GOV.UK · departmental transparency returns
Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
41 quarterly returns published on GOV.UK, covering quarters from 1 January 2014 to 31 March 2026; 52 recorded ministerial meetings read from the meetings files.
Returns, latest first
Most recorded counterparts
Counted by rows in the meetings files, with the counterpart cell exactly as the department wrote it. The same organisation written two ways is two lines here; nothing is merged by resemblance.
| Counterpart, as recorded | Meetings | First | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty of Advocates | 2 | 8 October 2021 | 7 May 2025 |
| Law Society of Scotland | 2 | 13 January 2022 | 29 October 2024 |
| LawTech Delivery Panel: Vodafone; Bank of England; Chancellor of the High Court; Law Society of England & Wales; TheCityUK. | 2 | 24 January 2019 | 12 February 2019 |
| Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sackman KC MP; Patricia Thom and Ben Kemp, Law Society of Scotland; representatives from the Canadian Bar Association; representatives from the Federation o | 2 | 3 November 2025 | 3 November 2025 |
| Alison Reid, Chief Executive, Clan Childlaw; staff at Clan Childlaw | 1 | 27 November 2025 | 27 November 2025 |
| Amanda Garner-Patel and Susan Carter | 1 | 11 February 2026 | 11 February 2026 |
| Arif Virani, Torys LLP | 1 | 3 November 2025 | 3 November 2025 |
| Barbara Mills, Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, Phil Robertson, Bar Council of England and Wales | 1 | 12 November 2025 | 12 November 2025 |
| Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath | 1 | 20 January 2026 | 20 January 2026 |
| Caroline Rees K.C., Leader of Wales and Chester Circuit | 1 | — | — |
| Conor Gearty | 1 | 3 June 2025 | 3 June 2025 |
| Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland | 1 | 5 September 2025 | 5 September 2025 |
| Dorothy Bain KC, Lord Advocate | 1 | 9 March 2026 | 9 March 2026 |
| Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario; Charmaine Williams, Ontarios Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sackman KC MP | 1 | 3 November 2025 | 3 November 2025 |
| Dr Martin David Kelly, Glasgow University | 1 | 26 February 2026 | 26 February 2026 |
| Dr Martin Kelly, Lecturer in Administrative Law at University of Glasgow | 1 | 21 July 2025 | 21 July 2025 |
| Edinburgh Law School | 1 | 4 March 2019 | 4 March 2019 |
| Edinburgh Napier University Cyber Security and Law Centre | 1 | 16 March 2023 | 16 March 2023 |
| Glasgow Sheriffs' Conference | 1 | 27 October 2023 | 27 October 2023 |
| Institute for Government | 1 | 12 June 2025 | 12 June 2025 |
Recorded meetings
| Date | Minister | Met | Purpose, as recorded | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 March 2026 | Catherine Smith | Sir Ian Forrester KC and Usman Tariq KC | Discussion on Justice Scotland lecture. | CSV |
| 9 March 2026 | Catherine Smith | Dorothy Bain KC, Lord Advocate | Discussion on VAWG with EW&NI SG, Ellie Reeves | CSV |
| 9 March 2026 | Catherine Smith | Womens Aid Edinburgh | Discussion on VAWG with EW&NI SG, Ellie Reeves | CSV |
| 4 March 2026 | Catherine Smith | Sir Ian Forrester KC | Introductory chat | CSV |
| 3 March 2026 | Catherine Smith | Susan Deacon | Regular catchup on OAG business in Susan Deacon's capacity as Non-Executive Director. | CSV |
| 3 March 2026 | Catherine Smith | Sam Mercer, Bar Council | Discussion on diversity in the workplace | CSV |
| 26 February 2026 | Catherine Smith | Dr Martin David Kelly, Glasgow University | Event by invite to discuss Dr Kelly's legal work. | CSV |
| 23 February 2026 | Catherine Smith | LOs and STC Panel | Meeting on international and european cases. | CSV |
| 11 February 2026 | Catherine Smith | Amanda Garner-Patel and Susan Carter | Pre meet before MHCLG standup, as part of visiting different departments who work with the LOs. | CSV |
| 20 January 2026 | Catherine Smith | Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar | Discussion on topical legal issues. | CSV |
| 20 January 2026 | Catherine Smith | Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath | Discussion on DPRRC, and what they do. | CSV |
| 20 January 2026 | Catherine Smith | Lord Keen of Elie | Discussion on Section 30 orders. | CSV |
| 15 January 2026 | Catherine Smith | Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland | Regular catchup to discuss ongoings in the legal field across the UK nations. | CSV |
| 15 January 2026 | Catherine Smith | Roddy Dunlop, Dean of Faculty of Advocates | Regular catchup to discuss OAG's relationship with Standing Juniors and the work they do together. | CSV |
| 9 December 2025 | Catherine Smith | Sarah Birgde, Navigator; Alex Bolt, Federation of Law Societies of Canada; Jonathan Herman, Federation of Law Societies of Canada; Leah Kosokowsky, Federation of Law Society of Manitoba | Meeting about the "Ours to Protect" campaign to promote the rule of law in Canada | CSV |
| 3 December 2025 | Catherine Smith | Tom Baldwin, author and former political advisor; Polly Curtis, Demos; Ali Harris, Equally Ours; Sanchita Hosali, British Institute of Human Rights; Joe Ferreira, Law Society; Murray Hunt, Independent Adviser to the AGO; Prof. Francesca Klug, LSE; Helen M | Roundtable to discuss research on the Rule of Law | CSV |
| 27 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Alison Reid, Chief Executive, Clan Childlaw; staff at Clan Childlaw | Visit to Clan Childlaw to learn about the work of the organisation | CSV |
