The new chair of the JLD of the Law Society calls for no-fault divorce
Bryan Scant is a 3 year PQE solicitor based on the south coast and specialising in private family work. He trained with a High Street firm in Poole, Dorset, before moving to work for a legal 200 firm based in Bournemouth specialising in high value matrimonial cases and disputes involving children. He is the 2017 Chair of the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society (JLD) which represents approximately 70,000 members from LPC students to solicitors of up to 5 years PQE.
What was your route into the profession?
After completing my A-Levels I read law at Bournemouth University from 2006–2010, which included a placement year in a local firm of solicitors. When I had completed my LPC in London I returned to Bournemouth after accepting an offer of a training contract with the firm I worked for during my placement.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
Qualifying into family law at a time when there were substantial cuts to legal aid and the effects of the recession were still being felt. The leap from trainee to NQ was also a substantial challenge—going from working on cases with a supervisor to suddenly running a case load independently was a steep learning curve!
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
There isn’t one person in particular. I admire solicitors who have worked their way up through the profession to become senior members of the judiciary, roles that have traditionally been held by barristers.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?
History teacher.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Any John Grisham lawyer.
What change would you make to the profession?
No-fault divorce.
How do you relax?
Unwinding with friends or walking along Bournemouth beach.
