Lawyer, judge and Lord Chancellor of Great Britain
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Key moments and achievements from James Mackay's life.
James was born
Bar admission
Graduated LLB with distinction from the University of Edinburgh and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates the same year, having trained first as a mathematician.
Bar admission
Graduated LLB with distinction from the University of Edinburgh and was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates the same year, having trained first as a mathematician.
Leadership role
Became the elected head of the Scottish bar after serving as Vice-Dean from 1973, a post he held until his appointment as Lord Advocate in 1979.
Leadership role
Became the elected head of the Scottish bar after serving as Vice-Dean from 1973, a post he held until his appointment as Lord Advocate in 1979.
Appointment
Margaret Thatcher appointed him Lord Chancellor. He remained in the post under John Major until 1997.
Appointment
Margaret Thatcher appointed him Lord Chancellor. He remained in the post under John Major until 1997.
Legislation
His signature reform opened rights of audience in the higher courts of England and Wales to solicitors for the first time and introduced conditional fee arrangements.
Legislation
His signature reform opened rights of audience in the higher courts of England and Wales to solicitors for the first time and introduced conditional fee arrangements.
Judicial appointment
Recommended Brenda Hale, a law commissioner who had never practised as a barrister, for the Family Division bench. She later became the first woman to lead the UK Supreme Court, in 2017.
Judicial appointment
Recommended Brenda Hale, a law commissioner who had never practised as a barrister, for the Family Division bench. She later became the first woman to lead the UK Supreme Court, in 2017.
Honorary office
The WS Society, the society of solicitors to the Supreme Courts of Scotland, appointed him to the historic office.
Honorary office
The WS Society, the society of solicitors to the Supreme Courts of Scotland, appointed him to the historic office.
James Mackay passed away
