Cameron McCrum

Cameron joined Block O’Toole & Murphy as an Associate Attorney in October 2023. He is a dual-qualified lawyer – having been admitted to practice in both Scotland and New York.

Cameron is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland but later moved to Scotland to begin his legal education at the University of Aberdeen School of Law in 2014. Throughout his time at law school, Cameron spent six summers working in the USA at a children’s camp, largely for underprivileged kids, outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was here that Cameron began to discover his passion – vigorously advocating for the vulnerable whom others had long marginalized. Through these experiences, Cameron soon appreciated that he could best realize this ambition through the unique power of the law.

After completing five years of legal education in Scotland – followed by a two-year training contract as a Trainee Solicitor at a prominent Scottish law firm – Cameron was officially admitted as a Scottish Solicitor and Notary Public in September 2021 by the Law Society of Scotland. Throughout his two-year stint as a Trainee Solicitor, Cameron was able to hone his litigation skills and general understanding of the court as a member of the firm’s very well-regarded Dispute Resolution team; as well as broadening his commercial acumen through additional work in both the firm’s Energy/Corporate and Commercial Property departments.

Courtesy of being awarded two scholarships for academic excellence – the CILE Fellowship and the Franklin West Housing Scholarship – Cameron then moved to the USA in August 2021 to pursue a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. The LL.M. specifically focused on:

• International Commercial Law & Dispute Resolution; and
• US Business & Entrepreneurial Law.

While studying his LL.M., Cameron undertook substantial pro bono work outside the classroom at the Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, specifically working with the Civil Division throughout the school year. Cameron was awarded the Pro Bono Service Recognition Award by Pitt Law for these efforts upon graduation. Meanwhile, inside the classroom, Cameron excelled in dispute resolution – both individually and as part of a wider team. Cameron earned himself a “CALI Excellence for the Future Award” in International Commercial Arbitration – an award given to the highest scoring student in each law school class. Cameron was also a key component of Pitt Law’s first team to win the LL.M. International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition which was hosted by the American University Washington College of Law in April 2022. The competition focused primarily on oral advocacy before a panel of arbitration experts. The Pitt Law Team achieved the highest point tally of all the teams competing in the general rounds and then progressed through to the elimination rounds before successfully winning the final – in which Cameron argued on behalf of the Claimant.

Cameron graduated from Pitt Law that same semester in May 2022. Shortly after graduating, he began a one-year judicial clerkship for the Honorable Andrew F. Szefi at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (Civil Division) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During his clerkship, Cameron was exposed to an array of cases ranging from slip and falls to class actions to rental disputes. While clerking full-time, Cameron then passed the February 2023 New York bar exam and was officially admitted as a New York attorney in June 2023.

Cameron is exceptionally proud of the fact that he’s been able to fund his own progress in this country as a first-generation Irish immigrant through sheer grit, determination and a relentless work ethic. He has demonstrated an ability to turn his hand to new experiences, cultures and laws with no shortage of the famous Irish “Gift of the Gab” – the ability to both eloquently and persuasively articulate points, as well as distilling complicated elements of law and relaying them to clients in an easy-to-understand – and personable – manner.

Cameron is also an avid soccer (football) fan and – somewhat unfortunately – is an ardent supporter of London-based team Arsenal FC.

Bar Admissions

• New York State (2023)
• Law Society of Scotland (2021)

Education

• University of Aberdeen School of Law, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
  • LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws with English Law) – First Class Honors (2018)
• University of Aberdeen School of Law, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
  • D.P.L.P. (Diploma in Professional Legal Practice) (2019)
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
  • LL.M. (Master of Laws) (2022)

Motto

• Victoria Concordia Crescit (Victory Through Harmony)