Faculty and Strathclyde devise "mini-devilling" for students

A programme of “mini-devilling” for students is being set up by the Faculty of Advocates and Strathclyde University, to provide an opportunity to learn at close quarters about life at the bar.

The scheme will allow Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) students to spend four hours a week with a designated counsel, watching in and out of court to see how a career at the bar might suit them.

It developed from a chance conversation at a social event between Antonia Welsh, who is studying for her DPLP at Strathclyde, and the Faculty’s Amber Galbraith, who offered to help when Ms Welsh said she was interested in going to the bar and wanted a better understanding of how to go about achieving her goal. 

Strathclyde offers students a Work Based Learning elective in its DPLP course, and for one day a week over three months, Ms Welsh shadowed Ms Galbraith, alomg with another advocate, Malcolm McGregor.

She then contacted the Dean of Faculty, Gordon Jackson QC, with an idea of putting shadowing on a more formal basis, and he was convinced it should become part of the Faculty’s drive to increase accessibility to the bar.

"I feel that the bar is not on many students’ radars and I am really excited that the Faculty and the university are starting the mini-devilling programme", Ms Welsh commented. "I would encourage other students to consider it. Not only do you get a feel for life at the bar but I have also gained a number of very important skills, and I hope this opportunity will support me as a trainee in the future."

Faculty is appointing a pool of advocates to act as mini-devilmasters or devilmistresses, and it is intended to start the three-month programme in January 2019. In future, it might be expanded to other universities.

Mr Jackson said: "We are delighted to team up with Strathclyde University in this way. The Faculty has a strong belief in being accessible to all, and I’m sure the mini-devilling programme will prove its worth. In similar vein, we were pleased to announce recently that, through contributions from members, we will be offering more scholarships to devils, to help ease any financial difficulties during the devilling process."