New solicitor advocates introduced at High Court in Edinburgh
Two new solicitor advocates were introduced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesay, 14 July.
Criminal defence solicitor Robert Mitchell of Tod & Mitchell in Greenock and Procurator Fiscal Martin Ricardo Macari were granted Rights of Audience in the High Court of Justiciary, Scotland’s highest criminal court.
The new admissions mean there are now 280 solicitor advocates practising civil law and/or criminal law. Once qualified, solicitor advocates can represent their clients in Scotland’s highest courts.
Law Society of Scotland president, Jamie Millar, said: "I’m delighted to present these new solicitor advocates to the court. Solicitor advocates have an increasingly important role to play within the justice system as highly experienced, qualified and regulated legal professionals who have additional rights to represent their clients in Scotland’s High Courts and the Court of Session.”
Solicitors were first given the right to apply to appear in the highest courts in Scotland in 1992 following a change in the law in 1990, with the first to qualify being granted rights of audience in1993. They have equal rights to advocates in the court in which they have the right to appear.
To become a solicitor advocate, a solicitor must demonstrate competence in pleading in court, must have relevant experience and must pass an exam. As part of the route to qualification they must attend a practical training course, at the end of which their competence is assessed by external assessors, chaired by a Judge, to ensure they have attained high standards of expertise and professionalism.
ENDS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact Val McEwan or Suzy Powell on 0131 226 8884 / 0131 476 8115. Email valeriemcewan@lawscot.org.uk / suzypowell@lawscot.org.uk
