Gordon Jackson QC elected Dean of Faculty

Gordon Jackson QC has been elected as the new Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.

Currently Vice Dean and a former Member of the Scottish Parliament, Mr Jackson came top of the poll ahead of Roddy Dunlop QC and Peter Gray QC.

Mr Jackson was admitted to Faculty in 1979 and took silk in 1990, in which year he was also called to the English Bar. He was Labour MSP for Glasgow Govan from 1999 to 2007. He served as an advocate depute from 1987 to 1990, but now practises as one of the country’s leading defence counsel. He was elected Vice Dean in 2014.

He succeeds James Wolffe QC, who resigned from the post on being appointed Lord Advocate.

Following his election Mr Jackson commented: "It is a great honour to have been selected by my fellow advocates to serve as Dean of Faculty, leader of one of Scotland’s finest national institutions. It is also a heavy responsibility, which I will do my utmost to undertake with the same commitment as my illustrious predecessors.

“These are exceptionally challenging times, for all of Scotland including the legal profession, and the Faculty is ever willing to play its role in shaping our society and ensuring access to justice for our people.”

An election for a new Vice Dean will be held in due course.