Martin Mackay

There’s a common misconception that having a thriving career in law means you have to work in a large city such as London or Edinburgh.

Having left a firm in Edinburgh to practise law in the Highlands over 20 years ago, I can confirm that simply isn’t the case.

In fact, I’ve listed five reasons why it’s a great place to develop your career as a lawyer.

The scope of work

Being involved in client work that is exciting, challenging and innovative is what every ambitious lawyer enjoys. What’s currently happening in the Highlands presents potential opportunities for lawyers to apply their skills and develop their careers.

5G roll-out for Inverness, development of the UK’s first spaceport, the duelling of the A9 and A96, housing developments, investment in tourist attractions and accommodation, renewables contracts, decommissioning work, the buying and selling of land farms and estates as well as multimillion projects to transform the region’s ports and harbours….and that’s just for starters.

There’s a huge volume and variety of interesting activities underway - all of which require legal advice, whether that extends to private client, corporate matters, real estate or a specific industry/ area of expertise.

Connectivity

Living and working in the Highlands doesn’t mean you’re cut off from the rest of the country – far from it. You’re only a video call, phone call or email away and if you’re attending a client meeting or team session in another part of Scotland or further afield, strong transport links nearby give you the option of travelling in person by air, train or road.

Being part of Scotland’s largest firm also means you have colleagues to provide support whenever required, so if you’re working on a project that requires strength in numbers, cross-team collaboration, or specific expertise, you can rely on people across the firm, regardless of location, to become involved.

A great way of life

Being in a big city where the pace of life can be frantic often lends itself to higher stress levels – and studies have shown that living in a rural area is associated with higher levels of wellbeing and life satisfaction.

On a day-to-day basis, the commute to work is a far cry from the noise and bustle of a crowded city – who wants to see grey buildings and roadworks when you can enjoy views of mountain tops and the open countryside?

The countryside surrounding the office provides a great escape for lunchtime walks, which a few of my colleagues do regularly, and I personally enjoy being out and about meeting clients at their place of work - another opportunity to enjoy the beautiful area we live in.

Activity-filled weekends and evenings

At the end of a busy week, or during the long summer evenings you won’t be short of things to do.

Inverness is a thriving hub of shops, and together with the wider local area has a multitude of cafes, restaurants and bars – and there are high profile events including festivals and concerts frequently hosted in the area.

If you’re an outdoors person, you’re in the best place. The Highlands and North Coast 500 are consistently ranked among the top ten places to visit or experience, so there’s plenty to explore whether you’re a Munro bagger, camper or water sports/ski/snowboarding enthusiast.

For sports, the region is full of community organisations and clubs, plus two professional football teams, rugby clubs and world-class golf courses, so you won’t be short of activities to fill your spare time.

Career and personal development

In addition to the technical side of the job, working in the Highlands offers the chance build strong links directly with clients, their businesses and advisers. There are lots of networking opportunities, supported by the likes of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and various local organisations. There’s also a strong focus on sharing knowledge and recognising achievements, through seminars, workshops and award programmes.

Martin Mackay is a consultant at Brodies LLP