About Me

I graduated from Glasgow University in 1971, and became a solicitor in 1973. I was appointed a Notary Public in 1977. If you want to know what a notary public is, click here. After working with various legal firms I started my own practice in Perth in 1980, and carried that on till 1992, when I switched to teaching. I now teach four days a week at Dundee College on their paralegals course.
While in practise on my own, I gained experience in the usual things lawyers do, such as crime and conveyancing, and latterly developed an interest in welfare law, helping people obtain the benefits they were entitled to. People said “thank you” a lot, which I liked.
I have taught at both the University of Abertay and Dundee University, but have settled now at Dundee College teaching on their paralegals course. During my time teaching, I have had to research more law than I ever did in practice, and have taught such diverse subjects as conveyancing, the law of the sea, copyright and divorce procedure. Two subjects in particular have coloured what I do now - namely company law (for social enterprises) and administrative law (for welfare law). I find teaching has helped me explain things clearly to people, and be fairly approachable.
I’ve always loved welfare law. Taking on “Big Brother” to help people get what they are entitled to has always given me a buzz. Teaching administrative law has taken that to a higher level, as it provides the tools necessary to take on government departments when they try to hide things, or act unfairly.
I became involved with Social Enterprises more recently. I have formed two companies for social enterprises, and helped in others. I have a good working knowledge of employment law, and the law about charities in Scotland. And because I have done court work in the past, I have some knowledge of what will happen if things go really wrong (and when we can take a chance…).
In 2001 my wife and I bought a small farm outside Coupar Angus, which is near Blairgowrie in Perthshire. As a result I have a strange mixture of skills. Part teacher, part lawyer and part farmer.