| 12 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Barbara Mills, Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, Phil Robertson, Bar Council of England and Wales | Introductory meeting and discussion on diversity in the barrister profession | CSV |
| 4 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Jutta Brunnée, Dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Toronto; Mariana Prado, Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, International Student Experience & Professor, Jackman Law at the University of Toronto; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sack | Meeting to to explore opportunities for deeper UK–Canada collaboration in legal education, access to justice, and professional development | CSV |
| 4 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Vincent Chiao, Associate Dean, Graduate Programmes, Law Faculty at the University of Toronto; Joshua Morrison, Director of the Future of Law Lab, Law Faculty at the University of Toronto; Nathalie Smuha, Assistant Professor, Law Faculty at the University | Meeting to discuss the future of law, focusing on innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, and identifying avenues for potential joint initiatives. | CSV |
| 3 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sackman KC MP; Patricia Thom and Ben Kemp, Law Society of Scotland; representatives from the Canadian Bar Association; representatives from the Federation o | Roundtable hosted by the Law Society of England and Wales to learn about market access challenges for the UK legal sector in Canada | CSV |
| 3 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sackman KC MP; Patricia Thom and Ben Kemp, Law Society of Scotland; representatives from the Canadian Bar Association; representatives from the Federation o | Roundtable hosted by the Law Society of England and Wales to learn about market access challenges for the UK legal sector in Canada | CSV |
| 3 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Arif Virani, Torys LLP | Meeting to discuss the roles of law officers working within devolved and federal frameworks | CSV |
| 3 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Walied Soliman KC, Global Chair and Canadian Chair of Norton Rose Fullbright LLP; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sackman KC MP; members of staff from Norton Rose Fullbright LLP | Working lunch hosted by Norton Rose Fullbright to discuss collaboration between the UK and Canadian legal sectors | CSV |
| 3 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Justice Jonathan Bliss, Ontario Court of Justice; Justice Robert Goldstein, Ontario Superior Court of Justice; Justice Jane Kelly, Ontario Superior Court of Justice; Dimitra Tsagaris, Deputy Director, Office of the Regional Director of Crown Operations,To | Visit to the Superior Court of Justice and Ontario Court of Justice to meet senior justices and staff, and gain insight into the challenges and opportunities in the Ontario justice system, including judge-alone trials | CSV |
| 3 November 2025 | Catherine Smith | Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario; Charmaine Williams, Ontarios Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity; Minister of State at the MoJ, Sarah Sackman KC MP | Meeting to discuss modernisation of the justice system in the UK and Ontario, including use of AI; judge alone trials; and, legal services. | CSV |
| 18 September 2025 | Catherine Smith | Roddy Dunlop KC, Dean of Faculty | Discussion on diveristy in the legal sector | CSV |
| 5 September 2025 | Catherine Smith | Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland | Introductory meeting at the Opening of the Legal Year NI, discussion on the legal system in Northern Ireland | CSV |
| 5 September 2025 | Catherine Smith | Jennifer Bell, Crown Solicitor of Northern Ireland | Introductory meeting at the Opening of the Legal Year NI, update on the work of the Crown Solicitor's Office | CSV |
| 5 September 2025 | Catherine Smith | The Law Society of Northern Ireland | Introductory meeting at the Opening of the Legal Year NI, discussion on the solicitor profession in Northern Ireland | CSV |
| 5 September 2025 | Catherine Smith | The Bar of Northern Ireland | Introductory meeting at the Opening of the Legal Year NI, discussion on the barrister profession in Northern Ireland and tour of the Bar Library | CSV |
| 5 September 2025 | Catherine Smith | Rossa Fanning, Attorney General of Ireland | Introductory meeting at the Opening of the Legal Year NI, discussion on opportunities for law officers to further engage with the Irish Government and other legal stakeholders | CSV |
| 21 July 2025 | Catherine Smith | Dr Martin Kelly, Lecturer in Administrative Law at University of Glasgow | Discussion on Dr Kelly's academic work and the role of statutory interpretation in judgments | CSV |
| 12 June 2025 | Catherine Smith | Institute for Government | To discuss upcoming work Institute for Government were delivering | CSV |
| 10 June 2025 | Catherine Smith | JUSTICE Scotland | To discuss upcoming work JUSTICE were delivering | CSV |
| 3 June 2025 | Catherine Smith | Conor Gearty | To discuss Professor Conor Gearty's work on the Legal Theory Festival | CSV |
| 7 May 2025 | Catherine Smith | Faculty of Advocates | To meet with and congratulte the winner of the Human Rights Lawyer Award, presented by the Faculty of Advocates | CSV |
