Two new advocates admitted to Faculty

Two former solicitors, David Swanney and Alan Cowan, have been adm oitted to the Facuolty of Advocates.

Mr Swanney, from Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, studied at Glasgow University, trained as a solicitor with Simpson & Marwick, qualifying in 2009, and latterly was an associate in the trade union department in Digby Brown’s Glasgow office.

Mr Cowan, who grew up in Ayrshire, also attended Glasgow University, qualifying as a solicitor in 1991 with The McKinstry Company, Ayr. He moved to Simpson & Marwick in 1997 and became a partner and civil solicitor advocate.

Both men were welcomed by the Dean of Faculty, Gordon Jackson QC, before making the declaration of allegiance before Lord Ericht in the Court of Session.

Lord Ericht said: “You join a noble profession, a profession of excellence, of integrity, of service to the people of Scotland, and a profession which will be enriched by what you each bring to it from your distinguished careers as solicitors.

“As advocates, you join me and my fellow senators, my clerk and her fellow clerks, and the Writers to the Signet and Solicitors in the Supreme Courts as members of the College of Justice… When Parliament House was built, two statues stood above the main entrance, a statue of justice and a statue of mercy. It used to be said that their original location on the outside of the entrance was symbolic because within this building there was no justice and no mercy.

“You now have a part to play in ensuring that that can never be said again, and in ensuring that the College of Justice, working together, brings justice and mercy to the people of Scotland.”