Faculty stages court reform conference and launches new website

The event, Court Reform: The New Law, proved so popular that it had to be moved from its original venue of the Faculty’s Mackenzie Building to the larger Laigh Hall in Parliament House.

The speakers included Lord Carloway, the Lord Justice Clerk, Sheriff Principal Craig Scott QC, Deputy President of the Sheriff Appeal Court and Paul Wheelhouse MSP Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, who set the wider scene to the changes.

Also a number of experienced practitioners spoke on different aspects of the reforms.

In opening remarks, James Wolffe QC, Dean of Faculty, said: “On Tuesday, the key provisions of the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act will come into force. We could not let this event go by without marking it.

“It is a reflection of the interest of the profession in the subject that we have had to move our conference here to the Laigh Hall and I am glad that we have – for it is fitting that we should be marking this significant date in the long legal history of our nation here, in Parliament House.”

The Faculty of Advocates has also launched a new website, which aims to provide the public and practitioners with full and useful information about the Scottish bar and its members.

The website has been designed by Blonde Digital, which counts the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games website among its credits.

In a welcoming message, the Faculty said: “The website seeks to provide useful information about the Faculty and about advocates, and to make that information easily accessible in an attractive format.

“The website is easily viewed on devices such as mobile phones and tablets.

“It contains a useful “Find an Advocate” facility, through which an inquiry can be made about the availability of multiple counsel with a single email.”

http://www.advocates.org.uk