View source for Lord Advocate

{{Short description|Chief legal officer of the Scottish Government}}
{{Distinguish|Advocate General for Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = {{small|[[Scotland]]}}<br>His Majesty's Lord Advocate 
| native_name = {{langx|gd|Morair Tagraidh}}
| body = 
| insignia = Crest of the Kingdom of Scotland.svg
| insigniasize = 110px
| image = File:Official Portrait of Dorothy Bain QC.png
| incumbent = [[Dorothy Bain]] [[King's Counsel|KC]]
| incumbentsince = 22 June 2021
| type = [[Great Officer of State#Scotland|Great Officer of State]] <br/> [[Law officers of the Crown|Law Officer of the Crown]] 
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Monarch]] on the recommendation of the [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] once approved by [[Scottish Parliament|Parliament]] 
| department = [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]]
| member_of               = [[Scottish Cabinet]] <br/> [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] <br/> [[Committees of the Scottish Parliament|Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation]] <br/> [[Directorates of the Scottish Government|Scottish Government Legal Directorate]]
| reports_to              = First Minister 
| deputy = [[Solicitor General for Scotland]]
| salary = £134,092 per annum {{small|(2023)}}<ref>{{cite web |title=MSP salaries |url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/msp-salaries |website=parliament.scot |date=5 April 2023 |publisher=[[The Scottish Parliament]]}}</ref>
| termlength = 
| succession = 
| website = [https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/lord-advocate/ Lord Advocate] at the [[Scottish Government]] 
}}
{{PoliticsScotland}}
{{Scots law}}

'''His Majesty's Advocate''', known as the '''Lord Advocate''' ({{langx|gd|Morair Tagraidh}}), is the principal legal adviser of both the [[Scottish Government]] and [[the Crown]] in [[Scotland]] for civil and criminal matters that fall within the [[devolution|devolved]] powers of the [[Scottish Parliament]]. The Lord Advocate provides legal advice to the government on its responsibilities, policies, legislation and advising on the legal implications of any proposals brought forward by the government.  The Lord Advocate is responsible for all legal advice which is given to the Scottish Government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Advocate: role and functions |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/lord-advocate-role-and-functions/ |website=Gov.scot |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>

The Lord Advocate serves as the ministerial head of the [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]], and as such, is the chief [[public prosecutor]] for Scotland with all [[prosecution]]s on indictment being conducted by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in the Lord Advocate's name on behalf of the Monarch. The Lord Advocate serves as the head of the systems of prosecutions in Scotland and is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, suspicious, accidental and unexplained deaths which occur within Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our role in investigating deaths |url=https://www.copfs.gov.uk/about-copfs/our-role-in-investigating-deaths/#:~:text=The%20Lord%20Advocate%20has%20responsibility,behalf%20of%20the%20Lord%20Advocate. |website=COPFS |publisher=Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dorothy Bain QC nominated Scotland's new Lord Advocate |date=16 June 2021 |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/3237232/dorothy-bain-qc-nominated-scotlands-new-lord-advocate/ |publisher=Press & Journal |access-date=1 January 2024}}</ref>

The officeholder is one of the [[Great Officers of State (United Kingdom)#Scotland|Great Officers of State]] of Scotland. The current Lord Advocate is [[Dorothy Bain]] [[King's Counsel|KC]], who was nominated by [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Nicola Sturgeon]] in June 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-06-16|title=Dorothy Bain QC named as Scotland's new lord advocate|language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-57488977|access-date=2021-06-18}}</ref> The Lord Advocate is appointed by the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|monarch]] on the recommendation of the incumbent [[First Minister of Scotland]], with the agreement of the [[Scottish Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lord Advocate: role and functions |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/lord-advocate-role-and-functions/ |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>

