Name James Wolffe | ||
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Walter James Wolffe QC (born December 1962) is a senior Scottish lawyer who has served as Lord Advocate since 1 June 2016. From 2014 to 2016 he had been Dean (i.e. head) of the Faculty of Advocates, the professional body of the Scottish bar.
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On 31 May 2016 the Scottish Government announced that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had recommended Wolffe to the Scottish Parliament for appointment as Lord Advocate by Her Majesty The Queen. His appointment was confirmed by the Scottish Parliament on 1 June 2016.
Early life
Wolffe was born in Dumfries and was educated at Gatehouse Primary School and then Kirkcudbright Academy. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a degree in law, then from Balliol College, Oxford.
Legal career
Wolffe was admitted as an advocate in 1992, then a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 2007. He served for three years as an advocate depute (prosecutor) at the High Court of Justiciary.
He was elected as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2013. He was elected as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2014, to replace Richard Keen, who stood down in January. Wolffe was the winner of an election involving four candidates, and the first Dean to be elected by an electronic vote.