Annual Conference 2017 Leading Legal Excellence For the Greater Good Tuesday 19 September 2017, 9:15am - 5:30pm, Edinburgh International Conference Centre Supported by #LawscotConf Annual Conference 2017 “In complicated and of the good reasons we do what we do. And I challenging times, it can am confident that today’s content will achieve that just that; and that you will leave the be helpful to go back to our conference thinking, “yes that’s why I work in beginnings and remind the law”! Of course a jam packed agenda won’t allow ourselves of the good for too much soul searching – you have reasons we do what we do.” already chosen your preferred sessions from three streams of content, For the Greater Good of course, Business and Technology and Brexit and the Rule of Law. No matter what your choices were, you can expect to hear from a truly exceptional range of speakers in keynote addresses, panel debates and for the first time, a series of fringe events. As we say in the North-East, I’m fair- tricket about today’s line up and I know that your participation will bring the event Welcome to life. So please do get involved, chat with colleagues, old and new, ask questions, It is my great pleasure to welcome you to spectator. This time round and in my capacity tweet about what you’ve heard; and while this year’s Annual Conference. as President, I have had much more of an you’ve got your phones out, remember these I am Aberdeen born and bred, but I have active role to play and have relished being numbers, LSFD10 £10, 70070. I might be been fortunate enough to find a second part of the production process. Perhaps more asking you to text them later and that really professional home at the Law Society’s offices significantly though, I believe that today’s will be for the greater good! in Edinburgh. Just next door, our neighbours theme, “For the Greater Good” gets to the I sincerely hope you enjoy our conference at the International Conference Centre are very essence of the legal mindset. and I look forward to meeting as many of you providing the venue and a warm welcome for It’s fair to say, I think, that recent years have as possible. today’s event. been defined by economic, political and I am particularly excited about this year’s constitutional uncertainty. In complicated Graham Matthews conference, partly because up until now I and challenging times, it can be helpful to go President have enjoyed the event as an enthusiastic back to our beginnings and remind ourselves Law Society of Scotland For almost 20 years I’ve helped recruit Paralegals I recruit for all types of positions within a legal firm or and Solicitors from Newly Qualified to Partner level. in-house team. I’ve worked across all disciplines and with varying sizes of law firms from Sole Practitioners to the large If you are looking to make a move or recruit your next commercial firms, as well as in-house legal teams, employee and you want, honest, reliable assistance, across Scotland, England and further afield to the then please get in touch as I would be delighted to help. Channel Islands. You can contact me on 07841 764634, So, what makes me different? Those I’ve helped over [email protected] or via LinkedIn, this time say: easy to get on with, good listener, always Facebook or twitter @SPlimAssociates. on hand, supportive, professional, knowledgeable, lots of contacts, consultative, proactive and dedicated. Enjoy the conference! www.plimbleyassociates.co.uk 3 Leading Legal Excellence | For the Greater Good Keynote speakers The Rt Hon Lord Carloway Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General Lord Carloway was appointed Lord President Treasurer of the Faculty of Advocates. He was and Lord Justice General in December 2015 appointed a Judge in 2000. having held the position of Lord Justice Clerk and President of the Second Division of the He was editor of “Green’s Litigation Styles”. Inner House from August 2012. He contributed the chapters on “Court of Session Practice” to the Stair Memorial He is a graduate of Edinburgh University Encyclopaedia and both “Expenses” and (LLB Hons) and was admitted to the Faculty “Decrees and Interlocutors” in Court of of Advocates in 1977. He served as an Session Practice. Advocate Depute from 1986 to 1989 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1990. From He led a review of the law and practice 1994 until his appointment as a Judge he was in light of the United Kingdom Supreme Court's decision in the case of Cadder v HM Advocate. His report into criminal law and “He led a review of the law practice was published in November 2011. and practice in light of the United Kingdom Supreme Lord Carloway was the joint editor of “Parliament House Portraits: the Art Court’s decision in the case Collection of the Faculty of Advocates” and is of Cadder v HM Advocate.” a former president of the Scottish Arts Club. The Rt Hon James Wolffe QC Lord Advocate The Rt Hon James Wolffe QC became an “Called to the bar of England advocate in 1992 and was First Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Ministers and Wales in 2013, James from 2002 to 2007, the same year he was was elected Dean of the appointed Queen’s Counsel. From 2007 to Faculty of Advocates in 2010 he served as an Advocate Depute. 