==History==
The office of Advocate to the monarch is an ancient one. The first recorded Lord Advocate was Sir John Ross of Montgreenan, who is formally mentioned in 1483.<ref>{{cite book |title=Fifth Report of Session 2006-07: Constitutional Role of the Attorney General |date=19 July 2007 |publisher=House of Common Constitutional Affairs Committee |page=145 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmconst/306/306.pdf |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lords Hansard: 4 Nov 2013: Column 93 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/131104-0003.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Gwen |date=2 December 2022 |title=Chapter 8 Part Two: The Last Stewart Kings at Dundonald Castle |url=https://dundonaldcastle.org.uk/chapter-8-part-two-the-last-stewart-kings-at-dundonald-castle/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204182233/https://dundonaldcastle.org.uk/chapter-8-part-two-the-last-stewart-kings-at-dundonald-castle/ |archive-date=4 December 2022 |website=Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre}}</ref> At that time the post-holder was generally referred to as the "King's Advocate" and not until the year 1573 was the term "Lord Advocate" first used.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electricscotland.com/history/nation/borthwick.htm|title = Borthwick}}</ref>

From 1707 to 1998, the Lord Advocate was the chief legal adviser of the British Government and the Crown on Scottish legal matters, both civil and criminal, until the [[Scotland Act 1998]] devolved most domestic affairs to the Scottish Parliament. [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]] is now advised on [[Scots law]] by the [[Advocate General for Scotland]].

The Lord Advocate is not head of the [[Faculty of Advocates]]; that position is held by the [[List of Deans of the Faculty of Advocates|Dean of the Faculty of Advocates]].

==Parliamentary and government role==
===Part of government===

Until devolution in 1999, all Lords Advocate were, by convention, members of either the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] or the [[House of Lords]] to allow them to speak for the government. Those who were not already members of either house received a [[life peerage]] on appointment. Since devolution, the Lord Advocate and the [[Solicitor General for Scotland]] are permitted to attend and speak in the Scottish Parliament ''ex officio'', even if they are not Members of the Scottish Parliament.<ref>Scotland Act 1998, s 27.</ref>

From 1999 until 2007, the Lord Advocate attended the weekly Scottish Cabinet meetings. However, after the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election|2007 election]], the new First Minister [[Alex Salmond]] decided that Lord Advocate would no longer attend the Scottish Cabinet, stating he wished to "de-politicise" the post.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=798472007 |title=Lord Advocate excluded from new Cabinet |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=23 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818135056/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=798472007 |archive-date=18 August 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Post–lord advocate===

Appointments as [[Senator of the College of Justice|Senators]] of the [[College of Justice]] were formerly made on the nomination of the Lord Advocate. Every Lord Advocate between 1842 and 1967 was later appointed to the bench, either on demitting office or at a later date. Many lord advocates in fact nominated themselves for appointment as [[Lord President of the Court of Session]] or as [[Lord Justice Clerk]].

===Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service===
The [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]] is headed by the Lord Advocate and the [[Solicitor General for Scotland]], and is the [[public prosecution service]] in Scotland. It also carries out functions which are broadly equivalent to the [[coroner]] in [[common law]] jurisdictions. Incorporated within the Crown Office is the Legal Secretariat to the Lord Advocate.

===Crown Agent===
The Crown Agent is the principal legal adviser to the Lord Advocate on prosecution matters. He or she also acts as Chief Executive for the department and as solicitor in all legal proceedings in which the Lord Advocate appears as representing his or her own department. They issue general instructions for the guidance of Crown counsel, procurators fiscal, sheriff clerks and other public officials; transmit instructions from Crown counsel to procurators fiscal about prosecutions; and in consultation with the Clerk of Justiciary, arrange sittings of the [[High Court of Justiciary]]. At trials in the High Court in Edinburgh, they attend as instructing solicitor. They are assisted by other senior legal, managerial and administrative staff.

The Crown Agent also holds the office of [[King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer]].

