Mr Harvey, who has served as an advocate depute since 2021, was appointed assistant principal crown counsel for sexual and domestic abuse offences in Scotland in 2024.

Mr Scullion, who has been on the panel of standing junior counsel to the Scottish Ministers since 2020, was appointed second standing junior counsel to the Scottish government last year.

The event revolved around an address entitled The Lord Advocate: The References and the Role of Her Counsel. It examined the role of the lord advocate and her counsel, with a specific focus on a series of recent lord advocate’s references – legal proceedings that allow the lord advocate to submit key points of law to the High Court for authoritative determination.

These references have led to major changes in the law of evidence and will reshape the landscape of Scottish criminal justice, particularly in relation to the prosecution of sexual offences.

Following the address, the event continued with a Q&A session, where the speakers addressed a broad range of questions, covering their professional journeys and insights into career development. The afternoon concluded with a tea and coffee reception, providing an opportunity for further networking and discussion.

Isla Callander, co-director of the Centre for Scots Law and organiser of the event, said: “The event was an overwhelming success, and we are immensely grateful to Paul Harvey and Dominic Scullion for sharing their experience and expertise with us.”