2025

Discuss two ways in which Shepherd and Wedderburn could utilise legal technology to benefit the business and/or our clients. (300 words)

Emerging technologies in the legal sector have significant potential to improve efficiency, drive down costs and allow law firms to win more work by quoting more competitive prices. Recognising that Shepherd and Wedderburn may have considered these already, there are two key uses of legal technology that I consider could benefit the firm and its clients.

Firstly, I am aware that Shepherd and Wedderburn currently use document automation processes. Whilst this is excellent for ensuring consistency within documents and reducing time being spent on first drafts, there is likely to be scope to make greater use of AI software. The AI would be able to learn patterns within different documents and it would be able to learn to identify various applicable clauses. In addition to driving down costs, this would have extensive benefits for trainees and junior associates who would have more time to focus on higher value work.

Secondly, whilst blockchains are yet to be widely used in legal practice, as a corporate law firm that deals with a high volume of contractual agreements, I believe that blockchain technology can provide large benefits to Shepherd and Wedderburn by automating the execution of contracts, known as ‘smart contracts’. By using smart contracts, there would be much less administrative work, meaning that tasks of higher importance could be prioritised.

I have an interest in legal technology, which I have pursued by taking a module on the subject in my second year of university. I am excited by the prospect of working at Shepherd and Wedderburn since it is a firm that is actively exploring the disruptive potential of these technologies.

Are there any areas of the law in which you would like to specialise? If yes, please provide further details. (300 words)

In the second year of my law degree, I discovered an interest in Competition Law while studying it as part of an EU Law module. Opportunities to further explore this field have been limited so far, however, I keep updated with current affairs, such as the review of the proposed merger between Three and Vodafone. This case demonstrates the evolving nature of Competition Law, which is what appeals to me. I plan to take the advanced Competition Law module in my final year of university to deepen my knowledge and practical skills.

At my university’s Law Fair, I had the opportunity to connect with representatives from Shepherd and Wedderburn, who shared insights into the firm’s growing Competition Team. I was particularly impressed by the firm’s involvement as a founding member of the Competition Pro Bono Scheme. I am currently a student legal advisor at my university’s Law Clinic. After witnessing first-hand the benefits of pro bono work, I am keen to continue providing this service as I enter my legal career. The growing strength in Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Competition Team along with the involvement in the Competition Pro Bono Scheme makes me eager to start my career at Shepherd and Wedderburn.

Another area of law that I would be keen to specialise in is litigation. In 2024, I had the chance to shadow an Advocate during a murder trial. While I found the courtroom setting exciting, the sensitive nature of criminal law reinforced my interest in pursuing commercial law, where I can engage in complex cases without the emotional aspects that come with criminal law.

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Band 2 Chambers ranking in litigation, combined with the fact that the firm has one of the most established litigation teams in Scotland, makes the firm a great place to begin my career as a solicitor.

Why does a career with Shepherd and Wedderburn particularly appeal to you and how would it suit your skills? (300 words) 

Shepherd and Wedderburn is clearly one of the leading law firms in Scotland and an excellent place to embark on a career in commercial law. What stands out most for me is the firm’s culture. In April 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in a work shadow day, where I observed a second-year trainee in the Banking and Finance department. This experience was deeply insightful. I immediately noticed the welcoming and collaborative atmosphere. Everybody I encountered was incredibly friendly and approachable. I witnessed firsthand the importance of communication and working together in small teams, and it was clear that teamwork and mutual support are central to the firm’s ethos.

My own experience as a committee member within my university’s Mooting Society aligns well with these values and has helped me to develop the skills required to succeed at Shepherd and Wedderburn. I have demonstrated my ability to collaborate effectively. Working in a small team, we rely on each other to achieve our goals and I have consistently shown my willingness to assist and support my peers.

Another compelling aspect of a career with Shepherd and Wedderburn is the firm’s commitment to sustainability, particularly its dedication to achieving net zero. I was particularly impressed to learn that Shepherd and Wedderburn was the first firm to sign the Edinburgh Climate Compact, exemplifying its leadership in addressing climate change. This mission strongly resonates with me. In the summer of 2024, I completed a Global Sustainability Programme, earning certification as a carbon-literate citizen. This qualification has equipped me with in-depth knowledge about how sustainability intersects with business practices and the importance of collective action in tackling climate change. I am eager to carry this knowledge into my future career at Shepherd and Wedderburn, aligning myself with the firm’s progressive environmental initiatives.

