Staff
Jon Kiddie
Principal Solicitor
A court lawyer for a dozen years, Jon has conducted litigation, both civil and criminal, at all levels of the Scottish judicial system, including cases in sixteen of Scotland’s fifty Sheriff Courts, the High Court of Justiciary and the Court of Session. He has also conducted numerous cases in the Employment Tribunal and Social Security Tribunal. With appointments including solicitor at Govan Law Centre, Head of Court Department at LSA, he joined Renfrewshire Law Centre as Principal in early 2007. Jon has had numerous case successes published in law reports. He is also Practice Director of the University of West Scotland's Law Clinic, 'Law Wise', and a member of the papers review panel for the Paisley Snail Conference, 'Who Then In Law Is My Neighbour', which will celebrate the famous local case of Donoghue v Stevenson in the form of an international gathering of lawyers, judges and academics here in Paisley in May 2012. Jon served as Secretary of the Scottish Association of Law Centres for 2010/11.
Claire Gillies
Associate Solicitor
A graduate of both Paisley University and Strathclyde Law School, Claire joined Renfrewshire Law Centre in early 2007 as a law student volunteer. Working to pay her way through university, she subsequently joined the Law Centre staff on a permanent basis as a paralegal then as a trainee solicitor, completing her traineehsip to become fully qualified. Claire is especially interested in family law and women's and children’s rights. During her employment at the Law Centre she has participated in secondment to private practice where she assisted in conveyancing and executries, and she has also gained child safeguarder accreditation.
Robin Gray
Solicitor
A solicitor since the 1970's, with wide ranging experience in litigation and chamber work, Robin has a long standing association with Renfrewshire Law Centre as bookkeeper. More recently he took up an appointment here as part-time legal executive, and in October 2009 was appointed as solicitor again. Possessing both the LLB legal qualification as well as the SOLAS legal accountancy accreditation, he brings a plethora of knowledge and insight to bear in helping some of those in society most in need of legal advice.
James Noone
Trainee
Local man, James, graduated with LLB Honours in 2010 and with DipLP in 2011. Having gained a breadth of experience in general employment during his student days, in 2010 he also worked for a Glasgow law practice specialising in civil litigation, and in mid-2011 he joined Renfrewshire Law Centre. In his spare time he is a keen sportsman with interests in tennis, squash, golf, hillwalking and climbing.
Iain McLean
Solicitor / Consultant
Iain McLean went on sabbatical from the Law Centre in January 2012 and will no longer practise from these offices on a day-to-day basis until further notice.
For about 20 years, Iain has specialised in child law, working in both the public and private sectors. Currently, he undertakes appointments by Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire Councils and local courts to act as guardian in Children's Hearings and related proceedings. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge he has received more such appointments than any other solicitor in Scotland, having represented the interests of over 3,000 individual children. In 2002, he was the first Children's Legal Representative to be appointed in Scotland. Before joining Renfrewshire Law Centre in November 2008, Iain acted as partner in two law firms and was instrumental in establishing and managing North Glasgow Advice Centre, Scotland’s first collaboration between a Law Centre (LSA) and the Citizens Advice Bureau. North Glasgow Advice Centre is still going strong, thanks to his legacy. In January 2012 Iain was seconded to the Scottish Children's Reporter's Administration (SCRA). In his spare time, Iain also sings in an R&B band with a number of other lawyer-musicians.
Ann Kelly
Legal Clerical Officer
Ann has an extensive track record in clerical roles in various industries, including building works and corporate clothing design. She came to Renfrewshire Law Centre in 2007 and has established herself as an invaluable member of the team. Her chief responsibilities include cashroom banking, database upkeep and archiving. Ann also enjoys spending time with her family, holidays abroad and sampling fine wines.
Lynsey MacGregor
Legal Clerical Officer
Lynsey, or ‘Lynz’, has worked in legal clerical roles for nine years with a number of law firms. Having previously provided temporary clerical support for Renfrewshire Law Centre, she joined as a permanent member of full-time staff in 2007. Her professional approach and friendly attitude are key to the Law Centre’s continuing success. Herself a resident of Renfrewshire, she has an immediate rapport with the ‘Buddies’, and in her spare time enjoys teaching her pet parrot, Floyd, some of their colourful local dialect.
Gemma Mullen
Legal Clerical Officer
The longest serving member of full-time staff, Gemma has worked at Renfrewshire Law Centre for eight years since the early days of ‘Paisley Law Centre’, under previous Principal Solicitor, Marcus Parham, and his Associate, Irene Henery. She has seen them come seen them go, but Gemma has remained a stalwart team player throughout. Currently moving towards completion of her Certified Paralegal Training Course, she continues to develop her legal knowledge and skills alongside her clerical role.
Volunteer
Joseph Bryce
Advocate / Conference Consultant
Not a member of staff of Renfrewshire Law Centre, but a self-employed member of the Faculty of Advocates and a court lawyer with unlimited rights of audience in the Scottish courts and Supreme Court (erstwhile House of Lords Judicial Committee), Joe has a thriving practice in civil litigation, asylum & immigration, and human rights. With a history in the law centre movement and a passion for justice and legal education, he formerly gave up part of his time to fostering the Law Centre’s Student Volunteer Program, which was the first such project in Scotland to be sanctioned by the Faculty of Advocates, and which led to the establishment of the University of West Scotland's Law Clinic, Law Wise, in September 2010.
