Edinburgh Law School celebrates our alumni being appointed as new King’s Counsel
Thu 26 September 2024
Edinburgh Law School is delighted to congratulate our seven alumni who were recently appointed as new King’s Counsel.
Our alumni are: Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar, Kathleen Harper, Craig Murray, Professor Alan Paterson OBE, Professor Stephen Tierney, Laura Thomson and Judge Susan Walker.
The rank of King’s Counsel is generally reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in practice in the Supreme Courts. Advocates and Solicitors with Rights of Audience in the Supreme Courts are eligible to apply to the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s senior judge.
Honorary King’s Counsel is an honorary award unique to the legal profession. It recognises those in the profession who have made a major contribution to the law of Scotland or the legal profession and how it is advanced, outwith practice as an advocate or solicitor advocate.
Before making nominations to the First Minister, the Lord Justice General consulted other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland.
We asked our graduates: “How did your time at Edinburgh Law School impact your career?”
Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar KC said: “Reading law in the iconic and beautiful Old College campus was inspiring. You can’t help but reflect on the great legal minds that have passed through the Old Quad during its 300-year history, hoping that in some way, simply by being there, you might learn from them through a process of osmosis! The diploma in legal practice cemented my desire to follow a career in litigation. The rest, as they say, is history.”
Professor Alan Paterson OBE KC said: “I have very fond memories of my time at Edinburgh Law School, both as a law student and as a lecturer. It was an ideal stepping stone to a chair and to so many opportunities that have come my way.”
Craig Murray KC said: “I studied at Edinburgh on the LLB as an undergraduate, then on the Diploma in Legal Practice and some years later, on an LLM in Commercial Law, which I undertook on a part-time basis when I was in practise at the Scottish bar.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an undergraduate and was inspired by many of my lecturers and tutors. Years later, one of my lecturers became my devilmaster when I was training for admission to the Faculty of Advocates. The setting of Old College is such a special place to study - it felt like a village of aspiring lawyers. When we socialised together, my classmates' chat was often about the law. I don't think that happens very much in other academic disciplines. I made some great friends and I will always have fond memories of those times.
Edinburgh Law School introduced me to the law, inspired my interest in it, prepared me for practise and was later a resort for deeper thought about the law when I was immersed in my career. It is the foundation upon which my legal career has been based.”
Laura Thomson KC said: “My time at Edinburgh Law School gave me exposure to so many areas of law, and to the highest standards of teaching. I was actively involved in the Mooting Society – mooting definitely inspired my dream of becoming an advocate!”
If your part of our alumni community visit the Community section of the website to find out how you can stay in touch.