Two Scots law students are off to the land of dust, dirty money and air-conditioned insanity to represent the legal profession in a battle of international wits. Follow our two intrepid travellers as they progress through the International Client Counselling competition in Scotland's name, trying their best to sidestep martinis, mobsters and madness (or possibly embrace all three) in their quest for glory. 

About the bloggers:

Keith Anderson -"I am 22, originally from Glasgow. I have lived in Aberdeen since coming here for University in 2004. I was happy to graduate from Scotland's best Law School last year with a 2:1! I'm currently doing the Diploma in Legal Practice at Aberdeen and can't wait to start my traineeship with Aberdein Considine & Co in May in their busy Litigation, Lender Services & Employment Department. Other than the invigorating DLP I work for David Lloyd in Aberdeen as a lifeguard and Kids sports coach, and part-time for Aberdein Considine in their Financial Services office. My main interests outside of the law and work are sporting and socialising. I unfortunately don't have as much time as I would wish to play as much sport as I would wish, but I am looking forward to going back to play cricket this season. Bring on Vegas!!"

Victoria Grier - "I am also 22 and originally from Blairgowrie, Perthshire. I studied for my LLB at Edinburgh University and moved to Aberdeen to do my Diploma in Legal Practice. Ironically I am also currently working for a casino in Aberdeen. Although I have considerable(!) legal experience, including a month in New York I have been unable to secure a traineeship in these tough economic times. My interests outside of the law are travelling; I have been as far a field as Cambodia and once spent 2 months working in New Zealand. I hope to visit Japan in the coming year if my endeavours of employment searching are unsuccessful! Look forward to pitting my wits against the various scholars from around the world!"

Day 1 - Saturday 28th March 2009
When most people think of Las Vegas, I think it is fair to say that the phrase Client Counselling is not the first thing that would pop into your mind.

However those two words have been the predominantly the only thing on myself and Vic Grier’s mind for the past 6 weeks. We were lucky enough to have been chosen to represent Scotland at the Louis M. Brown International Client Counselling Competition. We were selected from many (or is that a few?!) DLP students from the various Universities in Scotland. To say we were shocked to win was definitely an understatement. If I am to be honest, and I know Ms Grier my esteemed counselling partner would testify, I was not the one who put in a massive amount of preparation prior to the Scottish Competition.

However, after being put through to the International Finals we have been living, eating and breathing client counselling – in between our hectic(!) DLP studies. Ok, maybe I am stretching that a little, but with just a couple of days to go before we set off across the pond, I do feel we have had the perfect amount of preparation. We are indebted to many people for their time and effort in helping us prepare, but in particular, both myself and Vic would like to thank Anne-Maryse Churchill of Churchill & Co for her many “coaching” sessions she has given up her time for. Cheers Anne-Maryse!

After meeting Mr Mike Graham (the Scottish National Representative for the competition) he definitely installed in us that the best thing to do was to relax and enjoy ourselves. Does he remember that we are heading to Las Vegas, USA??!! Relax and enjoy myself in the unique culture of Vegas, a wonder what that will entail? I can only imagine, as I have never before visited the Bright Lights of Vegas or indeed been to the United States themselves. It is probably fair to say that I am setting off with excitement and indeed some trepidation. But probably not as much trepidation as Vic and Sarah Arnell (our accompanying ‘coach’ from the University of Aberdeen) who will have to look after me and keep me in check!

You are probably wondering what indeed this Client Counselling Competition is. Put simply, it is a mock first interview with a client. It originates from the American Bar Association, starting in the 1960s, but has now grown to a worldwide event, with this year 20 different jurisdictions taking part. All we know is the area of the law the claim will be in – this year’s topic being Professional Negligence. The idea behind the competition being that a law degree (and some may see the DLP too) does not install in students any kind of people or communication skills. It is probably fair to say that there is a public perception that solicitors, and especially inexperienced solicitors, do in fact severely lack these essential skills.

I have found the whole experience of the competition so far to have been an excellent aid in acquiring at least a degree of these skills. What the competition has made us realise is, that as young solicitors about to enter the profession, each client you meet, is not just another case that needs some sort of legal analysis. Each client that comes to you is a person who is coming to you in their hour of need. As a solicitor we are there to provide a solution to their problem – both in the short and long term. I can honestly say that without taking part in this competition, and this is probably the naivety of a student, I would not have realised until I enter practice that a lot of advice one gives is of a practical nature and it is quite simply not always about the law. I must say that suits me as I often feel my knowledge of the law is lacking! On a side note on the lack of legal knowledge, it is probably of some help to us that when out in Vegas we are to treat the client and indeed the advice we give as if they were in our jurisdiction. This will be of aid purely because of the fact the judges in the preliminary rounds are purely American. Hopefully the lack of knowledge in Scots law will therefore be reflected by competitors and judges alike!

So off to Vegas it is. I am hoping that this blog will be of a humorous nature and I am sure the one place where I will experience ‘entertainment’ is Las Vegas. I hope to keep you updated with the competition itself and experiences of the unique culture of Vegas. Hopefully the entertainment I experience in Vegas will somehow be reflected in this blog, and for the few of you who read it, are not put to sleep!

Keith