http://advocates.org.uk Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:08:36 GMT Umbraco Latest News Articles from the Faculty of Advocates en http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/apr/devilling-scholarships-for-2027-open-for-applications Candidates looking to pursue a career at the Scottish Bar are invited to apply for scholarships to help ease financial tensions during their training. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/apr/devilling-scholarships-for-2027-open-for-applications http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/apr/four-jurisdictions-conference-2026-comes-to-edinburgh Members of the judiciary and the independent referral bars in Scotland, England and Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will gather at the Four Jurisdictions Conference 2026 in May. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/apr/four-jurisdictions-conference-2026-comes-to-edinburgh http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/we-re-clearing-barriers-to-women-joining-the-bar Earlier this month, the Faculty of Advocates marked the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD) – and took time to reflect on the progress women have made and the inequalities that persist. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/we-re-clearing-barriers-to-women-joining-the-bar http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/faculty-hosts-ukrainian-legal-delegation-on-visit-to-scotland The Faculty of Advocates hosted a high level delegation of Ukrainian judges and legal professionals in Parliament House last week, to celebrate the relationships that have been established between Ukrainian and Scottish lawyers since Russia’s full-scale, illegal, invasion in 2022. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/faculty-hosts-ukrainian-legal-delegation-on-visit-to-scotland http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/walter-scott-and-the-faculty-of-advocates-a-living-heritage Earlier this week, members of the Faculty of Advocates and invited guests gathered in the historic Reading Room in Parliament House in Edinburgh for a talk entitled Walter Scott and the Faculty of Advocates – a living heritage. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/walter-scott-and-the-faculty-of-advocates-a-living-heritage http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/bookings-open-for-18th-annual-world-ip-day-conference Registration has opened for the annual World Intellectual Property Day Conference, now in its 18th year, which is being hosted by the Faculty of Advocates. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/mar/bookings-open-for-18th-annual-world-ip-day-conference http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/feb/faculty-of-advocates-unveils-new-portrait-of-lord-penrose The Faculty of Advocates has welcomed a significant new addition to its historic art collection with the acquisition of a portrait of the late George William Penrose, Lord Penrose (1938 - 2025). http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/feb/faculty-of-advocates-unveils-new-portrait-of-lord-penrose http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/jan/right-to-trial-by-jury-must-remain-the-norm Juryless trials are back in the news, following a UK government proposal to cut back on using juries in certain matters in courts in England and Wales. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/jan/right-to-trial-by-jury-must-remain-the-norm http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/jan/sir-ian-forrester-kc-knighted-in-new-year-honours-list A member of the Scottish Bar and a former Judge of the Court of the European Union, Ian Forrester KC, has been conferred the honour of Knight Bachelor in the 2026 New Year Honours list. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2026/jan/sir-ian-forrester-kc-knighted-in-new-year-honours-list http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/four-bars-joint-statement-on-jury-trials-in-england-and-wales Since the government announced its proposal to restrict the right to a jury trial in response to Sir Brian Leveson’s criminal courts review, the Bar of England and Wales has argued that justice needs juries. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/four-bars-joint-statement-on-jury-trials-in-england-and-wales http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/tumbling-lassie-sparkles-raising-over-70-000-for-sohtis-and-ijm THE Tumbling Lassie Appeal, founded by members of the Faculty of Advocates in 2015, has raised over £70,000 this year as it celebrated its 10th anniversary during 2025. The Tumbling Lassie “Diamond Ball” was held at Prestonfield Stables on Saturday 8 November 2025. The evening featured a performance of the new Tumbling Lassie musical, from Ayrshire’s Theatre Alliance group, as well as a painting created live on stage, and the grand reveal of which lucky guest had a mystery Rox in a Box diamond necklace. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/tumbling-lassie-sparkles-raising-over-70-000-for-sohtis-and-ijm http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/devils-swop-the-classroom-for-the-court-room This year’s cohort of aspiring advocates has settled into shadowing their devilmasters in court, having completed the first part of their nine-month advocacy training at the Faculty of Advocates. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/devils-swop-the-classroom-for-the-court-room http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/the-claus-that-broke-the-chimney With Christmas fast approaching and mince pies mysteriously disappearing across the land, Santa Claus finds himself back in court. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/the-claus-that-broke-the-chimney http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/there-s-no-king-arthur-but-this-roundtable-fights-for-justice-today A groundbreaking initiative is transforming how Scotland's legal community responds to unmet need, bringing together lawyers from private practice and in-house roles with charities, universities, and community organisations to create a coordinated, demand-led approach to pro bono legal services. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/dec/there-s-no-king-arthur-but-this-roundtable-fights-for-justice-today http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/nov/the-faculty-christmas-collection-a-decade-of-gifting-hope For the past 10 years the Faculty Christmas Collection has been a lifeline for vulnerable families across Fife – and in 2025 the need is greater than ever. http://advocates.org.uk/news-and-responses/news/2025/nov/the-faculty-christmas-collection-a-decade-of-gifting-hope