==Calls for reform==

In the [[Robert Black (advocate)#Call for public inquiry|Greshornish House]] Accord of 16 September 2008, Professors [[Hans Köchler]] and [[Robert Black (professor)|Robert Black]] said—

<blockquote>It is inappropriate that the Chief Legal Adviser to the Government is also head of all criminal prosecutions. Whilst the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General continue as public prosecutors the principle of separation of powers seems compromised. The potential for a conflict of interest always exists. Resolution of these circumstances would entail an amendment of the provisions contained within the Scotland Act 1998.</blockquote>

The judges of Scotland's highest court came to share this view. In a submission to the commission set up to consider how the devolution settlement between Scotland and the United Kingdom could be improved, the judges recommended that the Lord Advocate should cease to be the head of the public prosecution system and should act only as the Scottish Government's chief legal adviser. They noted various ways in which the Lord Advocate's roles had caused problems for the judicial system, including the ability "to challenge... virtually any act of a prosecutor has led to a plethora of disputed issues, with consequential delays to the holding of trials and to the hearing and completion of appeals against conviction." The judges proposed three alternative solutions: stripping the Lord Advocate of responsibility for prosecutions, exempting the Lord Advocate from compliance with the [[European Convention on Human Rights]], or changing the law on criminal appeals. While not specifically favouring any of the three, they noted that the third proposal was radical enough to "generate considerable controversy".<ref>[http://www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/engage/submissions-received.php Judiciary in the Court of Session] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121223234812/http://www.commissiononscottishdevolution.org.uk/engage/submissions-received.php |date=23 December 2012 }} (Just over halfway down the list headed "Miscellaneous Submissions").</ref>

==List of lords advocate==
[[File:James Steuart of Goodtrees (1635–1713) Medina.jpg|thumb|[[Sir James Stewart (Lord Advocate)|Sir James Stewart]], Lord Advocate 1692–1707, the last Lord Advocate of the Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Acts of Union]] 

