Gillian Ross takes up Faculty deputy training post

Advocate Gillian Ross has become Faculty’s new deputy director of Training & Education.

Ms Ross was a full time advocate depute from 2015 to 2019, conducting numerous complex and difficult trials in a wide range of cases, including murders. She has a particular interest in the presentation of s 275 applications (dealing with the questions that can be asked of complainers in sexual offence cases) and the taking of evidence from children and vulnerable adults. She has previously served as secretary to the Scottish Criminal Bar Association.

"Gillian is a great addition to the team. I am really pleased that someone with such substantial experience as a criminal trial advocate will be involved in developing and delivering advocacy skills training to the devils and members of Faculty", said Faculty’s director of Training & Education, Hugh Olson.

Looking forward to the challenge, Ms Ross added: "For me this is a two-way street – teaching others is also a great way to find out more about yourself and what your own strengths and weaknesses might be, so training and education add value to both those teaching and those being taught.

"I’ve always been interested in training and education, and here I get to interact with and teach people who want to add to their skills base – which makes being involved even more rewarding. As I come from a criminal defence background and Hugh is a civil law practitioner I think we’re well placed to bounce ideas off each other and provide a good balance."