Jacqueline Fordyce

Professional Experience

Jacqueline called to the Bar in 2016, as the Lord Reid Scholar 2015-16, and has been involved in a variety of matters, including public law, judicial review and human rights proceedings; contractual disputes; professional liability and disciplinary proceedings; media law; public inquiry; and international law.  She has appeared before the sheriff courts, Sheriff Appeal Court, Court of Session (Inner and Outer Houses), and United Kingdom Supreme Court.

She has a particular interest in public law, in both the domestic and international spheres.  She has lectured in constitutional and administrative law in Scotland, and is standing junior counsel to the Advocate General for Scotland.  She has undertaken in-depth studies in international human rights law, and has recently been appointed to the Equality and Human Rights Commission's panel of preferred counsel in Scotland.  She has also provided regular pre-publication advice to a national newspaper in Scotland.  

Jacqueline has recently worked as a Visiting Professional in the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, assigned to the President of the Court, Judge Eboe-Osuji, gaining experience of international criminal law, including questions of state immunity, and international administrative law matters.

Jacqueline further benefits from distinct quasi-judicial experience, having assisted both the current Lord President (Lord Carloway) and the current Lord Justice Clerk (Lady Dorrian) in the performance of their judicial functions, during two periods working as Law Clerk to the Lord Justice Clerk.  She has thereby acquired broad experience of the work of the Inner House of the Court of Session and High Court of Justiciary Appeal Court, and developed a particular understanding of effective appellate advocacy and strength in opinion writing.

She is also a Contributing Editor of Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia with responsibility for the Criminal Law, Public International Law and Human Rights volumes, reflecting her broad research interests and experience in public and criminal law.

Jacqueline is a board member of the Howard League Scotland (HLS), Scotland's leading independent penal reform organisation, a council member of The Stair Society, and a past council member of The WS Society. 

She previously qualified and practised as a litigation solicitor in Edinburgh.