Every year, the Law Society of Scotland recognises emerging talent within their in-house community. The “In-house Rising Star” Award celebrates and rewards the brilliance of trainees and NQs with up to five years’ PQE who are shining in their early careers.
This year, there were 13 strong nominees mentioned, and all were congratulated by Law Society President Patricia Thom as she announced the winners at the In-house Annual Conference on Wednesday 22nd April – including Clinic Alumni, Arün Smith.
The Strathclyde Law Clinic had the pleasure of discussing the award and the accomplishment with Arün himself, where he reflected on the experience of winning, and the impact that learning from the Law Clinic has had on his career.
What does winning this award mean to you with regards to the work that you do as an trainee solicitor in a local authority?
In addition to being very flattering and recognising the important work of in-house trainees generally, winning the award symbolises acknowledgement that there’s a place for myself and others like me in the profession. Winning this award would not have been possible for me without the outstanding environment the Law Clinic provided.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned from being in the Law Clinic?
- The law clinic taught me that I could both be myself and also practise law – I didn’t have to sacrifice my values, or mould who I was into someone or something unrecognisable.
Was there a specific moment in your Law Clinic Career which informed/ inspired your career at present?
- It is very difficult for me to pinpoint a specific moment because there were so many moments in the cases that I was assigned and in participating in the life of the law clinic that informed, inspired, and shaped me as a lawyer, and all of them are relevant to my current role as a local authority trainee solicitor. Becoming the Law Clinics first-ever EDI Officer, was an unforgettable moment in my development. It showed me that I can transform the organisations in which I find myself, just as they can transform me
How has the clinic shaped the way you practise now?
- Attending law school taught me how to read and understand the law: being a student advisor at the Law Clinic taught me how to appreciate context, make legal arguments, and approach legal work with compassion, sensitivity, and a sense of fairness.
What advice would you give to current Law clinic student advisors?
- The Law is not neutral- there are systemic, structural, and institutional biases embedded into it, and it reflects the ethics and values (for better or, indeed, for worse) of those who have the power to make, operationalise, and adjudicate it. Asking questions is a crucial part of our profession, so the more comfortable you get challenging assumptions, living with uncertainty, and appreciating complexity, the better a lawyer you’ll be.
We are so proud to see how far Arün has come since starting at the Strathclyde Law Clinic, and cannot wait to see what he will accomplish next in his career!
Full details about this award and the event can be found on the Law Society Of Scotland’s website here: