Ishbel Nunn

• Career Conversations
• Ishbel Nunn

Where are you from?

I’m originally an island girl from Stornoway. I attended The Nicholson Institute secondary school and was a keen member of the school drama club and the debating society travelling to the mainland to compete.

Where you did study/what’s your career background?

I graduated with my Law Degree from Aberdeen University and obtained my Diploma in Legal Practice there.  I went on to secure a Traineeship with a well-known Edinburgh firm which has long since been subsumed by other practices.  After my Traineeship, I worked as a Barrister and Solicitor for the Attorney General in Fiji, regularly appearing in Courts throughout the Fiji Islands.  Following my time abroad I worked for a leading Scottish Personal Injury Litigation firm for over 25 years.  In my previous job, I tended to act for insurers of local authorities, public bodies including the Police and many corporate clients often related to the offshore industry.  I enjoyed great exposure to a variety of complex cases and appeared in most of the Courts in the Sheriffdom of Grampian Highland and Islands as well as instructing Counsel in high value cases in the Court of Session.  I developed a lot of experience in Fatal Accident Inquiries representing various parties’ interests myself as well as instructing Counsel.

Why did you apply to RCCW?

I have worked at RCCW since 2019. An opportunity arose to work with a practitioner who I had long admired and respected.  As he was nearing retirement, he was planning his personal injury practice succession, which matched my career objectives of “working on/for the other side”.  I am delighted that I made the move.

 What department(s) do/have you worked across?

I work in the court department at RCCW.  I predominantly now act for individuals who are seeking damages for loss and injury caused through the negligence of another be it at work or through a road traffic accident.  I still deal with a wide range of types of claims, including civil claims for damages arising out of the death of a loved one, Fatal Accident Inquiries and actions for declarator of death where  a Scottish resident has gone missing anywhere in the world

How would you describe a typical day/your experience at RCCW to date?

The environment is very welcoming and collegiate. As with most court practitioners each day is full of variety and is not always predictable. A usual week will include meeting new clients, investigating and progressing claims including instructing medical and other expert reports, negotiation with other solicitors or insurers, and court appearances. It’s all about problem solving really.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to pursue a career within a law firm (even if you aren’t a lawyer)?

Engage with as many opportunities as you can to speak to people who work in different areas of the law. Visit the public benches at any Court.  Apply for work experience, and most of all be interested in society and curious about what is going on in the world.  A legal career is a people career after all!

What do you like most about working at RCCW?

I find working for individual clients at RCCW very satisfying.  The Court Department at RCCW has a superb range of individual and collective knowledge and skill in a wide range of practice disciplines.  I particularly enjoy being part of a full service firm where I can, as and when necessary, call upon the expertise of my colleagues in other departments.  I think that for the sort of work that I now do, it is important to be able to offer individual clients the ability to seek financial and private client advice, having worked hard to achieve compensation for them.

With my fairly eclectic background of employers, I can honestly say that it is both a privilege and a pleasure to work for such a friendly, accessible and competent firm in the North East of Scotland.