The RFPG has been invited by Temporary Sheriff Principal Reid to respond to a proposal for a six-month pilot at Glasgow Sheriff Court. The proposed pilot would reintroduce mandatory in-person attendance for the Ordinary Court and Family Procedural Court on specified days. The proposal’s stated aims include enhancing training opportunities, encouraging settlement discussions and improving support for party litigants. Further details are available through the letter, linked

The monument where capital convicts were hanged and the site of Glasgow’s old jail are just some of the unusual highlights of the city’s annual Legal Walk. The fascinating tour delves into the history of justice in the city going back hundreds of years. The Glasgow Legal Walk is a popular date in the legal calendar and a great opportunity to raise money for The Access to Justice Foundation while catching up with friends or meeting someone new in the legal sector. This year’s

The RFPG is please to announce bookings are now available for next year's Biennial Dinner. Friday 19th March 2027 Radisson Blu Hotel Glasgow 301 Argyle Street Glasgow, G2 8DL Keynote Speaker: Lady Aisha Anwar 2nd Speaker: Scott Manson Tickets are available at £850 + VAT for a table of 10 Individual tickets and partial tables available Please email library@rfpg.org to book your place. Welcome drinks and glass of wine included with each ticket.

Two years ago Austin Lafferty made the bold decision to become a part-time student to learn more about the techniques of being an artist. This ‘super-charged’ his enjoyment for painting and drawing and he has since amassed a wealth of artwork since throwing himself into his studies. Austin is now looking forward to showcasing a selection of that work at the Royal Faculty’s forthcoming ‘Creativity in the Law’ event. Austin, a Past Dean of the Royal Faculty, said: “I don’t mind

A new statue of Nelson Mandela is to be unveiled in Nelson Mandela Place on Friday 9 October 2026 at 4pm. The unveiling will be a public event, with all welcome to attend, and is expected to attract a significant number of people to the civic square. The ceremony will begin at 4pm and is expected to last around an hour. It will include music and a number of short speeches delivered over a PA system, with the Lord Provost and other invited guests among those attending. Members

Message received from the Law Society of Scotland (Member Engagement) - "You will likely already be aware that the Scottish Government’s legal aid consultation is currently underway and its importance for the future of legal aid in Scotland, including ensuring access to justice and to practitioners working across Scotland in local communities. "The Law Society of Scotland published the following article, including a link to the consultation, in July: Legal Aid Bill consultat

The Royal Faculty has paid tribute to former Sheriff Principal Lady Anwar as she begins her new role as a Senator with the College of Justice. Lady Anwar was appointed as a part-time sheriff in 2011 and as a sheriff at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2014 where she was a designated family law and commercial law sheriff. Since then, she has been instrumental in working with Royal Faculty members to listen to their “concerns and suggestions”, while embracing change within the court s

Looking for ways to better serve your needs. The RFPG and it's TANQ (Trainee and Newly Qualified) committee are seeking guidance from those in the early stages of their legal career on how we can better assist with your legal journey; Are there different types of educational event that would be beneficial? Are there any particular social events that would help you best meet new potential colleagues? What else can we do to ensure that the RFPG is helping legal practitioners of

Lawyer and singer Xinhui Lai admits she will have a few nerves when she returns to perform at the popular ‘Creativity in the Law’ event next year. The 32-year-old, a professional coloratura soprano, has previously taken to the stage at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow and performed as part of the supporting choir on Susan Boyle's 2014 Scotland tour. Xinhui honed her talent after spending five years at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow where she completed a Bache

Glasgow Sheriff Court has asked us to bring to members’ attention the availability of a bail agreement pro forma, which solicitors are encouraged to use where appropriate. The purpose of the pro forma is to assist with the efficient conduct of custody court business. Its use may help cases to be dealt with more expeditiously and contribute to reducing overall finishing times for the custody court. Copies of the pro forma are available within the custody courts for solicitors

Members of the Royal Faculty are warmly invited to attend a farewell reception in honour of Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar as she prepares to take up her appointment as a Senator of the College of Justice. The Sheriff Principal is hosting the event as an opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to making Glasgow Sheriff Court "Scotland's best Sheriff Court", and to recognise the collective efforts of the local legal profession, Procurators Fiscal, court clerks and sta

The Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow is pleased to announce that the charitable purposes of the James Caldwell Bequest Fund (SC041067) have been expanded, enabling the Fund to support a wider range of individuals while continuing the Faculty's long tradition of charity, education and public service. Administered by the Royal Faculty's Charitable Funds Committee, the Fund has long provided financial assistance to current and former members of the Faculty, together with

If anyone is looking for the clearest statement yet on the role of artificial intelligence in Scotland's justice system, they need look no further than Lord Pentland's address to the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow on 3 June 2026. The speech is likely to become a landmark reference point in discussions about AI and the Scottish legal profession. Rather than engaging in speculation or alarmism, Scotland's most senior judge provided a measured and authoritative assessme

Practitioners dealing with applications under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 should be aware that a new national Practice Note has now been issued. The Practice Note has been developed to provide a consistent approach across Scotland and is broadly modelled on the existing Practice Notes used in Glasgow and in Lothian and Borders. Its introduction marks an important step towards greater uniformity in court practice, ensuring that agents have a clear understand

Thursday 29 April 2027 will see the highly anticipated return of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow's popular talent showcase, Creativity in the Law. Set to be the biggest edition of the exhibition to date, the RFPG is now inviting submissions from creative legal professionals and law students across Scotland. Open to both RFPG members and non-members, the event welcomes anyone working or studying in Scotland's legal sector who would like to share their creative tale

We are always looking to offer fresh and new content to our members, so do you have a burning opinion or piece of insight you would like to share with your fellow lawyers? As part of our recent review of Faculty communications, we are exploring how we can offer more in-depth articles in the newsletter. The newsletter offers an ideal platform to share thought leadership articles between members. It may be a piece of insight about a trending issue in the legal sector, a special

The RFPG library is regarded as the “jewel in the crown” by members for the access it gives them to an extensive collection of legal works – far beyond the means of all but the largest law firms. Even in the case of firms with significant libraries of their own, the Faculty library provides a vital back-up when books inevitably disappear or online services fail. As well as complementing their own resources, the service offers access to historical material such as older case

The Sheriff Principal and the sheriffs of Glasgow Sheriff Court have recently completed a comprehensive review of all court interlocutors used in family actions, ordinary actions, summary applications and social work referrals. As a result of this work, practitioners may begin to receive the new interlocutors in cases calling this week. The project, led by the Sheriff Principal and developed in collaboration with justice partners, has been a recurring topic of discussion at G

Scotland’s most senior judge has told the RFPG the use of AI in the justice system is here to stay, predicting that it will not “spell the end of judges and lawyers”. The use of Artificial Intelligence is one of the most pressing issues facing the legal profession. The Lord President, the Rt Hon Lord Pentland, provided a unique insight into the benefits and risks of using the new technology during a major speech at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow (RFPG). He said t

4th June 2026 The RFPG's annual AGM took place on the evening of Thursday 4th June, where members were invited to share thoughts, opinions and ideas with the RFPG Council, as well as receive an important update on the past year from CEO John McKenzie. Additionally, we are please to announce that John Bett (Lindsays) has been re-elected as Dean for a further year, with Craig Donnelly (Holmes Mackillop) re-elected as Vice Dean. The RFPG would also like to welcome newly elected