Wallace Quinn is delighted to welcome Claire Redmond to the Livingston office, where she has joined the team as Senior Associate Solicitor. With eleven years’ experience in residential and new build conveyancing, Claire takes up a senior role alongside Director James Higgins, working across both sides of the office’s conveyancing practice.
We sat down with Claire a few weeks into her new role to talk about her route into law, her reasons for joining Wallace Quinn, and what clients can expect from her in the months and years ahead.
Settling in
Claire describes her first weeks at the firm as a mix of the familiar and the new.
“It’s been challenging but exciting at the same time. Finding my feet, finding my way on the systems, getting to know everyone.”
The reception from the team has clearly made an impression.
“Everyone has been amazing since I started. They’ve been so supportive and encouraging, and I can see a long career here for me.”
How Claire found her way into law
Claire’s route into the profession was not a straight line. Leaving school, she found herself weighing two very different careers.
“When I finished school, I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to do,” she says. “It was either going to be a lawyer or a primary school teacher.”
After a couple of years working, she chose law and went to the University of Dundee. A recession was in full swing by the time she graduated, and traineeships were hard to come by. While she waited for hers to begin, she took on secretarial work at a firm that specialised in conveyancing.
“That’s how I got into the conveyancing side of things.” Eleven years on, the discipline that started as a stopgap has shaped her entire career.
Closer to home: why Wallace Quinn
Two things drew Claire to Wallace Quinn. The first was the firm’s standing in the profession.
“I’ve had transactional work with Wallace Quinn from the other side over the years, and they’ve got a really good reputation.”
The second was more personal. Until recently Claire had been commuting from West Lothian to offices in Dundee and the east of Edinburgh, an arrangement that no longer fitted family life.
“I thought, with my wee boy now, I need to find somewhere closer to home. Wallace Quinn was the perfect fit for me, and it gives me that work-life balance.”
There is a deeper local connection too. Claire was born in Livingston and has lived in West Lothian for most of her life, which means her arrival at the Livingston office is, in a real sense, a homecoming.
Claire's role at the Livingston office
Claire’s day-to-day work covers the full range of conveyancing matters: standard residential sales and purchases alongside new build transactions. She works closely with Director James Higgins and helps lead the day-to-day work of the team, so clients moving home in West Lothian and beyond will deal directly with her or with one of the colleagues she is now supporting.
“There are no silly questions”
Ask Claire what clients value most in a solicitor during a house move, and the answer is unhesitating. Communication.
“People are busy, with high case loads, but communication absolutely helps. Clients need to know that you’re there for them. They can pick up the phone, they can email at any point, and you’ll come back to them with the right guidance and advice.”
That is particularly true of first-time buyers, who often find the process daunting.
“If we’re dealing with first-time buyers, they’ll need a bit more handholding, and we’re happy to give that at every step. There are no silly questions when it comes to conveyancing. Ask whatever you want. We’re here for you every step of the way.”
What surprises clients most?
Two things come up again and again. The first is missives. Buyers and sellers, particularly those moving for the first time or those who have not bought or sold for years, often arrive expecting to sign a contract themselves.
“They’re surprised that they don’t have to sign the missives in Scotland, as opposed to England. That’s probably one of the biggest ones we see.”
The second is anti-money laundering. Solicitors are required by law to verify their clients’ identity and satisfy themselves about source of funds and source of wealth, and the volume of documentation involved often catches people off guard. As Claire puts it, it’s a non-negotiable obligation that solicitors then pass on to their clients. The level of personal information needed can feel intrusive, but it is part and parcel of how the profession is regulated.
Local knowledge for a central area
Being a West Lothian native gives Claire a useful second string. Many clients she will work with are moving into the area from Glasgow or Edinburgh and aren’t always familiar with the towns and villages on offer.
“I’m able to give them guidance and advice from a local perspective. When they’re moving out from Glasgow or Edinburgh into the West Lothian area, which is quite central for both, I can help them with which areas might suit them best.”
Bringing the next generation through
What comes through most strongly in conversation with Claire is her commitment to the people coming up behind her. Eleven years in, and now in a senior role, she sees mentoring as the most rewarding part of her work.
“The most rewarding parts of my career are the learning, the mentoring, and the supporting of junior members of staff. That’s the part of the job I love. I feel like I’ve got a lot to give back, seeing them through from legal assistant to trainee, and then watching them become solicitors themselves.”
Her hopes for her time at Wallace Quinn are framed in the same terms: growth, both for the firm and for the people in it.
Outside the office
When she’s not at her desk, Claire is, in her own words, a football mom.
“I have a young boy who’s seven. I love shopping, I love my family, and that’s pretty much my life outside of work.”
There is also a less obvious thread in her CV. Before law, Claire worked as a beauty consultant on a department-store counter, fitted around the move from university to her diploma year. “I’m still passionate about beauty and fashion. That side of things has stayed with me.”
A word for first-time clients
Asked what she would like first-time clients of the firm to know before they pick up the phone, Claire is clear.
“I’d like them to know that they will be supported, and that they will get the service they’re paying for. It’ll be the correct service, the level of service you would expect from a solicitor.”
If you are buying or selling a home in West Lothian, Mid Lothian, Edinburgh or further afield, Claire and the Livingston team would be glad to hear from you. Call the Livingston office on 01506 353400 or visit our residential conveyancing page to learn more about how we can help
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to sign the missives when buying a house in Scotland?
No. In Scotland, the missives are the letters exchanged between the buyers’ and sellers’ solicitors that together form the binding contract. Your solicitor concludes them on your behalf, following your instructions. You do not physically sign the missives yourself, which often comes as a surprise to clients who have only moved before in England.
Why does my solicitor need so much personal and financial information?
Solicitors are required by law to carry out anti-money laundering and identity checks on every client, and to verify source of funds and source of wealth in a property purchase. The level of detail can feel intrusive, but it’s a non-negotiable obligation that protects clients, solicitors and the profession as a whole.
I’m thinking about buying for the first time. Where should I start?
Claire’s advice is to take your time. “Get quotes from different estate agents and solicitors. Look for a reputable agent locally and do some research into the process itself. There’s helpful guidance online, and you can pick up the phone and speak to a solicitor at any firm. Make sure you’ve saved a deposit, look at mortgage rates, check reviews, and find the right fit for you.”