Seven new members welcomed into Faculty of Advocates

Three of the seven — Anne Bennie, Vincent Lunny, and Jane Rattray — have gone on to join Westwater Advocates, as reported in Scottish Legal News last week.

They have been admitted to the practising bar alongside Neil Shand and Dana Forbes. Martin Hogg and Sheriff Susan Craig have also become non-practising members of Faculty.

Neil Shand and Dana Forbes both qualified as a solicitor in 2003 after training with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Martin Hogg is Professor of the Law of Obligations at Edinburgh Law School and Sheriff Susan Craig has been a full-time sheriff since 2013.

James Wolffe, QC, Dean of Faculty, led the first of the ceremonies at which the intrants were admitted to membership of the Faculty.

He said those joining the practising bar had undertaken “the most rigorous training course in the skills of the professional advocate which is available in this country” which “will have changed you in ways that you may not even yet realise”.

He observed: “It is a reflection of the central place of the Faculty in our legal system that we admit to the practising bar five experienced practising lawyers and, at the same time, admit, as non-practising members, a Professor of Law and a serving sheriff.”

In a second ceremony, Lord Glennie administered the declaration of allegiance to each of the new members and admitted them, on behalf of the Supreme Courts of Scotland, to the public office of advocate.

Lord Glennie said: “The office of advocate is one of the cornerstones of our legal system. You are now an officer of the court. On you rests the burden of maintaining the rule of law, protecting the vulnerable, and holding wrongdoers, even governments, to account.

“The life of an advocate can be hard – long hours, challenging cases, difficult clients, impossible judges…but you must always remember that being an advocate can be a lot of fun.

“You make good friends. The camaraderie at the bar is second to none. And you must enjoy your work. Unless you enjoy it, you will not do it well. So, yes, work hard, but also play hard. That is the challenge the bar presents.”