=== Pre-Union ===

{{Div col |colwidth= 35em}}
* June 1478 (or earlier) – May 1485<ref name="handbook201">E.B. Fryde, D.E. Greenway, S. Porter and I. Roy (1986) ''Handbook of British Chronology'', 3rd edition, Royal Historical Society, London, p.201.</ref> or 1494:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copfs.gov.uk/News/Historical/HistOffLordAdv|title=Historical Background to the development of the office of Lord Advocate|publisher=Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service|access-date=13 October 2009}}</ref>John Ross of Montgrenan
* Mar 1491 – Feb 1493: David Balfour of Carraldstoun <ref name="handbook201"/> 
* Jun 1494 – Sep 1513: James Henryson of Fordell <ref name="handbook201"/> 
* 1503–1521?:<ref>In the National Records of Scotland (GD243/23/2) is a charter dated 23 September 1508 wherein Jonet Elphinstoun is mentioned as "relict of the deceased Master Richard Lausoun of Hieriggis."</ref> Richard Lawson of Heirigs (jointly with Henryson? <ref>George W.T. Omond (1883) ''Lord Advocates of Scotland'', v.1, p.8 suggests Richard Lawson served as jont advocates with James Henryson of Fordell from 1503 to 1507, and James Wishart served jointly with Henryson from 1507 until 1513, but Fryde et al. (1986) ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p.201n4 asserts there is no  evidence for that. </ref>)
* Oct 1513 – Nov 1524: James Wishart of Pittarrow<ref name="handbook201"/> 
* Dec 1524 – 1527: [[Adam Otterburn]] of Auldhame and Reidhall
* 1527–1532: Adam Otterburn ''and'' John Foulis of Colinton (jointly)<ref name="handbook201"/> <ref>Omond (1883: p.12) suggests Otterburn was senior and Foulis was subordinate.  Fryde et al. (1986:p.201) make no distinction and say merely that they served together.</ref> 
* 1533–1538: Adam Otterburn ''and'' [[Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains|Henry Lauder]] of St. Germains (jointly)<ref name="handbook201"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.20) suggests Otterburn was senior and Lauder was deputy or substitute.</ref> 
* Sep 1538–1555: [[Henry Lauder, Lord St Germains|Henry Lauder]] of St. Germains<ref name="handbook201"/> 
* Oct 1555-1559: Henry Lauder ''and''  [[John Spens of Condie, Lord Condie|John Spens]] of Condie (jointly)<ref name="handbook201"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.21)</ref> 
* before Feb 1560-1573: [[John Spens of Condie, Lord Condie|John Spens]] of Condie ''and'' [[Robert Crichton (Lord Advocate)|Robert Crichton]] of Eliok (jointly)<ref name="handbook201"/> <ref>Omond (1883: p.26) characterizes Spens as senior and Crichton as junior.</ref> 
*Oct 1573-1581 [[Robert Crichton (Lord Advocate)|Robert Crichton]] of Eliok ''and'' [[David Borthwick, Lord Lochill|David Borthwick]] of Lochhill (jointly) <ref name="handbook201"/>  <ref>Omond (1883: p.37). Junior Borthwick died in January 1581 and senior Crichton seems to have continued on alone until his death in June 1582.</ref> 
* Jun 1582–1589: [[David MacGill (politician)|David Macgill]] of Cranston-Riddell, and Nisbet <ref name="handbook201"/>  <ref>Omond (1883: p.42).</ref> 
* Aug 1589 – Sep 1594: David MacGill ''and'' [[John Skene, Lord Curriehill|John Skene]] of Curriehill (jointly) <ref name="handbook201"/> <ref>Omond (1883: p.60).</ref> 
* Oct 1594 - 1596 : David MacGill ''and'' William Hart of Livielands (jointly) <ref name="handbook201"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.67).</ref>  
* Jan 1596 - 1597: William Hart of Livielands  ''and'' Sir [[Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington|Thomas Hamilton]] of Drumcairnie (jointly) <ref name="handbook201"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.69).</ref>  
* 1597-May 1612 Sir [[Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington|Thomas Hamilton]] of Drumcairnie <ref name="handbook201"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.71). Hamilton succeeded Magill on 31 January 1596, and persuaded King James VI to appoint him sole Advocate.  Hart of Livielands will continue to serve jointly until being promoted to Justice Depute to 1597.  Thereafter Hamilton is the sole King's Advocate.  The 16th century custom of two joint advocates ends now. As a general rule, from Hamilton onwards, there will be only one King's Advocate.  The title of "Lord Advocate" begins to be used in place of "King's Advocate" from around this time (Omond, p.74). </ref>  
* Jun 1612 – May 1626: Sir [[William Oliphant, Lord Newton|William Oliphant]] of Newton<ref name="handbook201"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.81, p.87)</ref>
* May 1626 - Apr 1628: Sir William Oliphant ''and'' Sir [[Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet|Thomas Hope]] of Craighall (jointly) <ref name="handbook202">Fryde et al. (1986) ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p.202.</ref><ref>Omond (1883: p.102)</ref>
* Apr 1628– Oct 1646: [[Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet]] of Craighall <ref name="handbook202"/><ref>Omond (1883: p.104)</ref>
* Oct 1646– Mar 1649: Sir [[Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston|Archibald Johnston]] of Warriston <ref name="handbook202"/>
* Mar, 1649 - Aug 1651: Sir Thomas Nicholson<ref name="handbook202"/>
* ''vacant'' (from Aug 1651). 
*1659–1661: Sir [[Archibald Primrose, Lord Carrington|Archibald Primrose]]
* 1661–1664: Sir John Fletcher
* 1664–1677: Sir [[John Nisbet, Lord Dirleton|John Nisbet]]
* 1677–1687: Sir [[George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh]]
* 1687–1688: Sir [[John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair|John Dalrymple]]
* 1688–1689: Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh
* 1689–1692: [[John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair|John Dalrymple]]
* 1692–1707: Sir [[Sir James Stewart (Lord Advocate)|James Stewart]] 
{{Div col end}}

