My time with ACSO, and as a trainee solicitor at founder member Lyons Davidson, has come to end and with that I will close a very exciting chapter of my career, during which I had the great benefit of being seconded with ACSO.
During my six months there I have grasped the many opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of the civil justice system by putting consumer needs front and centre of any proposal. Being granted the opportunity to respond to consultations and calls for evidence has allowed me to apply my research skills and legal knowledge to concepts that are both part of my usual work, such as increased court fees consultation, and outside my comfort zone, such as the Justice Select Committee’s probate delays call for evidence.
I have been actively encouraged to read and pursue research topics of my own accord; publishing research and reports that will benefit ACSO’s members. To see my papers and posts gaining traction in both the legal and wider media is an achievement I am extremely proud of and one I could not have achieved without the support of the team.
All of my experiences and research have been encapsulated where possible in blog posts (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here). Alongside the vast amount of written work I have had the opportunity to work alongside and meet with industry experts and leaders, having meetings on topics which greatly impact the future of the civil justice system and have personally helped to develop my approach to tasks in my day-to-day role.
Finally, I would not be able to write a final blog post without thanking the colleagues who have support me and enabled all of the written work I have bombarded their inboxes with. I will always be grateful for the level of support and encouragement I have received.
As I step into the wider industry as a qualified solicitor at Lyons Davidson, I can confidently recommend to fellow trainees that the experience gained as an ACSO secondee is truly unique and beneficial. Promoting the benefit of looking at civil justice from a difference perspective than that as a representative of a party in a dispute is one which can only benefit the development of a trainee as they see the tireless work of the team members here at ACSO in the betterment of the justice system for the consumer.