Among many other accomplishments, Joe was Founder & Project Manager of LSA's Refugee Legal Project from 2001 to 2006, a member of the Law Society Immigration & Asylum Committee, and a partner at LSA Brown & Co until 2007. His array of legal interests is eclectic, profound and too multitudinous to list here. His social & cultural interests are equally diverse, including classical music, opera and Dr Who.
Pictured above, Joe is stood at the commemorative plaque that marks the location of the old Wellmeadow Café in Paisley, where the most famous case in Scots legal history (and perhaps even all common law legal history) had its origin: Donoghue v Stevenson. Joe currently acts as a volunteer consultant on the steering committee for the Paisley Snail Conference, 'Who Then In Law Is My Neighbour', which will celebrate Donoghue v Stevenson in the form of an international gathering of lawyers, judges and academics here in Paisley in May 2012.
Carole Williams
Volunteer Lawyer
Semi-retired solicitor and erstwhile secondary school teacher of modern studies, Carole used to work at Renfrewshire Law Centre until 2007. Then, motivated by fond memories of the Law Centre and by a desire to lend her services to our important work, she returned as a volunteer in 2008. She currently assists the solicitors with their casework and legal research, particularly in the area of community care law.
Seamus McDaid
Patron
Seaumus McDaid is Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, and was appointed as the Official Patron of Renfrewshire Law Centre in October 2010.
This is an honourary office recognising the contribution made by UWS to the advancement of legal education in the local community. The Law Centre is particularly appreciative of the support given by Professor McDaid and his colleagues for our services.
Director
Elizabeth McIntosh
Chair
Retired teacher and former Councilor, Elizabeth remains active in the community, particularly on elderly forums. She has served on Renfrewshire Law Centre’s Board of Directors for many years, contributing to the work of the Law Centre’s Management Sub-Committees. She was appointed as Chair in October 2010.
Susan Sludden
Company Secretary
A retired registered nurse and theatre sister, Susan has a distinguished background in health care. Having served as a member of the Royal College of Nursing Health & Safety, she was instrumental in founding the Scottish Endoscopy Nurses, and made presentations to the World Congress on Gastroenterology in both America and Australia. As busy in retirement as she was in employment, Susan founded the Company Group Association of Friends in Retirement and has served on Renfrewshire Law Centre Board of Directors for most of the last decade. She currently represents St Mary’s Over 50’s on our Board. In her spare time she enjoys travelling to far flung destinations.
Margaret Dymond
Treasurer
An enthusiastic community activist, Margaret has served on Renfrewshire Law Centre’s Board of Directors for many years, and was appointed as Treasurer in October 2010, a role in which she will provide invaluable support to the Principal Solicitor and cashroom accountant in reviewing the organisation’s accounts and grant reports, thus ensuring our long-term financial wellbeing. Margaret also acts as a key player in Maxwellton Court Tenants’ Association and Paisley West & Central Community Council.
Briony Cullin
Director / Law Clinic Manager / University Lecturer
Briony joined Renfrewshire Law Centre as a Director in October 2010. An Australian qualified lawyer, in her native country she practised mainly in the areas of commercial and residential property law. Having commenced as a volunteer at the Renfrewshire Law Centre in December 2009, she has contributed an immense stock of time, energy and enthusiasm to this organisation in the form of legal research and funding assistance.
Briony is now employed by the University of West Scotland as an associate lecturer in law and as the manager of the University Law Clinic, 'Law Wise'.
Briony is also a volunteer consultant on the steering committee for the Paisley Snail Conference, 'Who Then In Law Is My Neighbour', which will celebrate the famous local case of Donoghue v Stevenson in the form of an international gathering of lawyers, judges and academics here in Paisley in May 2012.
Bill Perrie
Director
A retired police officer, Bill represents the Retired Police Officers' Association of Scotland on Renfrewshire Law Centre Board of Directors, where he has served as Director for a number of years, including several as Treasurer. In 2007 Bill was returned to Renfrewshire Council as Councillor for Renfrew North, where he currently serves on a number of boards, including the Community and Family Care Policy Board, the Housing and Community Safety Policy Board, Renfrew and Gallowhill Local Area Committee, and Strathclyde Police Joint Board.
Dale McFadzean
Director / University Lecturer
Dale McFadzean joined Renfrewshire Law Centre as a Director in October 2010. Dale is also a law lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, where he joined the Law Subject Group within UWS Business School in 2001. Dale has worked closely with RLC in planning the University Law Clinic, 'Law Wise' (of which he is Academic Director) as well as the Paisley Snail Conference, 'Who Then In Law Is My Neighbour' (of which he is a member of the papers review panel), which will celebrate the famous local case of Donoghue v Stevenson in the form of an international gathering of lawyers, judges and academics here in Paisley in May 2012.
Dale is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is the UKCLE representative for the University. He is also chair of the Law Staff Student Liaison Committee. He teaches in the areas of constitutional law (both UK and European) and law and the legal process. His research has focused on constitutional law in general and more specifically on the UK constitution, emergency powers, civil defence, police, and armed forces law.
Dale is an external examiner in Law at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, and the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Shirley McLean
Director
Shirley is a Civil Servant, currently working within the Housing and Regeneration Directorate of the Scottish Government. For many years Shirley has been involved in various local community groups in Glenburn and has been actively involved with Glenburn Tenants and Residents for more than 10 years where she is currently the Chair. Shirley has recently joined the Renfrewshire Licensing Forum. In the past Shirley was Captain of Third Paisley Girls Brigade and ran a successful Youth Club in Glenburn for six years. In her spare time Shirley enjoys spending time at her bolthole in sunny Girvan, Ayrshire.