Gordon Jackson QC elected Dean of Faculty

The new Dean of the Faculty of Advocates is Gordon Jackson QC, the current Vice-Dean and former MSP.

Mr Jackson won a three-way election with fellow senior counsel Roddy Dunlop QC, and Peter Gray QC.

He succeeds James Wolffe QC, who resigned from the post on being appointed Lord Advocate.

Mr Jackson said: “It is a great honour to have been selected by my fellow advocates to serve as Dean of Faculty, leader of one of Scotland’s finest national institutions. It is also a heavy responsibility, which I will do my utmost to undertake with the same commitment as my illustrious predecessors.

“These are exceptionally challenging times, for all of Scotland including the legal profession, and the Faculty is ever-willing to play its role in shaping our society and ensuring access to justice for our people.”

Mr Jackson was admitted to Faculty in 1979 and took silk in 1990. He was called to the English bar, also in 1990. He was Labour MSP for Glasgow Govan from 1999 to 2007. He served as an advocate depute from 1987 to 1990. He was elected Vice- Dean in 2014.

An election for a new Vice-Dean will be held in due course.