Examination in chief

Well, that's my first degree exam in 25 years over and done. On the subject of Scots Property Law. Just one problem question (of two). I think I covered all the main points (symbolic delivery, bad title, confusio, specificato, common property & division and sale, transfer of security & notification). Although at least one of them was insufficiently expanded, and some minor points were missed, and all too few authorities were cited. Being pessimistic, it's probably a third, if I'm lucky. Still, it's a start, and it's only for 10% of the course total. The desks used to face the other way, to the South, back in the 80s.

Selling myself, line by line

I haven't had much to say here, or the time to say it, having been really very busy. with degree work. So far, it's been involving, and interesting, but hard, and time-consuming. And tomorrow, at 09.05, comes my first degree exam, on Property Law.

Anyway, in the absence of something to say, I thought I'd post the UCAS "personal statement" that got me where I am now.

My first awareness of the Law, and how it operated, came via the pages of AP Herbert's "Uncommon Law". While humourous, they made a profound impact on me regarding common law, the interpretation of statute, and the place of judicial opinion, and the sources informing that opinion.

In my undergraduate degree, I became involved in the study of the theories, and structures, surrounding the law and its creation and enforcement. As part of my studies of UK government I first read, and referenced, statute law, and encountered the common law. I also became aware of the distinct nature of Scots law. The philosophical side of my political studies introduced me to the ideas and theories of jurisprudence, law, and justice, both human and natural, from Aristotle to Rawls.

Since graduation, in my career and personal life, I have had many encounters with the law and its practitioners. The first was the most traumatic, when I was closely involved with the pursuit of a successful personal injuries claim on behalf of my brother (for whom I now have power of attorney), who was severely, and permanently, injured in a car accident. The case was heard at the Court Of Session, and was my first encounter with advocates.

In my professional life, I have had frequent contact with the law, and lawyers, involving company formation, contract drafting, litigating contractual disputes, and advising on employment law (both as an employee and employer). Much of my work has also seen me working alongside lawyers. This was particularly the case when I was advising clients who were exercising due diligence as part of proposed purchases of companies and/or technology. I had a lawyer colleague assisting me, untangling the questions of ownership, licensing, and liability in the technology under examination.

My experience of the criminal law has, so far, been limited to periods of jury service, in Manchester Crown Court, and Linlithgow Sheriff Court.

Throughout my career, I have become increasingly aware of the need for either lawyers with a technical, or engineering, background, or engineers with legal training. Many contract negotiations and disputes I have been involved with have taken longer that was necessary simply because of the time taken to adequately explain the details relating to each expertise.

Throughout experience of working with, and being advised by, lawyers, I have always deeply admired lawyers' professional training and abilities. Their speed at mastering often complicated, and badly documented, briefs, the clear and focused ability to identify underlying, and important, legal issues (and their source in case and statute), while ignoring peripheral detail. I would greatly value the chance to acquire such skills and legal knowledge.

Although I have no taken formal academic classes in recent years, I have kept up my reading in my various disciplines, and taken several non-credit extra mural courses. And all the while I have been working at a high level in an area of computer science (compiler design) where research goes on as much in industry as in academia. My various teams have been contributors at many conferences and summer schools. My academic training has been also been wide, and varied, starting in the Social Sciences, and ending in hard engineering.

I'm not sure I recognise myself, when I read that!