The Society was represented at the Opening of the Legal Year earlier this month.

On Sunday 22 September 2024, the Red Mass took place, held annually each autumn in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh to mark the beginning of the legal year. The Mass is convened by the Most Reverend Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Five Writers to the Signet attended the function: Peter Walsh WS, Helen Logan Solicitor WS, Kenneth Cameron WS, Jamie Kerr WS, and Kenneth Law WS. The Writers are pictured with Archbishop Leo Cushley.

During the event, the Archbishop referred to the titles “King’s Counsel” and “His Majesty’s Signet” as “a quiet reminder of a tradition that wishes to serve the common good, for the sake of all peoples, of all religions and none”.

The following day, on Monday 23 September 2024, the Society was represented in the Court of Session hearing to mark the occasion by Trustee and Fiscal Tony Jones KC WS, Chris Nicholson WS (Scottish Government), CEO Dr Robert Pirrie WS and Principal Solicitor Sophie Mills WS. The Lord President, who along with the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian retires at the end of the year, gave a tour de force on the modernising reforms which have taken place across the civil and criminal justice systems since Lord Carolway’s appointment as Lord President in 2016. The proceedings included speeches from the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates Roddy Dunlop WS and President of the Law Society Susan Miller, followed by the Lord President welcoming to the newly appointed King’s Counsel. The whole proceedings were livestreamed from Court 1 for the first time in history, marking the commitment of the Scottish judiciary to making the legal system more transparent and accessible.

The court hearing was followed by the usual procession into St Giles’ Cathedral for the service to mark the opening of the legal year. The Society’s above representatives joined the congregation. 

A recording of the morning can be accessed here.