Advocate General

The Rt. Hon. the Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC

The Prime Minister appointed Lord Wallace as Advocate General for Scotland on 14 May 2010.

Lord Wallace studied Law at Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities and was called to the Bar in 1979.  He took silk in 1997. He enjoyed a long and distinguished political career as MP for Orkney & Shetland from 1983 to 2001, MSP for Orkney from 1999 to 2007 and was Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 1992 to 2005.  He was Deputy First Minister of Scotland from 1999 to 2005, Minister for Justice from 1999 to 2003 and Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning from 2003 to 2005. He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 2000 and in 2007, he was appointed to the House of Lords. He has been a member of the House of Lords' Select Committee on the Constitution.

Lord Wallace's political career has provided him with a unique insight and considerable expertise in the areas of administrative, planning and public law.  He also has a strong interest in environmental issues and renewable energy developments and chaired the Forum for Renewable Energy Developments in Scotland.

He holds honorary doctorates from Heriot Watt University, the Open University and the University of Edinburgh.

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