Faculty gives Edinburgh pupils insight into life as an advocate

Through the Looking Glass, founded in London in 2012 by a City lawyer, Lesley Wan, made its first sortie into Scotland last year, and decided on another week-long programme this summer.

It aims to provide gifted young students from less affluent areas a chance to experience professions which they may have thought were beyond their reach.

During a visit to the Faculty of Advocates, the students met Lord Carloway, the Lord President, as well as practising members. They toured the judges’ robing room and were shown around Parliament House, and sat in on a criminal trial and a judicial review case. They received some tips on advocacy and were able to put them into practice in an empty courtroom.

The week’s itinerary also included visits to law firms CMS Cameron McKenna LLP and Burness Paull LLP, and to the banking, fund management and accountancy sectors.

Gordon Jackson QC, Dean of Faculty, said: “The Faculty is delighted to work with Through the Looking Glass to give young people a glimpse of a career which could be for them. The Bar welcomes people from all backgrounds and, who knows, some of the group might come back to us in years to come and make advocacy their profession.”