.uk

Conveyancing Paralegal/NQ Conveyancing Solicitor – Laurie & Co

We are looking for a highly motivated and efficient Conveyancing Paralegal/Newly Qualified Conveyancing Solicitor to join our residential property team.

The successful applicant will have a good working knowledge and understanding of all aspects of residential property conveyancing, excellent communications skills, a collaborative work ethic and a progressive approach to continuous improvement.

This particular role within the team requires that you should have relevant experience in all aspects of property conveyancing work including sales, purchases, title transfers, mortgage securities and remortgage transactions. The role will include both conveyancing and administrative support, including document preparation, forms submission and transcription of correspondence.

If you are interested please send your CV to: Stephanie Mann at stephanie@laurieandco.co.uk

Solicitor, Trainee Solicitor or Conveyancing Paralegal – Ferguson MacSween & Stewart

Are you looking for a change for the New Year?

We are a three office high street firm currently seeking a solicitor, trainee solicitor or conveyancing paralegal.   We are looking for an enthusiastic and hardworking candidate who has an interest in crofting and rural law or wants to learn more about this niche field. We have a high level of client contact from the outset and hands on experience of all aspects of a small rural practice.

Applications are welcome from anyone looking to work on either a full or part-time basis. Applications from candidates seeking to work remotely will also be considered.   You will also enjoy a high degree of autonomy and the successful candidate will be responsible for their own case load.

As we use a cloud based Case Management system, the ideal candidate must be computer literate and familiar with Microsoft Word and Outlook. A competitive salary commensurate with experience & skill level is offered.        

Please email your CV and covering letter to Sarah Farr, Staff Partner, Ferguson MacSween & Stewart, Solicitors, Bridge Road, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9ER, at admin@fmslaw.co.uk by close of business on 24 December 2021.

Legal Members sought for Scotland’s First-tier Tribunal: Local Taxation Chamber – Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland

New Tribunal, New Opportunities to build your legal career

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS) invites applications from suitably qualified individuals who wish to be considered for appointment as a Legal Member of the new Chamber which, subject to regulations, will be called the Local Taxation Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

The Board is seeking Legal Members across Scotland. The posts are paid on a daily fee basis of £387.21 with around 15 days per year commitment forecast.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in society supporting fair justice in Scotland.

The Chamber will consider appeals relating to a number of elements of local taxation including: property valuation, calculation of council tax liabilities and reductions thereof, and local taxation related civil penalty decisions.

We encourage diversity and welcome applications from people of all communities and backgrounds. Eligible practitioners from all sectors are welcome to apply. The principles of fair and open competition will apply and recommendation for appointment will be made solely on merit.

Further information can be found within the Guidance Note and Role Profile on https://www.judicialappointments.scot/vacancies .

Applications must be submitted by 12.00 (midday), Thursday 6 January 2022

Essential Business and Leadership Skills Certification Course | Law Society of Scotland Sponsored post

Made up of six distinct modules this 20 hour certification course will help equip solicitor members with the skills to become a successful manager and a thoughtful leader.

Our expert training team includes:          

• Russell Borland, Executive Coach & Partner, Leading Figures        
• Thomas Chalmers, Executive Coach & Partner, Leading Figures
• Manjula Bray, Business Psychologist and Executive/Career Coach              
• Scott Foster, S&S Foster Associates, Training and Management Consultancy
• Michael Fleming, Head of KWC Legal, Kissing With Confidence
• Derek McIntyre, Director, The Improvement Partners Ltd
• Hannah Beko, Commercial Property Lawyer & Executive Coach, Authentically Speaking

Please note this course is suitable for both in-house and private practice solicitors.

For more information or to book your place please visit our website.

Employment Law Conference | Law Society of Scotland Sponsored post

Mornings of 2 & 3 February | Online | 6 hours verifiable CPD

As hybrid-working and newer legal technologies continue to change our legal practice landscape, join us for peer guidance and in-depth analysis of these issues and many more.

Over these two mornings, our expert speakers will bring to you key legal updates, strategic insights and practical guidance on challenging issues affecting your employment law practice.

Our speaker lineup includes:      

• Donna Reynolds, Partner, Blackadders
• Sarah Leslie, Associate, Employment Division, Shepherd and Wedderburn
• Sarah Gilzean, Senior Associate, Accredited specialist in Employment Law and Discrimination Law, Morton Fraser
• Innes Clark, Partner, Accredited specialist in Employment Law, Morton Fraser
• Catriona Aldridge, Partner, CMS
• Katie Russell, Partner, Burges Salmon
• Shona Simon, President, Employment Tribunals (Scotland)

For full details or to book your place please visit our website.

Solicitor Advocates Introductory Course 2022 Sponsored post

The Society of Solicitor Advocates is running an Introductory Course for prospective Solicitor Advocates on Friday 14 January 2022 via Zoom. This course meets the criteria of an Introductory Course as defined under rule C.4. of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011.

The half-day event is intended for all solicitors (civil or criminal) considering applying for Extended Rights of Audience who would like to know more about the process and require to attend a mandatory Introductory Course.

Speakers include Lord Ericht and Lord Armstrong as well as Sonia Gentile-Mills, the Accreditation Manager of Education, Training and Qualifications at the Law Society of Scotland, and experienced Solicitor Advocates involved with the training and qualification processes.

There will also be a panel session dealing with practical and topical matters relative to practising as a Solicitor Advocate.

The course will run from 9am sharp until 12.30pm and costs £75.

If you would like to attend the course, please contact our Administrator, Ellen Wilson, on 01506 846587 or email ellen@solicitoradvocates.org.

Send your events to Scottish Legal News Sponsored post

Get your events listed on Scottish Legal News by contacting our advertising manager, Jeff Anderson, on jeff@scottishnews.com.