Laura McDowall accredited as specialist in incapacity and mental disability law

Blackadders has announced that Laura McDowall has been accredited as a specialist in incapacity and mental disability law by the Law Society of Scotland.

Ms McDowell is only the ninth person in Scotland to receive the accreditation and the only one in Dundee.

She joined Blackadders as a trainee in August 2006, was made partner in April 2013 and has specialised in private client work for more than 10 years.

Ms McDowall has been influential in growing the guardianship unit at Blackadders having developed a high level of expertise in adults with incapacity. She is instructed by local authorities, throughout Scotland, to assist with their duty to make arrangements for financial intervention and guardianship orders.

She also regularly prepares financial suitability reports for other firms of solicitors, in applications for guardianship and intervention orders. Ms McDowell also advises on, and prepares, wills and powers of attorney.

She has a number of other roles outside of Blackadders that include being the course organiser and tutor for the private client course of the legal diploma at the University of Dundee, whilst also being a tutor and examiner on the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Diploma for Scotland. Ms McDowell is also a director at Wave 102’s Help for Kids charity and secretary to the City of Dundee Burgess charity.

Johnston Clark, managing partner of Blackadders said: “We are thrilled that Laura has received this award. We have always rated very highly the work and level of expertise that Laura has delivered for our business and to our clients; being awarded the specialist accreditation further affirms that view”.