Lord Rodger Memorial Lecture - Principle, Policy and Pragmatism: How the law works

Lord Rodger Memorial Lecture 

Principle, Policy and Pragmatism: How the law works

Speaker: Lady Ann Paton

It might be thought that the law is a set of rational provisions readily ascertainable from case law and legislation reflecting current social values.  A straightforward application of the relevant provisions should provide coherent and consistent answers.  But is that the case?  Or do factors such as policy and pragmatism influence outcome?  Some instances in both civil and criminal law provide a view of how the law works in practice.  

Lady Ann Paton will deliver the Lord Rodger Memorial Lecture. Lady Paton was appointed Chair of the Scottish Law Commission in 2019 and continues to serve as a Senator of the College of Justice. Lady Paton is an appeal court judge in Scotland. Having graduated MA LLB in 1974, she became an advocate at the Scottish Bar in 1977, a QC in 1990, a judge in 2000, and an appeal court judge in 2007. She is experienced in both civil and criminal law, and prosecuted crime in the High Court as an advocate-depute (1992-1995). Lady Paton served on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (1995-1999) and the Parole Board (2003-2007). Her publications include Gloag & Henderson, Law of Scotland (8th, 9th and 10th editions) and McEwan & Paton, Damages for Personal Injuries in Scotland (1st and 2nd editions). 

Free to attend. The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in the Faculty Hall.

The Royal Faculty is very grateful to the Clark Foundation for Legal Education for their support of the Lord Rodger Memorial Lecture.