Roddy Dunlop QC

Mr Dunlop was the sole nomination to succeed Gordon Jackson QC, who stepped down after four years in office.

Mr Dunlop said: “It is a huge honour to have been appointed Dean of Faculty. This high office extends back to the very origins of the College of Justice in the 16th Century. It has been held by many of the foremost legal minds in Scottish history, and I am humbled, and a little awed, to find myself in their company.

“I take office at an extremely challenging time for Faculty, and for the legal profession as a whole. I will endeavour to meet these challenges in a way that respects the efforts of those who have gone before me.”

Admitted to Faculty in 1998, Mr Dunlop took silk in 2010. He has a broad-based, mainly civil practice, but with a keen interest in media law, he has been regularly instructed in the criminal courts in contempt matters.

Mr Dunlop served as Treasurer of Faculty from April 2017 until February this year when he was elected as Vice-Dean of Faculty. An election for a new Vice-Dean will follow.

President of the Law Society of Scotland, Amanda Millar congratulated Mr Dunlop.

She said: “I am delighted to congratulate Roddy on becoming Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.

“Roddy has proven to be extremely capable in his short time as Vice Dean, following his election earlier this year. I am looking forward to working with him on issues affecting both our professions, and as we seek to address the challenges we face in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a major impact on the legal sector and justice system.”