=== Post-Union ===

{{Div col |colwidth= 35em}}
* 1707–1709: Sir [[Sir James Stewart (Lord Advocate)|James Stewart]] 
* 1709–1711: [[Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet]]
* 1711–1713: Sir James Stewart (second time)
* 1714: [[Thomas Kennedy (1673–1754)|Thomas Kennedy of Dunure]]
* 1714–1720: [[Sir David Dalrymple, 1st Baronet]]
* 1720–1725: [[Robert Dundas of Arniston, the elder|Robert Dundas the elder]]
* 1725–1737: [[Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden|Duncan Forbes]]
* 1737–1742: [[Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald|Charles Erskine]]
* 1742–1746: [[Robert Craigie, Lord Glendoick|Robert Craigie]]
* 1746–1754: [[William Grant, Lord Prestongrange|William Grant]]
* 1754–1760: [[Robert Dundas of Arniston, the younger|Robert Dundas the younger]]
* 1760–1766: [[Thomas Miller, Lord Glenlee|Thomas Miller]]
* 1766–1775: [[James William Montgomery|James Montgomery]]
* 1775–1783: [[Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville|Henry Dundas]]
* 1783: [[Henry Erskine (lawyer)|Henry Erskine]]
* 1783–1789: [[Sir Ilay Campbell, 1st Baronet|Ilay Campbell]]
* 1789–1801: [[Robert Dundas of Arniston|Robert Dundas]]
* 1801–1804: [[Charles Hope, Lord Granton|Charles Hope]]
* 1804–1806: [[Sir James Montgomery, 2nd Baronet]]
* 1806–1807: [[Henry Erskine (lawyer)|Henry Erskine]]
* 1807–1816: [[Archibald Colquhoun (politician)|Archibald Colquhoun]]
* 1816–1819: [[Alexander Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank|Alexander Maconochie]]
* 1819–1830: [[Sir William Rae, 3rd Baronet]]
* December 1830 – May 1834: [[Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey|Francis Jeffrey]]
* May – November 1834: [[John Murray, Lord Murray|John Murray]]
* December 1834 – April 1835: Sir William Rae, 3rd Baronet
* April 1835 – April 1839: John Murray
* April 1839 – September 1841: [[Andrew Rutherfurd, Lord Rutherfurd|Andrew Rutherfurd]]
* September 1841 – October 1842: Sir William Rae, 3rd Baronet
* October 1842 – July 1846: [[Duncan McNeill, 1st Baron Colonsay|Duncan McNeill]]
* July 1846 – April 1851: Andrew Rutherfurd
* April 1851 – February 1852: [[James Moncreiff, 1st Baron Moncreiff|James Moncreiff]]
* February – May 1852: [[Adam Anderson, Lord Anderson|Adam Anderson]]
* May – December 1852: [[John Inglis, Lord Glencorse|John Inglis]]
* December 1852 – March 1858: James Moncreiff
* March – July 1858: John Inglis
* July 1858 – April 1859: [[Charles Baillie, Lord Jerviswoode|Charles Baillie]]
* April – June 1859: [[David Mure, Lord Mure|David Mure]]
* June 1859 – July 1866: James Moncreiff
* July 1866 – February 1867: [[George Patton, Lord Glenalmond|George Patton]]
* February 1867 – December 1868: [[Edward Gordon, Baron Gordon of Drumearn|Edward Gordon]]
* December 1868 – October 1869: James Moncreiff
* October 1869 – February 1874: [[George Young, Lord Young|George Young]]
* 1874–1876: Edward Gordon
* July 1876 – April 1880: [[William Watson, Lord Watson|William Watson]]
* May 1880 – August 1881: [[John McLaren, Lord McLaren|John McLaren]]
* August 1881 – July 1885: [[John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross|John Blair Balfour]]
* July 1885 – February 1886: [[John Macdonald, Lord Kingsburgh|John Macdonald]]
* February – August 1886: John Blair Balfour
* August 1886 – October 1888: John Macdonald
* October 1888 – August 1891: [[James Patrick Bannerman Robertson, Baron Robertson of Forteviot|James Robertson]]
* October 1891 – August 1892: Sir [[Charles Pearson, Lord Pearson|Charles Pearson]]
* August 1892 – July 1895: [[John Balfour, 1st Baron Kinross|John Balfour]]
* July 1895 – May 1896: Sir Charles Pearson
* May 1896 – October 1903: [[Andrew Murray, 1st Viscount Dunedin|Andrew Murray]]
* October 1903 – December 1905: [[Charles Dickson, Lord Dickson|Charles Dickson]]
* December 1905 – February 1909: [[Thomas Shaw, 1st Baron Craigmyle|Thomas Shaw]]<ref name="gazette-1905-shaw-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 27864 | date = 15 December 1905 |page=9008  | city = London }}</ref>
* February 1909 – October 1913: [[Alexander Ure, 1st Baron Strathclyde|Alexander Ure]]<ref name="gazette-1909-ure-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 12118 | date = 19 February 1909 |page=173 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* October 1913 – December 1916: [[Robert Munro, 1st Baron Alness|Robert Munro]]<ref name="gazette-nov-1913-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 12613 | date = 4 November 1913 |page=1143 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* December 1916 – 1920: [[James Avon Clyde, Lord Clyde|James Clyde]]<ref name="gazette-1916-jac-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 13026 | date = 15 December 1916  |page=2348 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1920–1922: [[Thomas Brash Morison]]<ref name="gazette-1920-lord-advocate">{{London Gazette | issue = 13583 | date = 2 April 1920 |page=1008 | city = e }}</ref>
