James Alastair Taylor
Encyclopedia
James Alastair Taylor is Sheriff Principal
of the Sheriffdom
of Glasgow and Strathkelvin.
Academy and the University of Aberdeen
(B.Sc., LL.B.). He was apprenticed to Brander & Cruickshank, Advocates in Aberdeen, in 1975, and admitted as a solicitor in 1977.
In 1998, he was appointed a Sheriff of Lothian and Borders
, at Edinburgh, moving in 1999 to be Commercial Sheriff of Glasgow and Strathkelvin. He was promoted to Sheriff Principal
of Glasgow and Strathkelvin in 2005.
, the Royal Aberdeen
and Glasgow Golf Clubs.
Sheriff Principal
The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
of the Sheriffdom
Sheriffdom
A sheriffdom is a judicial district in Scotland.Since 1 January 1975 there have been six sheriffdoms. Previously sheriffdoms were composed of groupings of counties...
of Glasgow and Strathkelvin.
Early life
Taylor was born in Inverness and educated at NairnNairn
Nairn is a town and former burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is an ancient fishing port and market town around east of Inverness...
Academy and the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
(B.Sc., LL.B.). He was apprenticed to Brander & Cruickshank, Advocates in Aberdeen, in 1975, and admitted as a solicitor in 1977.
Legal career
Taylor worked as an Assistant Solicitor at Lefevre & Co., Advocates in Aberdeen, from 1977 to 1978. He then moved to be an Assistant at A. C. Morrison & Richards, Aberdeen, being promoted to Partner in 1980. In 1988, he moved again, to be a Partner at McGrigor Donald in Glasgow, being promoted to Head of Litigation in 1992. He qualified as a solicitor-advocate in 1993.In 1998, he was appointed a Sheriff of Lothian and Borders
Lothian and Borders
Lothian and Borders is an area in south-east Scotland consisting of the East Lothian, City of Edinburgh, Midlothian, West Lothian areas along with the Scottish Borders....
, at Edinburgh, moving in 1999 to be Commercial Sheriff of Glasgow and Strathkelvin. He was promoted to Sheriff Principal
Sheriff Principal
The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
of Glasgow and Strathkelvin in 2005.
Personal life
Sheriff Taylor married Lesley Macleod in 1980, with whom he has two sons. He is a keen golfer, and a member of NairnNairn Golf Club
Nairn Golf Club is a golf course in Nairn, Scotland.Nairn is noted for hosting the 1999 Walker Cup and the 2004 Jacques Léglise Trophy. Nairn will host the 2012 Curtis Cup....
, the Royal Aberdeen
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Aberdeen, Scotland, was founded in 1780 and claims to be the sixth oldest golf club in the world. It was founded as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen, and became the Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815....
and Glasgow Golf Clubs.