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

Members may be interested to know that Sheriff Kerr chairs a quarterly Adults with Incapacity (AWI) Working Group at Glasgow Sheriff Court, bringing together Sheriffs, practitioners and court clerks to discuss matters relating to AWI practice and procedure. Until now, minutes of the group's meetings have been made available on request through information displayed in the AWI courtrooms. To ensure broader dissemination, it has been agreed that the minutes of the Working Group'

The Royal Faculty's inter-firm golf tournament - the Brodie Cup returned to Pollok Golf Club on Wed., 27 May 2026, bringing together colleagues from across the legal profession for another memorable afternoon of golf, friendly competition and excellent company. The tournament proved to be every bit as enjoyable as anticipated. Seven teams, each made up of three golfers, took to the course in glorious weather. With Pollok Golf Club once again proving to be an exceptional venue

Congratulations and sincere thanks to all involved. Wednesday 27th May saw the conclusion of 2026's Sheriff Principal's Mooting Competition, as teams from the University of Glasgow and the City of Glasgow College competed in a hotly contested final. Unfortunately, Sheriff Principal Anwar was unable to preside over the final as normal, but thankfully Sheriff Tony Kelly was on hand to oversee proceedings and offer guidance and words of encouragement to both sides. He noted that

The Faculty had one of its busiest ever events this week for the visit of UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Doherty. More than 100 guests heard the speech from Lord Doherty about the inner workings of the UK’s highest court of appeal. He took time out from the Supreme Court’s first ever visit to Glasgow to speak to members and other invited guests. Guests included Ruth Charteris, Solicitor General for Scotland, Lord Pentland, the Lord President of the Court of Session of Scotland

Lord Doherty, Justice of the UK Supreme Court, will provide a unique insight about his work on the bench when he gives a speech at the Faculty on Tuesday evening. He will deliver the biennial Lord Rodger Memorial Lecture during the Court’s first visit to Glasgow. Lord Doherty, one of two Scottish judges serving on the Supreme Court, will deliver a landmark speech, ‘A View from the Thames’, to members of the legal community from Glasgow and the west of Scotland. Ahead of the e

The RFPG played host to another fantastic evening of Mooting on Wednesday night, as students from the University of Strathclyde and the City of Glasgow College faced off in the second semi-final of the Sheriff Principal's Mooting Competition. Many thanks to Sheriff Brian Mohan for kindly agreeing to judge the competition, and to both teams for their outstanding advocacy: For University of Strathclyde were Alec Hudson & Elena Fox and for the City of Glasgow College were Sheldo

We had a fantastic evening at the RFPG yesterday, with an excellent standard of mooting on display in a closely contested semi-final. Many thanks to Sheriff Joan Kerr for kindly agreeing to judge the competition, and to both teams for their outstanding advocacy: Andrew Bray and Robert Walton (Glasgow Caledonian University) Katie Ronnie and Harry Braid (Glasgow University) Congratulations to Glasgow University for securing their place in the final which will be held on 27 May.

The Dean and Council of the Royal Faculty warmly invite all members to attend the 2026 Annual General Meeting. This important gathering offers a chance to reflect on the past year’s achievements and challenges, and to discuss the future direction of the Faculty. Your support and participation are greatly appreciated. 📅 Date: Thursday, 4 June 2026 🕠 Time: 5.30pm 📍 Venue: Faculty Hall Following the AGM, a drinks reception will be held - an excellent opportunity to meet, reco

In a landmark moment for Scotland’s legal community, the UK Supreme Court will sit in Glasgow this May. To mark this historic occasion, the Royal Faculty will hold its biennial Lord Rodger Memorial Lecture alongside the Court’s visit. Event Details Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026 Time: 17:30 – 19:00 Location: Faculty Hall This year’s lecture will be delivered by The Right Honourable Lord Doherty, Justice of the UK Supreme Court. His address forms part of the wider programme surroun

The Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow was delighted to welcome members and colleagues from across the profession to this year’s "Procurators’ Puzzler" — an evening of intellect, camaraderie and spirited competition. Held as an inter-firm quiz night, the event brought together 110 of Glasgow’s sharpest legal minds, all eager to test their knowledge in pursuit of the coveted Royal Faculty Quiz Trophy. With welcome drinks kindly sponsored by Legal Link by Jones Whyte, team

Message from the Sheriff Principal re taking of evidence of a vulnerable witness by a Commissioner in the Sheriff Court (Criminal Courts Practice Note No. 1 of 2026) - The Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019 (section 1) introduced a statutory presumption for the pre-recording of evidence of certain specified types of vulnerable witnesses in advance of trial. It was to be introduced in phases. The presumption was to be extended to child complainers a

We are delighted to highlight the reciprocal agreement between three of Scotland’s most respected legal institutions: The Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow The SSC Society Library in Edinburgh The Society of Advocates in Aberdeen This agreement represents a meaningful step forward in enhancing the value of membership across all three organisations. A Shared Commitment to Members Under this arrangement, members of each institution can enjoy reading rights and access to l

Message Received from Sheriff Principal Anwar re Summary Case Management - I write to advise you of changes to the case management hearing/continued without plea courts. These measures are designed to address “churn”. The number of continued hearings is resulting in overloaded courts which both affects the time available for case management discussions and leads to delays in these courts for all those involved. Changes to CMH/CWP courts & In-court surgery With effect fro

The Royal Faculty hopes that this year’s Glasgow Legal Walk will be bigger and better than ever. Taking place on Wednesday 30th September 2026, the annual charity event coordinated by the Access Justice Foundation encourages members and supporters of the legal community to raise money for much-needed local advice centres. The walk will be great fun, offer excellent networking opportunities, and provide the chance to learn about the city’s legal landmarks. Date: Wednesday 3

The Creative Side of the Law: An Arts Showcase with a Purpose Scotland’s legal profession is stepping away from the courtroom and into the creative spotlight - and they’re bringing their talents with them. On 30 April 2026, the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow will open its doors for Creativity in the Law, a special charity evening celebrating the artistic talents of lawyers from across Scotland. The event will feature a visual art exhibition, live music performances a

Wednesday, 27 May 2026 Get ready for another great day on the course — the Brodie Cup 2026 is on the horizon. This year’s tournament will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, 27 May 2026, once again at the outstanding Pollok Golf Club. The Brodie Cup brings together colleagues from across the legal profession for an afternoon of friendly competition and good company. Whether you’re a regular player or simply enjoy a round with peers, it’s an event well worth marking in y

We’re always looking for better ways to keep our members and the wider legal community informed, connected and engaged - and we’d really value your input. Our 2026 Communications Survey is short and focused, and asks how you prefer to hear from the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow and what information you find most useful. It should only take a few minutes to complete, but your feedback will make a real difference to how we communicate going forward. The survey can be

One of the real treasures in the Faculty’s archives is its oldest Minute Book, which opens rather abruptly with the words “The Tuell of November, 1668”. There’s no grand introduction - just a practical list of names and contributions, collected to support “poore decayed breithrein and servandis” of the courts, along with their widows and children. From the very first page, it’s clear that the Faculty was about more than professional status: it was a community that looked afte