* March 1922 – November 1922: [[Charles David Murray]]<ref name="gazette-march-1922-lord-advocate">{{London Gazette | issue = 13794 | date = 10 March 1922 |page=456 | city = e }}</ref>
* November 1922 – February 1924: [[William Watson, Baron Thankerton|William Watson]]<ref name="gazette-nov1922-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 13863 | date = 3 November 1922 |page=1718 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* February 1924 – November 1924: [[Hugh Macmillan, Baron Macmillan|Hugh Pattison MacMillan]]<ref name="gazette-feb-1924-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 13996 | date = 12 February 1924 |page=225 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* November 1924 – May 1929: [[William Watson, Baron Thankerton|William Watson]]<ref name="gazette-nov-1924-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 14076 | date = 18 November 1924  |page=1439 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* May 1929 – June 1929: [[Alexander Munro MacRobert]]<ref name="gazette-may-1929-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 33492 | date = 7 May 1929 |page=3007 | city = London }}</ref>
* June 1929 – 1933: [[Craigie Mason Aitchison, Lord Aitchison|Craigie Aitchison]]<ref name="gazette-jun-1929-sol-gen">{{London Gazette | issue = 14558 | date = 21 June 1929 |page=650  | city = e }}</ref>
* 1933–1935: [[Wilfrid Normand, Baron Normand|Wilfrid Normand]]<ref name="gazette-oct-1933-normand-lord-advocate">{{London Gazette | issue = 15005 | date = 3 October 1933 |page=809 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* April 1935 – October 1935: [[Douglas Jamieson, Lord Jamieson|Douglas Jamieson]]<ref name="gazette-1935-jamieson-lord-advocate">{{London Gazette | issue = 34147 | date = 2 April 1935 |page=2231 | city = London }}</ref>
* 1935–1941: [[Thomas Mackay Cooper, 1st Baron Cooper of Culross|Thomas Cooper]]<ref name="gazette-nov-1935-cooper-advocate">{{London Gazette | issue = 15222 | date = 1 November 1935 |page=913 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1941–1945: [[James Scott Cumberland Reid]]<ref name="gazette-1941-lord-advocate">{{London Gazette | issue = 15820 | date = 13 June 1941 |page=305 | city = e }}</ref>
* 1945–1947: [[George Thomson, Lord Thomson|George Thomson]]<ref name="gazette-aug-1945-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 16257 | date = 21 August 1945 |page=285 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1947–1951: [[John Wheatley, Baron Wheatley|John Wheatley]]<ref name="gazette-oct-1947-wheatley-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 16481 | date = 14 October 1947 |page=427 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1951–1955: [[James Latham Clyde, Lord Clyde|James Clyde]]<ref name="gazette-1951-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 16906 | date = 9 November 1951 |page=565 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1955–1960: [[William Rankine Milligan, Lord Milligan|William Rankine Milligan]]<ref name="gazette-1955-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 17250 | date = 11 January 1955 |page=13 | city = Edinburgh  }}</ref>
* 1960–1962: [[William Grant, Lord Grant|William Grant]]<ref name="gazette-1960-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 17812 | date = 12 April 1960 |page=221 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1962–1964: [[Ian Shearer, Lord Avonside|Ian Shearer]]<ref name="gazette-1962-shearer-lord-adv">{{London Gazette | issue = 18079 | date = 19 October 1962 |page=637 | city = Edinburgh }}</ref>
* 1964–1967: [[Gordon Stott, Lord Stott|George Stott]]
* 1967–1970: [[Henry Wilson, Baron Wilson of Langside|Henry Wilson]]
* 1970–1974: [[Norman Wylie, Lord Wylie|Norman Wylie]]
* 1974–1979: [[Ronald King Murray, Lord Murray|Ronald Murray]]
* 1979–1984: [[James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern]]
* 1984–1989: [[Kenneth Cameron, Baron Cameron of Lochbroom]]
* 1989–1992: [[Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie]]
* 1992–1995: [[Alan Rodger, Baron Rodger of Earlsferry]]
* 1995–1997: [[Donald Mackay, Baron Mackay of Drumadoon]]
{{Div col end}}