Describe your greatest achievement and outline what skills you believe were demonstrated in the attainment of this achievement. (300 words)

My greatest personal achievement to date has been undertaking multiple solo trips in 2023 and 2024. I have previously struggled with being away from home and family, so choosing to step outside my comfort zone for extended periods was a significant achievement for me. Through this experience, I developed a wide range of transferrable skills which are essential for a successful legal career.

Staying in hostel dorms and meeting travellers from diverse backgrounds helped me to build and improve my interpersonal skills. Engaging with new people and quickly establishing relationships required adaptability, open-mindedness, and effective communication, three crucial skills for a lawyer. These experiences also strengthened my ability to connect meaningfully with others, something I view as invaluable for building strong client relationships.

Solo travelling also taught me to be independent and self-reliant. Navigating unfamiliar countries, organising trips, and addressing challenges reinforced my organisational skills and resilience. Problem-solving became second nature when I had to manage travel disruptions or adjust plans in real time. This adaptability and decisiveness, often under pressure, are qualities that I believe are transferable to the demands of legal practice.

Overall, my solo travelling experiences have pushed me to build confidence within myself, establish meaningful relationships, and embrace challenges, helping me grow personally and professionally. I am confident that these experiences have better prepared me for the demands of a career in law, where adaptability, strong interpersonal skills, and resilience are key.

Describe how your personal planning and organisation resulted in the successful achievement of a personal or group task (300 words)

In the second year of my law degree, I competed in four rounds of the Internals Mooting Competition at my university alongside a teammate. We finished in second place with the final round taking place in Dundee Sheriff Court. This was a significant achievement and I believe that my rigorous planning and precise organisation throughout each round led was crucial to our success.

For each round, I approached the workload by breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks. I allocated specific research to certain days and created deadlines to ensure that we stayed on track to have the submission finished at least a few days before each round of the competition. I organised all of the tasks that we had to conduct as part of the preparation into a detailed schedule, tracking them in my to-do list. My goal was to complete my submission a few days ahead of each moot to allow plenty of time to revise my submission and address any unexpected challenges that might arise.

Moreover, anticipating potential questions from judges was critical to our strategy. I prepared detailed outlines of possible questions and responses to ensure that my teammate and I could address each point comprehensively and confidently during the moot. This worked well as my teammate was asked a question that I had specifically prepared for.

Overall, this competition was both a valuable test of my organisational abilities and a chance to enhance them further. I am confident that this experience has demonstrated, and allowed me to further develop, my planning and organisational skills, which are essential to be a successful lawyer.

2025

Why does a career with Shepherd and Wedderburn particularly appeal to you and how would it suit your skills? (300 words) 

Shepherd and Wedderburn (S+W) appeal to me due to its strong presence across various practice areas like employment law. Tricia Walker's appointment to the employment team excited me, given her Supreme Court litigation success and expertise in the energy sector. Learning from top professionals at S+W is a fantastic opportunity. Additionally, being a full-service firm also allows me to gain exposure to many practice areas, invaluable for my professional growth. 

Furthermore, S+W’s training and career progression opportunities, like the Emerging Leaders Programme, align with my aspirations of becoming an effective leader and partner. As a Platinum Accredited Investor in Young People, S+W’s commitment to developing young professionals through mentoring and core skills programmes is particularly appealing. 

The Smarter Working Team provides S+W lawyers with innovative technologies and upskilling opportunities, aligning with my interest in innovation. I’m currently re-establishing my university’s Legal Tech Society to educate students on tech-driven legal changes. As a founding member of the World Services Group, S+W is well positioned to handle global and domestic legal matters. My experience liaising on cross-jurisdictional contracts as a sponsorship coordinator drew me to the firm’s international exposure from its Scottish base. 

