It’s National Work Life Week and Watermans want to share with you some information on the hard work that is put in by not only our solicitors, but also those involved in some of the dedicated charities which we sponsor.
For every day of National Work Life Week, (October 7-14) we’ll share with you the top 10 burning questions and answers about what it’s like to work in each occupation.
Today our Managing Director Scott Whyte discusses the importance of wellbeing at work and how he manages staff at Watermans.
When you were younger what did you want to be when growing up and why?
I really didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. I went thorough the usual dreams of wanting to play football for a living but I wasn’t very good so that was a non started and then fleeted with more realistic things like being a journalist when I was in my teens but nothing really stuck.
Why did you get involved in the legal sector?
From not knowing what I wanted to do I wanted to study something that could be useful and good for my CV so was given advice by a newspaper editor I had done some work experience with to study law. I really didn’t enjoy my LLB and then swore I was never going to be a lawyer so ended up joining BT as a graduate trainee.
After a while down there I realised that role wasn’t for me and maybe I should give law another go so I came back to Scotland and university to do my diploma. I still wasn’t sure if law was for me then.
It was only after I qualified as a solicitor and got a job in personal injury that I found that I was both good at helping clients who had been injured and that I really enjoyed it.
Who is your role model and why?
Andrew Carnegie. He was a world leading entrepreneur form humble beginnings like many before him and many since. What sets him apart for me though is his commitment to using his wealth to benefit others and the world as a whole. The responsibility of wealth and commitment to using wealth to make the world a better place is something we all can learn form and put into action.
How do you maintain a health work / life balance?
That can be tricky, especially with the uncertainty of the last few months! It is important though.
One thing I always make sure I do is to train regularly and doing my three weekly sessions with Terry McCormack at Lochend Boxing Club is great for both physical and mental well being.
What has been the most interesting / memorable case you have worked on and why?
There are a number of cases that stand out for me but probably the one that stands out most was acting for a young man who was seriously injured in a road accident and lost a leg.
His resilience to not let his injuries get the better of him really inspired me and achieving an outcome that allowed him to pursue his new dreams with the settlement we secured him was really rewarding.
What is your favourite post work meal?
I do all of the cooking in our house and it is one of my favourite ways to unwind after work. It’s tough to pick a favourite meal but if I’ was really pushed I’d have to say my home made burger (with multiple toppings) and chips is the current favourite.
If you were to give one piece of advice to someone starting out in the industry, what would it be?
Don’t focus on the task you are doing, focus on who you are doing it for. Our clients are reliant on us for the expertise we possess to carry out work on their behalf but we wouldn’t be doing anything if those clients weren’t there in the first place. So, give every client your very best, every time.
What motto do you live by?
Dream big, live bigger.
When discussing your job with other people, what question do you get asked the most?
Have I got a claim?
What would you do if you won the lottery?
The last time I “won” I got an email telling me I had won £2.50.
Do you have any questions you’d like to ask our staff or sponsors? Please share them in the comments section below and we’ll do our best to get them answered for you.