OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND - The Journal Online

Journal
Rights of Audience
AGE 47
CAREER Having trained at the former Glasgow firm of
Brown, Mair, Gemmell and Hislop, joined
McGrigor Donald as an assistant in 1977 before
being assumed as a partner at the age of 25.
Best known as a planning lawyer, he covers the
complete range of commercial cases from
intellectual property to professional negligence
and judicial review to construction.
FAMILY Married to Mary, also a solicitor, two daughters
Lindsay and Gillian.
May 2002 Volume 47 No 5 28
Breaking
the
mould
Scotland’s first solicitor advocate QC, Craig Connal,
tells Roger Mackenzie about the procedure –
and delays – leading to his appointment
News of Scotland’s first – and so far only - solicitor advocate QC may not
have been welcomed in some quarters, but Craig Connal’s recent
appointment marks the natural conclusion to a process which began in
1990 when extended rights of audience were granted for solicitor
advocates.
For a procedure that caused so much angst – speculation suggests that the
appointments were delayed by strong resistance from the Faculty to the
principle of solicitor QCs - Craig Connal doesn’t expect it to make a
fundamental difference to his career, viewing it more as an “honour”.
“My understanding is that the Bar as a body were very much opposed to
the idea, arguing that the title was their exclusive province, notwithstanding
that a number of solicitors had been appointed QCs in England. We,
however, understood that the principle had been accepted when Rights of
Audience were first introduced back in the early 90s.
“I have heard that their opposition is at least partly responsible – though the
change of Lord President was also a factor - for the delay in this list being
issued, which is equally unfortunate for the ten members of the Bar on the
list”, said Craig Connal.
“A number of top QCs, particularly on the civil side, have gone out of their
way to congratulate me. I suspect there are some I know or with whom I
have worked who have specifically not done so. Others have offered
personal congratulations but said they are opposed in principle, which is a
perfectly tenable position.