Tell us about working at Morton Fraser MacRoberts
I joined the firm in 2008 after over a decade at Shepherd and Wedderburn. I wanted to work a three day week after my second maternity leave - the firm were light years ahead of other law firms for flexible working patterns. Before I started work here I was told it was a really friendly place. When I started at Morton Fraser, now Morton Fraser MacRoberts, I remember feeling slightly unnerved by how nice and welcoming everyone was. 15 years on and I'm confident the friendships I made early on with colleagues here - and still have today - are genuine. I shouldn’t have been so cynical!
What type of work do you get involved in?
Most of my work in real estate is for public sector clients. That means I work with a range of really interesting clients and properties like prisons, schools, benefits offices, firing ranges, castles, sewage works! My favourite part of my role is when I happen to drive past a property I've worked on in a transaction. Especially if I can bore my children telling them - repeatedly if it's a property we pass regularly - "Did I ever tell you that I did you that I sold that school for housing?" (Repeat as regularly as possible).
How has your role changed during your time at the firm?
I used to work part time, but as my children got older, I gradually moved to full time. In 2014 when I was still part time, I became a partner, which was a change of role in numerous respects - "a boss", self-employed, business owner, holiday authoriser, signing firm letters instead of looking for a partner, allocated a table at Xmas party rather than choosing one, etc., etc…
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone looking to progress in your field?
Have a growth mindset - don’t limit your ambition with self-doubt. Keep calm and carry on - work with good people who can help you keep perspective and humour when it sometimes feels like Mission Impossible.
