If there is anyone who deserves the respect of their legal peers, undoubtedly it’s one Lord John Herbert McCluskey.
Described as a giant of Scots Law, this outspoken, honest and passionate man was one of our legal world’s most prominent figures for five decades before passing away at the age of 88 last month.
A University of Edinburgh graduate, a former Queens Counsel, a Labour crossbench life peer for 41 years and the former Solicitor General of Scotland, Lord McCluskey served to uphold the law, protected the judiciary’s independence from Parliament and helped oversee the introduction of the Scotland Act.
He even donned his famous bowler hat in the 70s to defend Sir Paul McCartney, famously asking for “time to pay” on the resultant £30 fine.
In homage to the man, and his inspiration to young solicitors everywhere, we consider the route to becoming Solicitor General and what roles you can take to get there.
Earn your stripes
Lord McCluskey started off like everyone else with his nose in law textbooks. He may have been called to the Scottish Bar in 1955 after service in Royal Air Force, but nowadays you’ll need the LLB in Scots Law, a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and a two-year traineeship.
If you’re fresh out of uni, you can get a traineeship and start your journey here.
Some work their way up through roles as paralegals and legal executives.
The key is you have to start somewhere so look at all the legal vacancies on s1jobs.
Make your mark
Once you’ve established yourself, it’s time to let the legal world know what you’re made of. It takes patience and dedication to have the experience, contacts, reputation and knowledge worthy of becoming Solicitor General.
Whether your forte is in property, tax or even the corporate world, getting the most diverse knowledge base is vital. You’ll need experience in our courts as well, of course.
Advocate change
It can take up to a decade of experience or longer for someone to be considered for a legal management or Advocacy role.
If it’s an Advocate you want to become, there’s a set of procedures in Scotland you have to satisfy.
If it’s a legal management role, you need to satisfy your worth to prospective bosses and partners.
The final step
Maybe you’ve dedicated years to criminal defence, dabbled in conveyancing and tax liability law, or worked for years in an Advocate role, but at this stage, it’s all about knowledge, experience, reputation and network.
The Solicitor General of Scotland is regarded as the number one solicitor in the country and is only appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of our First Minister.
Don’t let this daunt you: it certainly didn’t deter Lord McCluskey.
For all the best Legal roles visit s1jobs.com