Our Legal Heritage

Hostilities ended in Europe 80 years ago today on 8 May 1945. This was commemorated as Victory in Europe Day (VE). Along with everyone else, the legal profession in Scotland was impacted by the deaths of a number of its members. To remember those who died, the WS Society compiled a list of their mem

The Society of Advocates in Aberdeen is a professional body of legal practitioners in Aberdeen and the northeast of Scotland, incorporated by three Royal Charters in 1774, 1799, and 1862. The Society’s roots date back to at least the 16th century, and historically it was responsible for the tr

The Trustees of the Clark Foundation for Legal Education have written a short series of articles on the valuable work it has supported over the last 34 years. The first looks at the life of Jean Clark MBE. To begin, it is only fitting that we focus on the Clark Foundation’s founder, Jean Clark

During the annual meeting of the Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow in 1954, the Dean, Sir Spencer Muirhead, made the observation that the Faculty's officer was the only one present at Queen Elizabeth's Coronation who was not carrying a ceremonial staff or mace.  Recognising the importance of su

The idea of the public interest and the desirability of a fatal accident inquiry developed and appeared in new law at the end of the 19th century. Heavy industrial occupations, and other sorts of similar manual work with inherent dangers might have been thought to be the basis of attention for the l

In the first of our occasional series highlighting Scotland’s legal treasures, we examine a charter in the keeping of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow which is a remarkably early example of a woman asserting her rights.

While commemorating Scottish lawyers who fell during the two World Wars, we reach a sad anniversary on Christmas Eve regarding the death of Major Ernest Alexander Maclagan Wedderburn (otherwise known as Sandy). Major Wedderburn died 80 years ago on 24 December 1944 as a result of a tragic accident.

Robert Shiels completes his look at the life of Sir Thomas Thornton LLD. Thornton also interested himself in the field of education, as clerk to the school board gave him an intimate knowledge of the various education acts. He was consulted by Miss Baxter and Dr Boyd Baxter about the establishment o

Robert Shiels looks in two parts at the life of Sir Thomas Thornton, LLD, solicitor, Dundee, to whom the law firm Thorntons traces its roots. There was a time when solicitors were often referred to as writers, procurators, law agents or advocates (as in Aberdeen) and also more simply as men of busin

A clan gathering has highlighted the remarkable relationship between one of Scotland’s most historic families and law firm Lindsays.

A Highland law firm has uncovered ties to a historic court case that prompted major changes in Scots law. Charles Innes, founding partner of Innes & Mackay, secured a verdict of 'not guilty' in the first documented legal victory for Highland crofters – representing three men for their part

Graham Ogilvy tells the story of the remarkable Scottish advocate who became a reforming lord chancellor, developed the French Riveira and narrowly avoided a damaging sex scandal. The next time you are promenading along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, spare a thought for Henry Peter Brougham, the

Ronnie Clancy KC writes about a sensational murder trial stemming from a toxic political rivalry and scurrilous journalism that took place in the High Court in Edinburgh 200 years ago, the full version of which appears on his blog Read me my Rights. The accused was the survivor of a duel betwee

As Halloween approaches, the perennially popular witch costume will be donned by guisers across the country, Professor Bill Naphy writes. Images of witches have appeared in various forms throughout history – from evil, wart-nosed women huddling over a cauldron of boiling liquid to hag-faced, c

A dead lover, traces of poison and series of letters that led to a middle-class woman on the stand – the case of Madeleine Smith held all the characteristics of a scandal to rock Victorian Scotland. True crime enthusiasts are in for a treat as the University of Dundee’s Leverhulme Resear