Edinburgh law firm Allan McDougall Solicitors has signed up as a new sponsor for the Lawscot Foundation, adding to the charity’s ability to support aspiring solicitors from less-advantaged backgrounds.
Allan McDougall Solicitors has generously committed £2,500, enough to cover the financial assistance provided to one Lawscot Foundation bursary holder for a full year.
The Lawscot Foundation support Scots law LLB students who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend university – they are provided with financial assistance as well as mentoring, networking and work experience opportunities.
Allan McDougall Solicitors – founded more than 90 years ago and with eight offices across Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian – is one of Scotland’s leading litigation firms, specialising in personal injury, employment, and family law.
The firm works with clients across the country and is a Scottish panel law firm for two of the UK’s largest trade unions, Unite and Usdaw.
Lawscot Foundation’s Darren Kerr said: “Allan McDougall Solicitors has a long and proud history in the Scottish legal sector, so we’re really pleased to have them on board as a Lawscot Foundation sponsor.
“Supporting the Lawscot Foundation helps make the Scottish legal sector more reflective of the communities it serves, but also gives law firms access to an additional pool or talent that would otherwise be lost to them.
“We’re grateful for all support that’s provided to help our bursary students, whether that’s financial or in-kind through mentoring and work experience opportunities. The Lawscot Foundation quite simply couldn’t exist without the help of the wider legal sector.”
Julie Harris, Partner and Solicitor Advocate from Allan McDougall Solicitors said: “We’re proud to partner with the Lawscot Foundation to help promote social mobility within the legal profession. Over the years Allan McDougall Solicitors has been a training ground for some of Scotland’s foremost lawyers. We’re strongly committed to nurturing talent that delivers first class legal expertise.”
Allan McDougall welcomed the new 2022 intake of Lawscot Foundation scholars to their offices to get a first-hand experience of life in a law firm. The scholars heard from Gordon Milligan, Associate Solicitor, Michelle Wilson, Paralegal, Jackie Raitt, Partner, Alice Bowman, Solicitor, Julie Harris Solicitor Advocate and trainee, Heather Webster.
