The Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC WS
Elish Angiolini grew up in Govan in Glasgow and studied Law at the University of Strathclyde, graduating in 1982. Immediately after graduation she joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and, following her traineeship, spent 8 years as a Depute Procurator Fiscal in Airdrie, prosecuting in Airdrie Sheriff Court.
In 1992 she moved to Crown Office to work as part of the Lord Advocate's Secretariat, when she developed her now long-standing interest in improving the support offered to vulnerable victims and witnesses, and in particular children. She also provided contributions to and comment on the development of Westminster policies and legislation affecting the criminal justice system in Scotland.
She was appointed Senior Depute Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow, taking on operational responsibility for the running of Sheriff and Jury trials, before being appointed Assistant Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow in 1995.
In 1997 she was appointed Head of Policy in the Crown Office, with responsibility for the development of policy across all functions of the Department. In particular, she helped the department prepare for devolution and was involved in the preparation of the Scotland Act 1998. At the same time, she was responsible for the department's preparations for the introduction of the European Convention on Human Rights.
She was appointed as Regional Procurator Fiscal for Grampian and the Highlands and Islands in July 2000 based in Aberdeen, the first woman to hold such a post.
She was installed as Solicitor General for Scotland on 5 December 2001 - again the first woman, the first Procurator Fiscal and the first solicitor to hold the post. She was installed as Lord Advocate on 12 October 2006. She remains Lord Advocate following the change in administration at the last election, the first to do so in a modern era - and is now continuing to take forward the most wide-ranging programme of modernisation in the department's history.
Since her appointment she has taken on particular responsibility for the approach to cases involving our most vulnerable victims - the national roll out of Victim Information and Advice service followed her piloting of that initiative when she was the Area Procurator Fiscal of Aberdeen, but she has also ensured that prosecutors have provided skilled and enthusiastic support to youth courts, the domestic violence court in Glasgow, and the Drugs courts.
She has personally chaired the Departments' Strategy Group on Diversity and helped victims from minority communities achieve greater confidence in the prosecution service. Her leadership in the area of domestic violence was recognised last year by the charity Zero Tolerance when she was given their inaugural "Women in the public Eye" award - one of several awards and distinctions she has received during her time in office.
The recent review of the investigation and prosecution of rape and sexual crimes which she instigated was a major undertaking which will result in profound changes to prosecution practices.
While she respects the strengths of the criminal justice system and the independence of its component parts she is unapologetically a moderniser, determined to ensure that the prosecution service in Scotland grows in strength to deal robustly with the challenges of crime in the 21st century.
It is a service which has increased its efficiency and effectiveness, recently transforming the way in which High Court cases are prepared and which has become more open, accessible and visible in our communities. That process will continue with energy and focus.
She is married with two children.
- Strathclyde University - Alumnus of the Year 2002
- National Children's Homes - Women of Influence 2003
- Glasgow Caledonian University - Honorary Doctor of Laws 2005
- Zero Tolerance - Elsie Inglis Awards 'Woman in the Public Eye Award' 2006
- Strathclyde University - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws - May 2007
- Aberdeen University - Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws - July 2007