John Scott QC becomes Society of Solicitor Advocates' President

Prominent defence lawyer John Scott QC has been chosen as President of the Society of Solicitor Advocates, at its AGM last week.

He succeeds Tom Marshall of Thompsons Solicitors, who has been the President for the past six years.

Mr Scott, a partner at Capital Defence Lawyers, Edinburgh, has already served eight years as Vice President (Criminal). Last year he was appointed by the Scottish Government to advise on police practice following the ending of "stop and search".

His place as Vice President (Criminal) has been taken by Ross Yuill of The Glasgow Law Practice, a former President of the Glasgow Bar Association.

Mr Marshall was thanked by the Society's committee "for his shrewd leadership and commitment to the interests of solicitor advocates". During his time as President he had ensured an increased focus on training, for all solicitor advocates and for solicitors more generally, and had been key to the Society's successful transition from being the recipients of advocacy training, to offering high quality advocacy training itself.

The AGM was also addressed by the Lord President, Lord Carloway, who gave a wide ranging talk on the practice of advocacy in the changing court landscape, and his views on training and ethics.