Pupils take a fresh look at law
The University of Aberdeen will unite a group of Scotland's most esteemed lawyers in Inverness today (Friday) in a bid to forge links with the region's only high school for the study of law.
The venture is the first of its kind and will see a range of speakers from across the legal spectrum address senior pupils at Inverness Royal Academy.
Organised by the University's Law School, in conjunction with the academy's teacher of law Ian Stewart, the visit will give the students a fresh look at what it actually means to be a lawyer.
Professor Roderick Paisley, the University's Professor of Commercial Property Law, has been instrumental in establishing the University's links with the Royal Academy and he will be one of the keynote speakers at today's talk.
Professor Paisley said: "The whole aim is to foster a closer co-operation between the University of Aberdeen, the professions in Aberdeen and Inverness, and the Inverness Royal Academy.
"One of our aims is to increase the profile of rural practice to encourage prospective lawyers to see the benefits of remaining in the Highlands.
"We are also there to assist pupils interested in studying law at University and also to assist their general education."
He will be joined by David Lessels, Law Admissions Sector; Sheriff Douglas Cusine, himself a former Professor of Conveyancing at the University of Aberdeen; James Stewart, from Inverness, Dean of the Faculty of Solicitors in the Highlands; Colin Whittle, managing partner of R & R Urquhart, solicitors in Forres, and Reverend Duncan MacPherson, a qualified solicitor and chaplain to the school.
The main aim of securing the high profile guest speakers from the legal profession and the judiciary is to ensure those pupils' interested in a law career can hear first-hand information and hear the experiences of a panel of worthy experts.
Advice will be given on entrance requirements for University to ensure the students know what to expect at University.
Professor Paisley has been continuing to foster links with Inverness Royal Academy over the past year and has aided the academy's law department in terms of funding and vital resources.
He said, "Thanks to the University's support, I was able to obtain for the Academy a library of law books, and it is now the best equipped high school in the Highlands to teach law."