My versatile skill set makes me well-suited to S+W. Over five years at Nisa Local, progressing from Sales Assistant to Junior Manager, I developed strong communication and leadership skills, supervising staff and coordinating with managers. As a Generalist Advisor at Citizens Advice, I honed my client-focused approach and teamwork, building rapport with clients and tackling complex cases collaboratively. Additionally, my role as Company Treasurer at [Redacted] refined my attention to detail, problem-solving, and organisational abilities. I ensured timely submissions of accounts, financial accuracy, and proactively prevented funding issues by scrutinising and monitoring spending. With a "can-do" attitude and eagerness to learn, I’m ready to embrace the challenges S+W offers.

Describe your greatest achievement and outline what skills you believe were demonstrated in the attainment of this achievement. (300 words) 

One of my greatest achievements was helping to build a mosque in Pakistan with the [Redacted] where I served as Co-head of sponsorships.  During the project, political riots broke out in Pakistan, leading to the arrests of local tradesmen and causing delays that jeopardised both the mosque's construction and our Ramadan outreach plans. This created a significant risk to the sponsorship contracts we had secured and threatened the success of our charitable efforts. 

Although my role focused on sponsorships, I took on additional responsibilities to keep the project on track. I organised weekly Zoom meetings to keep all teams updated on the complex political situation and its impacts and communicated it in a clear, accessible way so that everyone could adjust their efforts accordingly. I also drew on my experience as a Company Treasurer to assist the overstretched finance team in re-budgeting and liaised with our sponsors to adjust sponsorship contracts in line with the new timeline and budget. Additionally, I suggested that our outreach officer visit neighboring villages to ask local mosques to announce the need for available tradesmen. This strategy successfully brought in workers, allowing the mosque to be completed in time for Ramadan and all planned events to go ahead. A key challenge arose when two members unexpectedly left. I proposed dividing their responsibilities into five manageable tasks to suitable remaining members. This ensured continued progress without overburdening anyone.

This experience demonstrated my adaptability, communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.  I guided the team through complex challenges while keeping sponsors updated. I also showed a can-do attitude by taking the initiative to take on additional responsibilities and addressing both financial and operational obstacles. These skills are essential for building client relationships, managing case complexities, and collaborating effectively with various teams/people on projects.

Describe how your personal planning and organisation resulted in the successful achievement of a personal or group task. (300 words) 

As Project Lead of the [Redacted] at the [Redacted], I successfully organised a business panel requiring extensive planning, coordination, and leadership. I proposed inviting local businesspeople, charities, and lecturers to share their expertise on starting businesses, targeting both aspiring entrepreneurs who lacked access to advice and experienced professionals looking to turn their knowledge into ventures. 

Acknowledging the lengthy approval process at [Redacted], I started planning months in advance. I submitted a detailed initative proposal plan to the board and allocated team members to draft third-party relationship approval requests for guest speakers. Balancing this with our existing projects, I ensured continuous progress by dedicating time each week to the panel. I also created a detailed schedule outlining everyone’s tasks, making it easier for the team to track progress and for me to reallocate responsibilities when needed. I delegated tasks based on member's strengths. Recognising our limited experience in promoting events to the general public, I sought assistance from the student management team to maxamise our outreach. To ensure the event ran smoothly, I held a meeting the day before to finalise logistics, address any last-minute concerns, and had the team arrive early for setup and a practice run on the day of the event too. 

The event was a success, with 41 attendees providing positive feedback. Four attendees also went on to start their businesses shortly after. As Project Lead, my meticulous planning and organisation skills were critical to aligning all aspects of the event, from guest coordination to effective teamwork, ensuring everything ran smoothly and on schedule. 

This experience showcased my leadership, collaboration, and ability to manage complex scenarios efficiently. These skills that will be invaluable in my legal career for managing client expectations, coordinating complex legal projects, and ensuring timely completion of tasks.

Discuss two ways in which Shepherd and Wedderburn could utilise legal technology to benefit the business and/or our clients. (300 words) 

S+W could utilise AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and NexLaw Copilot to enhance efficiency and improve client services. 

