It may come as a shock to learn there are devils abroad in the world. Not only that but they take their orders from devil masters, supreme practitioners in ancient arts and rituals who have infiltrated some of the highest positions in the land.
They dress in black and mix with some of the greatest villains of our time, poring over great tomes in their exclusive library in search of arcane details from times gone past that may support their cause.
If you think this all fiction, think again.
This is no spooky story but the everyday tale of Scottish law.
The devils in question are not evil spirits to be exorcised but trainee advocates who are undergoing the process of ‘devilling’, which allows them the right to practice at the Scottish bar.
They do dress in black, mix with criminals (aka clients), take guidance from devilmasters (advocates who have had lengthy professional experience) and the great repository of their collective wisdom is the Advocate’s Library.
This is a stunning building in the heart of Edinburgh that looks as if it belongs on the set of a Harry Potter movie.
In order to become an advocate, you first must qualify as a solicitor then become ‘devilled’ to an advocate, while undergoing training that will allow you to appear in the highest courts in the land.
To do this successfully you don’t just need a fine legal brain but also a level of eloquence that will allow you to address juries and sway them with your brilliantly crafted arguments.
On s1jobs you can start your career with many different openings for solicitors but as an advocate you will be self-employed – although like all your colleagues you’ll be a member of the Faculty of Advocates of Scotland, a professional body that dates back to the 16th Century.
Advocate’s devils are not to be confused with Devil’s Advocates, a real position that once existed in the Catholic Church and whose job it was for holders of the title to argue against figures being put forward for canonisation in order to highlight character flaws that would bar them from becoming saints.
So actually, the two aren’t really that different after all. They both demand confidence, charisma and an ability to carry an argument about the individual in the dock.
And, yes, they both hail from a time when wearing black robes and white wigs was the norm.
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