The Lawyer Inquiry: Murray Macara

Murray Macara was born in Glasgow on 22 July 1949. He is a solicitor-advocate and partner at Beltrami & Co.



What was your first job?

A removal man's labourer for 2 weeks!



What was your first ever salary as a lawyer?

£900 pa.



What would you have done if you hadn't become a lawyer?

An airline pilot.



Which law could you live without?

Right now, the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.



What was your most embarrassing professional moment?

One-month qualified and a colleague asked me to do a "straightforward" favour. I arrived in court after the judge to represent a client I had never spoken to and conduct proceedings where I had no idea of procedure. A fiasco, but a big lesson!



What car do you drive?

Rover 620si.



Which famous person would you like to go out with?

Kim Basinger - or is this reply too sexist?



Where would you go to eat?

Lock 16, Crinan Hotel - stunning scenery, sensational seafood.



What's the best thing on TV?

Sport - except snooker, darts and horse racing.



Which movie do you wish you'd appeared in?

Chariots of Fire.



What's your most often-worn piece of clothing?

My dog and walking boots.



What book(s) are you reading at the moment?

Made in America by Bill Bryson.



What is your all-time favourite record?

Come Up and See Me, Make Me Smile by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel.



What piece of advice would you give to anyone entering the profession now?

Be sure this is what you want to do.



What do you like about yourself?

1) Sense of direction. 2) Sense of humour.



What do you hate about yourself?

1) If things are going well, a tendency to be smug. 2) Starting things and not finishing them.



Where would you most like to be right now?

On the first tee at the Augusta National Golf Course.