Microsoft Copilot can serve as a comprehensive tool for assisting with document drafting, identifying relevant precedents, detecting errors, and ensuring legal compliance. Its powerful legal research capabilities offers an excellent starting point for research. It can also extract insights from client interactions, allowing S+W lawyers to better tailor their services to meet client needs. Additionally, Copilot can automate administrative tasks such as billing, deadline tracking, client communications and more, complementing the firm's document automation system.  This tool can save time and therefore reduce client costs, making the firm more attractive.  This tool aligns with S+W’s Smarter Working focus on data insights to benefit its client and optomise work processes. To ensure security, strong data protection measures and staff training are essential. This will prevent overreliance on AI, ensuring it serves as a supportive tool rather than replacing the quality of legal advice

Predictive analytic tools like NexLaw Copilot can enhance S+W’s contentious work by generating legal reports, predicting case outcomes, and informing dispute resolution tactics.  Incorporating psychometric analysis, it also provides insights into opposing counsel's behaviors, enabling more effective persuasion strategies. This tool would allow S+W lawyers to streamline case preparation, conduct comprehensive early case assessments, forecast team workloads, and efficiently generate quotes for clients when pitching for work.  This tool aligns with S+W’s Smarter working focus on helping to predict future legal trends and outcomes.

These technologies would free up valuable time for S+W lawyers to focus on more strategic tasks, improving productivity and client service. While they enhance core legal functions, they do not replace the core functions of S+W lawyers - rather, they allow S+W lawyers to deliver more tailored, efficient services that strengthen the firm’s competitive edge.  

Are there any areas of the law in which you would like to specialise? If yes, please provide further details. (300 words) 

I have an interest in specialising in employment law, sparked after attending an event on employment tribunal disputes. This prompted me to become the Project Lead of the [Redacted] at [Redacted]. Here, I lead a team in creating resources to educate the local community on their employment rights. The ever-evolving nature of employment law, including recent changes from the Labour Government and the impact of The Worker Protection Act, further interests me. I’m currently planning a webinar to update local businesses and entrepreneurs on relevant developments. This reflects my commitment to promoting workplace fairness – a core reason I want to pursue this area. At Citizens Advice, I gained hands-on experience by shadowing an employment lawyer at a tribunal and advising clients on issues such as dismissals and redundancies. This reinforced my passion for the creative problem-solving required in employment law. 

S+W is the ideal firm to specialise with, given its market-leading expertise across sectors like energy, higher education and transport. The firm acting as sole employment advisor to the University of Glasgow is a standout example of its prominence in the field. In particular, the firm’s employment work in the energy sector aligns with my interest in the intersection of employment law and businesses’ net-zero targets. 

Additionally, working alongside experts like Neil Maclean, who has helped with cases at the CJEU and ECHR, would provide an invaluable learning experience. My time with S+W’s employment share incentives team further reinforced my desire to specialise there. Particularly learning about the team's involvement in cross-border matters and the innovative ways the firm ensures EMI plans deliver their intended benefits. Furthermore, the firm’s commitment to maintaining client relationships in the employment team through regular training and webinars highlights its vision of fostering trusting relationships, aligning with my interest in client-focused approaches. 

2024

Why does a career with Shepherd and Wedderburn particularly appeal to you and how would it suit your skills? (300 words)

Shepherd and Wedderburn is a firm that interests me as it offers a strong presence across many practice areas and has an excellent reputation, particularly in the rural land and estate sector. Moreover, Shepherd and Wedderburn have a progressive outlook with dedication to quality of services and professional growth. Its emphasis on training opportunities and avenues for progression aligns perfectly with my future aspirations. Shepherd and Wedderburn’s proactivity in adapting to the evolving legal landscape is hugely impressive. This is why I want to be trained in a full-service law firm like Shepherd and Wedderburn. I can gain exposure to many practice areas, which will be invaluable for my professional journey. Shepherd and Wedderburn’s wide-ranging expertise and commitment to growth and collaboration create an environment that piques my interest greatly and fuels my desire to apply to this firm. My existing skill set is well-rounded, adaptable, and constantly growing, making it well-suited for a trainee solicitor at Shepherd and Wedderburn. I have a distinctive background of over five years of hospitality experience, coupled with the academic foundation of my law degree, experience in extracurricular volunteering, and leadership positions in my societies at university. This background has instilled in me a strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, and organisation – qualities which I believe resonate well with the demands of a traineeship. Furthermore, I am keen to learn and expand my practical legal experience, and I believe I will benefit from this challenging environment to enhance and tone my legal skills. This eagerness inspires me to work towards being an invaluable asset to Shepherd Wedderburn and deliver high-quality contributions to the firm as part of the traineeship.

