Being a lawyer in lockdown
SPONSORED CONTENT - Harper Macleod
Angela Gray is a Senior Solicitor at Harper Macleod who specialises in a variety of Rural and Community Ownership work. She has spent most of the past year working from home in Caithness and here she reflects on what it's like to have been a lawyer in the area during lockdown.
As someone who has been brought up on a croft in Caithness, and who has always enjoyed being part of the agricultural community, I'll start by saying there is nowhere I'd rather have spent the past year than at home.
As a law student going through university I thought that if I was going to work for one of the main players in the Scottish legal market, I would have to relocate. It was really important to me in my career to have a local connection whilst still providing the people I advise with a specialist service in their legal matters. That's why one of the things that intrigued me most about Harper Macleod was their unique Scottish footprint – there are no other 'national' firms with offices in Thurso, Inverness, Elgin and Lerwick, as well as the usual Central Belt locations. Mind you, though we've had an office in Thurso since 2012, and one in Inverness since 2004, I've not been able to use them much over the last year as we lawyers, like so many other people, have got used to working from home.
Although we have a large team working right across the modern rural economy, when I was offered a role with the firm, rural property work was a natural fit for me due to my connection with the farming industry. In my job I get to work with many different people across the Highlands and get involved in all sorts of things, from crofting matters, farm and estate acquisitions and sales, renewable energy projects to community buy outs. I think people are always surprised to hear the volume and variety of work which comes through the door – no transactions are ever the same and I enjoy using my specialist skills to work out how to get the best result.
In what has no doubt been a tough year for so many people and businesses, working from home has allowed me to appreciate just how fortunate I am to be surrounded by open green spaces where I can watch the horses from my "home office" window; take my dog, Hank, a walk during my lunch hour and often bump into clients old and new whilst being out and about. However, as we and many others have adapted to virtual meetings, due to my location I have also been ideally placed to connect local people with the appropriate contacts at our firm for other services we provide such as wills and estate planning, family matters and disputes (to name a few!).
The community spirit and perseverance displayed during times like these will never be lost on me and it has been fascinating to hear and read how individuals and businesses have adapted and supported each other over the last year. I'm hoping that the coming year will prove to be an exciting one, both for the North Highlands and me personally, as we all in Caithness and Sutherland can get out and about freely and enjoy not only all that the Highlands has to offer, but also quality time with friends and family.
If anyone has any queries or questions as to how we may help them, their family or their business I am more than happy to have a chat about how we can assist going forward.
07970340628
Naver House, Naver Road, Thurso KW14 7QA