Advocate
Present cases in the Scottish law courts – defending people accused of a crime or civil offence.
Also known as: solicitor advocate, counsel, barrister
About the job
What it's like
Are you a solicitor who's looking to take the next step in your career? As an advocate, you'll present cases in courts across Scotland.
Just like a solicitor, you'll put together arguments to defend or prosecute people accused of a crime or civil offence. Although, advocates tend to work at the High Court of Justiciary and the Court of Session. You could also appear at other decision-making bodies, such as tribunals.
You'll be given cases by solicitors who need you to represent their client in one of these courts or bodies. Some advocates specialise in dealing with a particular type of case.
As an advocate, you'll use your expertise to advise solicitors and their clients about legal matters. They'll trust you to give an honest opinion on the best way to tackle a dispute or issue.
Some advocates work for the Procurator Fiscal service – they're known as The Crown Counsel. In this position, you'll prosecute cases in the High Court. You could also work for the Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament to draft new laws.
Court cases can be very stressful. This means the people you represent may become upset or emotional. It's important that you act objectively, so you can give a fair opinion on whether they have a strong case or not.
Your tasks might include:
discussing the details of a case with the solicitor and client
reading statements from witnesses and other reports to uncover more facts
researching similar cases from the past
deciding how to present your case and preparing as thoroughly as possible
making speeches in court to the judge and jury, or preparing a written case on behalf of your client or the prosecution
questioning (cross examining) the witnesses in court
pointing out flaws in the evidence put forward by the prosecution or the defence
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Faculty of Advocates – discover everything you need to know about working as an advocate in Scotland
Law Society of Scotland – explore the professional body for legal professionals
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- negotiating
- developing a plan
- respecting
- researching
- questioning
- problem solving
- written communication
- compromising
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Classical Studies
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English
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Latin
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Philosophy
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Politics
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Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies - RMPS
Most advocates in Scotland have a degree. You'll need to become a qualified solicitor, then specialise in advocacy further down the line.
1. Earn an undergraduate degree. You’ll study LLB (Bachelor of Laws) in Scots Law. You’ll generally need a minimum of four Highers at A or B to get into an LLB in Scots Law.
2. Study a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP). The DPLP is a bridge between academic study and practical legal work. It generally takes one year to complete.
3. Complete a two-year traineeship with a law firm or legal organisation. Under supervision, you’ll carry out real-life legal tasks to complete. This’ll help you gain hands-on experience in different areas of law.
Generally, you’ll work as a solicitor for several years before applying to become an advocate.
To gain admission to the Faculty of Advocates, you must pass both civil and criminal law exams and complete around nine months of training, known as devilling.
Once you’ve successfully completed both, you can become a member of the Faculty and start working as an advocate.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Paralegal Practice.
After completing this MA, you may be eligible to get into a Graduate Entry LLB in Scots Law. This is a two-year law degree designed for those who have already completed an undergraduate degree in another subject.
You'll still need to spend time as a solicitor and work towards admission to the Faculty of Advocates.
Pre-PEAT traineeship
This route is extremely competitive! Instead of going to university, you’ll work in a legal environment under supervision. You’ll study for the Law Society of Scotland’s professional exams alongside your work.
Once you’ve passed these exams, you’ll be a qualified solicitor. You'll then need to spend time in this role before working towards admission to the Faculty of Advocates.
It's useful to rack up relevant experience. For example, you could attend Faculty of Advocates open days and Law Society of Scotland events.
Are you a school pupil? The Law Society of Scotland offers events and activities for aspiring solicitors.
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