This summer, after years of dedicated hard work, Inverness-based solicitor Roddy Cormack became the Highlands’ first accredited construction law specialist.
The senior associate at Scottish law firm Ledingham Chalmers has been awarded his qualification in this field by the Law Society of Scotland and is the only one listed by the organisation at an address outside Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen.
This qualification marks a culmination of Mr Cormack’s work since he started as a trainee in 1998 and is a sign of the firm’s commitment to high quality service to their clients across Scotland and particularly in the north east.
Mr Cormack said: “The accolade acts as recognition of the good quality construction work we’re doing. While it doesn’t mean the firm will operate differently, the accreditation highlights what we already offer in Scotland.
“In many cases, businesses within the Highlands and Islands have to bring construction law experts up from the central belt. Some time ago, Ledingham Chalmers recognised the need for specialist construction services throughout the whole of Scotland, the north and north-east, in particular.
As a specialist, Roddy joins six of his colleagues who have been accredited, including chairman Jennifer Young who also specialises in construction law.
He said: “My colleagues were very supportive throughout the process and I was able to learn from their experiences.
“The accreditation is simply a peer-review by longstanding, recognised experts of the knowledge and experience that solicitors working in niche areas have built up over the years. Going through the process is the next obvious step in recognising that specialism.
“The process involved compiling details of my previous experience, an understanding of legal issues, examples of when I’ve delivered and received training and authored publications. The application also had to be supported by references from experts in construction law.”
According to the Law Society of Scotland, there were 476 trainees in 2012–2013. With so many trainees entering the profession, accreditations like Mr Cormack’s are an excellent way to stand out from the crowd and show a willingness to go the extra mile. Mr Cormack recommends that lawyers think about further qualifications from their first day.
He said: “The accreditation process requires candidates to have seven years of qualified experience and five years of active specialisation in an area. With this in mind, my one tip is to download the accreditation form years before you have any intention of submitting it.
“It’s easier to keep an on-going record than scratching your head trying to remember the details of what you worked on years before.
“Competition is getting tougher for lawyers, especially for younger ones who are gaining experience and wanting to do well. Accreditations like these are an excellent way to demonstrate what you’ve learnt and the experiences you’ve had over the years.”