Describe your greatest achievement and outline what skills you believe were demonstrated in the attainment of this achievement. (300 words)

My most significant accomplishment to date was completing a marathon. I decided to take up running as a hobby during the lockdown, as I have always been active and understood the benefits of staying in shape. I initially ran with friends and even started a community running group as lockdown restrictions eased. This group involved my friends, their families, cousins, and extended family, leading to regular Sunday morning and Thursday evening runs. Together, we made remarkable progress. I continued to run two or three times a week, gradually increasing both my speed and the length of my runs. The experience required planning, effective communication, and unwavering dedication to my running. It was undeniably challenging, and I considered giving up numerous times, but I persisted. Although my finishing time did not meet my expectations, I was proud of my achievement. This accomplishment strengthened my belief in my running abilities, myself, and my capabilities in other aspects of life.

Describe how your personal planning and organisation resulted in the successful achievement of a personal or group task. (300 words)

Resurrecting my high school newspaper was a remarkable achievement that showcased my strong organisational and planning skills and the unique aspects that made this project stand out. I assumed the role of editor-in-chief, a friend led the graphic design, and we welcomed others to join our small team. We were so passionate about the project that we dedicated our lunch breaks and after-school hours to its success. Each week, we meticulously wrote and proofread articles to ensure top-notch quality.  

What set our publication apart was our ability to curate content from various sources, including student essays, competition entries, and teacher contributions. This diverse content pool gave our newspaper a distinctive edge, offering a broader perspective on school life. Recognising our limited experience in editing and graphic design, we took the proactive step of seeking guidance from our teachers. Their mentorship and advice were invaluable, turning our publication into a professional and polished work of art. Witnessing the tangible outcome of our hard work was rewarding and incredibly motivating. 

What makes this achievement exceptional is that we successfully resurrected the newspaper and the profound impact we had on our school community. Former pupils returned to see and purchase our publication, reigniting old connections and creating a sense of nostalgia. This challenging project demanded careful planning, unwavering dedication, and effective collaboration. Despite the obstacles we faced, my determination, the strong sense of fulfilment I gained from the project, and the unique character of our newspaper made it a lasting success. It remains one of my proudest achievements for its revival and the connections it reignited within our school community.

Discuss two ways in which Shepherd and Wedderburn could utilise legal technology to benefit the business and/or our clients. (300 words)

Shepherd and Wedderburn could utilise technology through remote services and cloud computing for case files, organising documents, timekeeping on work, deadline tracking and more. A service which can be accessed remotely allows the entire firm to provide and review the latest updates on cases from any location. It could access insight from other branches, abroad or nationally, to uncover trends and analyse data to help Shepherd and Wedderburn optimise its productivity and client service. It can also generate insights into specific lawyers and associate productivity and efficiency, which can facilitate learning and new approaches to training for trainees based on other employees' data, highlighting gaps or problem areas. However, with this, there needs to be a need to ensure that all the records are secure, having robust data protection software in place, too. With the rise of AI, Shepherd and Wedderburn could utilise artificial intelligence to help, for example, analyse contracts, edit documents, and process complex legal documents. It would save time and, therefore, clients money, which they can benefit from. AI can support business needs without replacing administrative employees as an objective or outcome. It can also improve business procedures, which can be automated using algorithms to interpret and file data, perhaps more accurately than a human can.

Are there any areas of the law in which you would like to specialise? If yes, please provide further details. (300 words)

I have an interest in specialising in rural law and estates. This interest was sparked during my second-year property law studies, and it is further fuelled by my deep commitment to addressing climate change through renewable energy initiatives. I am actively engaged with the [redacted]. Additionally, I am excited to delve into commercial conveyancing as part of my diploma studies. I find the intricate world of commercial property equally captivating and worthy of specialising in, particularly at Shepherd and Wedderburn. As a market leader in rural estate law and commercial real estate and infrastructure, your firm is the ideal environment for my training. Your deep industry knowledge and expertise make you exceptionally well-suited to guide me in these areas, facilitating my professional growth and understanding within these fields.