I can hardly believe I’m now writing this blog after what feels like the quickest two years of my life. At the same time, it seems like a lifetime ago that I walked through the doors of the Girvan office as a trainee on 1 August 2023. Today, I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my career as a Newly Qualified Solicitor (“NQ”), working within the Civil Court Department at our Ayr office.

For many bright-eyed and bushy-tailed law students, the path to qualification may seem clear. But for those who haven’t studied law at all it can be less obvious. In my case, I came to the legal profession a little later having first studied Fine Art. I then completed the Accelerated LLB during the pandemic, which brought its own set of challenges. After two years at the University of Edinburgh and then completing the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Aberdeen, I embarked on my traineeship with The McKinstry Company.

Lawyers may not be known for their maths, but it has taken nearly five years (not counting my first degree) to be able to say: I am a solicitor. It is a responsibility I don’t take lightly, and I hope to use this role to assist clients and make a meaningful difference.

My traineeship began in private client work under the careful guidance of Debbie in our Girvan office. There I was introduced to the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, succession planning, farming partnerships, and accounting matters. Having spent many summers growing up around the sunny shores of Maidens, returning to work in and around Girvan felt like a full-circle moment. I really enjoyed helping a range of clients in assisting with getting their affairs in order.

At the same time, I also spent one day a week in our Ayr office under the watchful eye and supervision of Thiona McQuiston, gaining experience in the administration of trusts and with the preparation of guardianship orders.

In February 2024, I moved full-time to the Ayr office to join the Civil Court Department, working under the supervision of Robert and Colin. One of the things I love most about this area of law is its variety—no two cases are the same. The department covers a wide range of matters including debt recovery, personal injury, medical negligence, matrimonial and child contact cases, property disputes, company and commercial issues, and employment law. I also had the chance to continue working on guardianships and contentious estates.

I particularly enjoyed being in court and assisting with disputes not just in Ayrshire, but also in Lanarkshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and occasionally Glasgow. A highlight was attending the Court of Session in Edinburgh to sit alongside an advocate. Instructing and working with advocates is an important part of what we do, and it’s an area I’m keen to continue developing, as I foster professional relationships across Scotland.

I started appearing in Court on behalf of clients earlier this year and I am excited to gain more “in-person” experience in the Courts. There is a huge amount of preparation that goes into a case before it comes before a Sheriff and it is very rewarding to achieve a good result for clients and to guide them through the process.

I feel incredibly fortunate to support my local community and work closely with clients in Ayrshire and beyond.

Mentorship has played a vital role in my journey, and I’m deeply grateful to the solicitors who have supported and guided me along the way. Thank you to Robert, Thiona, Debbie, Colin, and Kirsty for their mentorship, and to all of my colleagues at The McKinstry Company. Teamwork is essential in this profession, and I’m thankful for the many people—often behind the scenes—without whom the delivery of legal services wouldn’t be possible.

I’m excited for what lies ahead—this is only the beginning! I’ll sign off with some wise words from Thiona that I expect will remain relevant throughout my career:

“Every day is a school day.”