2014.” Called to the bar of England and Wales in 2013, James was elected Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in 2014. He was appointed as Lord Advocate on 1st June 2016. The Lord Advocate is the senior law officer of the Scottish Government and is the head of the system of prosecution and investigation of deaths in Scotland. 4 Annual Conference 2017 Dame Katherine Grainger DBE Olympic Gold medal winning rower and academic Katherine was born in Glasgow on the 12th the double sculls in London. She is Britain’s November 1975 and is Great Britain’s most most decorated female Olympic rower and decorated female Olympian. Katherine the only female athlete – in any sport – to gain graduated in law from Edinburgh University, medals in five consecutive Olympic Games. then went on to achieve an MPhil in Medical Katherine was appointed Commander of the Law and Medical Ethics from Glasgow order of the British Empire (CBE) for services University, and in May 2013 completed a to rowing which was announced in the 2013 PhD in the sentencing of homicide at King’s New Years Honours. College, University of London. Since winning her Olympic Gold Katherine Katherine took up rowing at Edinburgh has been short-listed for the 2012 BBC University in 1993 and made such good Sports Personality of the Year Award, progress she was awarded the Eva Bailey had a post box in Aberdeen painted Trophy as their most outstanding female gold in her honour, appeared on the athlete in 1996 and again in 1997 when she Superstars television show and has won her first international Gold medal at the been a guest on Question of Sport, U23 World Rowing Championships. Countdown and the Clare Balding Show on BT Sport. She was elected to the British “Katherine became the most She is the Honorary President of the Scottish Olympic Association’s Athlete Commission decorated female Olympian Amateur Rowing Association and is a and became a member of the Board for the of all time winning a silver member of Edinburgh rowing club St Andrew charity ‘International Inspiration’. Boat Club and a member of Marlow Rowing medal, narrowly missing the Club. She is also an honorary life member of In all, Katherine took a two year break from gold after leading for 3/4 of Aberdeen Boat Club. the GB Rowing Squad during which time the race.” she also completed her PhD and wrote her In November 2009, Katherine was named autobiography ‘Dreams Do Come True’. as Scottish Sportsperson of the Year and She spent time working for the BBC as a awarded the “Emirates Lonsdale Trophy” by co-presenter on the Rowing World Cup the most decorated female Olympian of Commonwealth Games Scotland, the first coverage, the BBC ‘Inspire’ series and as all time winning a silver medal, narrowly female to win this prestigious award, and in a pundit during the 2014 Commonwealth missing the gold after leading for 3/4 of the the process leaving such Scottish sporting Games in Glasgow. She spent her spare race. For many who had not expected this luminaries as Sir Andy Murray and Sir Chris time visiting schools and sports clubs and pairing to even qualify for Rio, their result was Hoy in her wake. developed her natural talents as a keynote/ outstanding and propelled Katherine into the after dinner speaker in which she tells a history books. In December 2010 Katherine was excited compelling tale of the journey to success. to be awarded an honorary doctorate by In March 2015 Katherine was inaugurated The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. The end of 2014 saw a new chapter begin as Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, In June 2011 she was delighted to receive as Katherine returned to the GB Rowing a role she will hold for a seven year tenure. an honorary doctorate from her former squad and a demanding training regime. Katherine is eager to be part of shaping the university, Edinburgh University. At the 2015 World Rowing Championships, future of the University and credits her own Katherine and Victoria Thornley her new extensive time in academia for helping shape In 2012 Katherine’s dreams were realised partner in the double scull) qualified the boat her rowing career.