On 6th February 2025, the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Scots Law hosted an exclusive event featuring expert advocates, Paul Harvey and Dominic Scullion.
Paul Harvey, who has served as an Advocate Depute since 2021, was appointed Assistant Principal Crown Counsel for sexual and domestic abuse offences in Scotland in 2024. Dominic Scullion, who has been on the panel of standing junior counsel to the Scottish Ministers since 2020, was appointed Second Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government in 2024. He is an Aberdeen Law School alumnus.
The event, attended by around 80 staff and students, centred around a compelling address on The Lord Advocate: The References and the Role of Her Counsel. This address examined the critical role of the Lord Advocate and her counsel in Scotland, with a specific focus on a series of recent Lord Advocate’s References — legal proceedings that allow the Lord Advocate to submit key points of law to the High Court for authoritative determination. These references have led to major changes in Scots evidence law, and will reshape the landscape of Scottish criminal justice, particularly in relation to the prosecution of sexual offences. Following the address, the event continued with a Q&A session, where the speakers addressed a broad range of questions, covering their professional journeys and insights into career development. The afternoon concluded with a tea and coffee reception, providing an opportunity for further networking and discussion.
Isla Callander, Co-Director of the Centre for Scots Law and organiser of the event, commented: "The event was an overwhelming success, and we are immensely grateful to Paul Harvey and Dominic Scullion for sharing their experience and expertise with us. The Centre for Scots Law is proud to have hosted such an enriching session, which provided invaluable insights into their work and was thoroughly enjoyed by both staff and students. Aberdeen has a fantastic offering of criminal law and justice courses, which are very popular amongst students, and this event addressed the growing demand among students eager to learn about career opportunities in this area of law. Indeed, it offered our students a unique opportunity to explore career paths in Scots legal practice”.