1. Why did you become a H&S lawyer?
I was fortunate enough to be heavily involved in regulatory work within my traineeship and I just loved it. What I like most is the variety of skills and specialisms you can develop - and that you work very closely with clients and get to learn a lot about their business sector .
It's also an area that has an ever-changing landscape. For example, current trends are leaning towards looking at mental health and wellbeing in the workplace which you wouldn't typically relate to the old-fashioned concept of "health and safety."
2. What are the benefits to clients of having our Health and Safety app?
My favourite thing we offer clients through the app is the checklist section which provides at-a-glance guidance on various scenarios. For example, if they have to manage an accident on site or if they have a visit from a Regulator. It provides a really easy way for a client to access key information before they might get a chance to contact their legal team.
I also really enjoy the easy access to helpful and interesting blogs, articles and content for all health & safety related topics.
3. What three things can't you live without to do your job?
First - I think you need a cool head in unexpected or demanding situations, particularly after a major incident in order to be able to fully support your client.
Second - Having good communication skills also comes in handy when dealing with regulatory bodies such as the HSE, police and/or the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service.
Third - And finally, my gigantic work rucksack which fits pretty much anything – especially my laptop, a full-sized keyboard, notepads, jacket, shoes and an umbrella. It is so handy for court hearings, site visits or incident support when you might not know where you are going or what you will need.
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