| 26 February 2025 | Catherine Smith | Richard Susskind | To discuss the envancement of AI globally | CSV |
| 29 October 2024 | Catherine Smith | Law Society of Scotland | Introductory meeting where they discussed an upcoming conference, 'The Scottish Law Society Annual Conference' | CSV |
| 27 October 2023 | Keith Stewart | Glasgow Sheriffs' Conference | Conference for Scottish Sherriffs, Lord Stewart was asked to give a speech on his role, and the roles of law officers, legislature, judges and lawyers in upholding the rule of law. | CSV |
| 16 March 2023 | Keith Stewart | Edinburgh Napier University Cyber Security and Law Centre | The meeting was made as part of a ministerial visit to Edinburgh with the Attorney General. | CSV |
| 13 January 2022 | Keith Stewart | Law Society of Scotland | Engagement meeting with discussion focused on current areas of reform in the Scottish legal system. | CSV |
| 25 November 2021 | Keith Stewart | Leonardo UK Ltd | Visit to Leonardo headquarters in Edinburgh, tour of facilities and discussion with staff members focused on apprenticeships and improving technical skills in education | CSV |
| 29 October 2021 | Keith Stewart | Law Society of Scotland Conference on COP26 | Delivered speech to the conference | CSV |
| 8 October 2021 | Keith Stewart | Lord President of the Court of Session | Introductory meeting including discussion of ways to bolster engagement between the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary of Scotland | CSV |
| 8 October 2021 | Keith Stewart | Faculty of Advocates | Introductory meeting including on the recovery of the Scottish Courts system post Covid-19 | CSV |
| 13 March 2019 | Lord Keen of Elie | Michael Todd QC | To discuss how to use technology to improve legal proceedings and procedures and link-up between MoJ and Michael Todd QC's legal services start-up businesses | CSV |
| 4 March 2019 | Lord Keen of Elie | Edinburgh Law School | To discuss Edinburgh Law School's LawTech initiatives and to discuss MoJ's initiative to drive innovation in the legal services/LawTech sector. | CSV |
| 26 February 2019 | Lord Keen of Elie | The Law Society of England & Wales | To discuss the LawTech Delivery Panel's recent work with the Lord Chancellor and the Panel's proposed work with the MoJ to drive innovation in the legal services sector | CSV |
| 12 February 2019 | Lord Keen of Elie | LawTech Delivery Panel: Vodafone; Bank of England; Chancellor of the High Court; Law Society of England & Wales; TheCityUK. | A Panel discussion on how to drive innovation and the use of technology to improve legal proceedings and procedures in the legal services sector | CSV |
| 24 January 2019 | Lord Keen of Elie | LawTech Delivery Panel: Vodafone; Bank of England; Chancellor of the High Court; Law Society of England & Wales; TheCityUK. | A Panel discussion on how to drive innovation and the use of technology to improve legal proceedings and procedures in the legal services sector | CSV |
| 45057 | Keith Stewart | Caroline Rees K.C., Leader of Wales and Chester Circuit | The meeting was made as part of a ministerial visit to Wales with the Attorney General and Solicitor General. This was an engagement meeting to meet with members of the circuit, where topics regarding challenges to the Welsh justice system, the 'cab rank' rule and legal aid in Wales were discussed. | CSV |
Meetings files not read
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, January to March 2020 — no minister/date/name header in the first six lines
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, July to September 2019 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, April to June 2019 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2018 — application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, July to September 2018 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, April to June 2018 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, January to March 2018 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2017 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, April to June 2017 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, January to March 2017 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- Office of the Advocate General: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2016 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- OAG ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, July to Sept 2016 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- OAG's ministerial gifts, travel, hospitality & meetings June to Sep 2105 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet is not CSV
- OAG ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, Jan to March 2014 — application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document is not CSV
What this does not establish
A recorded meeting establishes that the department published a line saying the minister met the counterpart named, on the date given, for the purpose stated. It does not establish what was said, who asked for the meeting, or what followed. Gifts, hospitality and travel are linked above from the department’s own files and are not read into rows. The names are the department’s own strings and are not resolved to any person or company on this site by resemblance.
Source: Office of the Advocate General for Scotland’s transparency publications on GOV.UK, each linked above. Open Government Licence v3. Back to all departments.