At the Court of Session, Law Society president Patricia Thom invited Lord Richardson to administer the declaration of allegiance.

The new solicitor advocates now have extended rights of audience to appear in the Court of Session, the Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The new solicitor advocates are:

• Helen McHugh, Stirling Council
• Stuart Munro, Livingstone Brown
• Eilidh Smith, Pinsent Masons
• Jennifer Wallace, Thompsons
• Kirsty Watson, Mental Health Tribunal Scotland

Ms Thom said: “Congratulations to our new solicitor advocates. I am honoured to celebrate your achievement alongside your families and friends today.

“Each one of our new solicitor advocates has juggled demanding workloads and busy personal lives alongside exams and assessments to ensure they can represent their clients in our highest courts. They should be very proud of themselves.

“It’s also a real pleasure to congratulate my fellow Council member and Convener of the Society’s Criminal Law Committee, Stuart Munro who was awarded solicitor advocate status with extended rights of audience in the High Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council last year and has now attained extended rights of audience in Scotland’s civil courts.”