=== Post-Devolution ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=2 |Lord Advocate
! Term
! Nominated by
! [[Solicitor General for Scotland|Solicitor General]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Lord Hardie 2010.jpg|95px]]
|'''[[Andrew Hardie, Baron Hardie|Andrew Hardie]]''' 
| 1997–2000
| rowspan=3 | [[Donald Dewar]]
| [[Colin Boyd, Baron Boyd of Duncansby|Colin Boyd]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Colin Boyd.jpg|127x127px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Colin Boyd, Baron Boyd of Duncansby|Colin Boyd]]'''
| rowspan=2 | 2000–2006
| [[Neil Davidson, Baron Davidson of Glen Clova|Neil Davidson]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[Elish Angiolini]]

|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Elish Angiolini 2021.jpg|127x127px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Elish Angiolini]]'''
| rowspan=2 | 2006–2011
| rowspan=2 | [[Jack McConnell]]
| [[John Beckett, Lord Beckett|John Beckett]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[Frank Mulholland, Lord Mulholland|Frank Muholland]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:The Rt Hon Frank Mulholland QC.jpg|95px]]
|'''[[Frank Mulholland, Lord Mulholland|Frank Muholland]]'''
| 2011–2016
| [[Alex Salmond]]
| [[Lesley Thomson (lawyer)|Lesley Thomson]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Lord Advocate James Wolffe (26789821493).jpg|95px]]
|'''[[James Wolffe]]'''
| 2016–2021
| rowspan=2 | [[Nicola Sturgeon]]
| [[Alison Di Rollo]]

|- style="height:1em"
| [[File:Official Portrait of Dorothy Bain QC.png|127x127px]]
|'''[[Dorothy Bain]]'''
| 2021–present
| [[Ruth Charteris]] 
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Scotland}}
*[[Lord Advocate's Reference]]
*[[Law Officers of the Crown]]
*[[Attorney General for England and Wales]]
*[[Attorney General for Northern Ireland]]

==References==
{{reflist | colwidth=35em}}

==Sources==
''The career path of recent Scottish law officers'', [[Scots Law Times]]'', 14 July 2006''

== External links ==
* [https://www.gov.scot/about/who-runs-government/cabinet-and-ministers/lord-advocate/ Lord Advocate] on the [[Scottish Government]] website
* [https://www.copfs.gov.uk/about-us/who-we-are/lord-advocate-biography Lord Advocate] on the [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service]] website

{{Scotland topics}}
{{Great_Officers_of_State_in_the_United_Kingdom}}
{{Scottish Cabinet}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Lord advocates| ]]
[[Category:Scots law formal titles]]
[[Category:Lists of government ministers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ministerial posts of the Scottish Government|Lord Advocate]]
[[Category:Lists of office-holders in Scotland]]
[[Category:Region-specific legal occupations]]
[[Category:Law officers of the Crown in the United Kingdom]]