Elish Angiolini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Elish Angiolini
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Elish Angiolini (2021)
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| Lord Clerk Register | |
| Assumed office 5 June 2023 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| First Minister | Humza Yousaf John Swinney |
| Preceded by | Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh |
| Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford | |
| Assumed office September 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Andrew Dilnot |
| Lord Advocate | |
| In office 12 October 2006 – 30 April 2011 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| First Minister |
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| Preceded by | Lord Boyd of Duncansby |
| Succeeded by | Lord Mulholland |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | |
| In office 28 November 2001 – 12 October 2006 |
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| First Minister | Jack McConnell |
| Preceded by | Neil Davidson |
| Succeeded by | John Beckett |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elish Frances McPhilomy
24 June 1960 Govan, Glasgow, Scotland |
| Spouse | Domenico Angiolini |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Oxford, England, UK |
| Alma mater | University of Strathclyde |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Lady Elish Frances Angiolini (born Elish Frances McPhilomy on 24 June 1960) is a well-known Scottish lawyer. She holds many important positions. Currently, she is the Lord Clerk Register, which is a very old and important role in Scotland. She is the first woman to hold this position since it was created way back in the 1200s!
Lady Angiolini is also the head of St Hugh's College, Oxford, a part of the famous University of Oxford. She has been in charge there since 2012. Before that, she was the top lawyer in Scotland, called the Lord Advocate, from 2006 to 2011. She was also the Solicitor General for Scotland from 2001. She was the first woman and the first solicitor (a type of lawyer) to hold either of these jobs.
After leaving her role as Lord Advocate, Lady Angiolini has led several important investigations. These include looking into how deaths in police custody are handled and a major inquiry into public safety issues. In 2022, she was given a special honour by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming a Lady of the Order of the Thistle.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Elish Angiolini was born on June 24, 1960, in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. Her father worked in different jobs, including for the company Rolls-Royce. When she was a child, she dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer.
She went to Notre Dame High School for Girls in Glasgow. Later, she studied law at the University of Strathclyde. She earned her law degree in 1982.
Lady Angiolini became interested in law after she had to give evidence in a burglary trial as a teenager. She noticed that witnesses often felt ignored. This experience made her want to make the legal system better for everyone, especially for victims.
A Career in Law
Starting as a Prosecutor
After finishing her studies, Elish Angiolini joined the public prosecutor's office in Scotland. This is where lawyers work for the government to bring cases against people accused of crimes. During her training, she survived a train accident.
She spent eight years as a prosecutor in Airdrie. She then worked at the main Crown Office, focusing on helping vulnerable victims and children. She was later promoted to a senior prosecutor role in Glasgow.
In 1997, she became the Head of Policy at the Crown Office. Here, she helped prepare the legal system for new laws, like the Scotland Act 1998, which changed how Scotland was governed. She also worked on how the Human Rights Act 1998 would affect Scotland.
In 2000, she became the Regional Procurator Fiscal for Grampian, Highland and Islands. This was another first for her, as she was the first woman to hold this position. In this role, she started a program to keep victims informed about their cases, which later spread across Scotland.
Serving as Solicitor General
In 2001, Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell, appointed Elish Angiolini as the Solicitor General for Scotland. This is a senior legal role, helping the main legal advisor to the Scottish Government. She was the first solicitor to be appointed to this job, which was a big step.
Jack McConnell later praised her work, saying that choosing her was one of his best decisions.
Becoming Lord Advocate
In 2006, Lady Angiolini was chosen to be the Lord Advocate of Scotland. This is the most senior legal position in the country. The Scottish Parliament approved her nomination, and she was sworn in on October 12, 2006.
After the 2007 election, there was a new government led by Alex Salmond. Many thought Lady Angiolini might leave her role. However, Alex Salmond asked her to stay. This made her the first Lord Advocate to serve two different governments.
She announced in 2010 that she would step down in May 2011. Alex Salmond thanked her for her great work, saying she had made big improvements to justice in Scotland.
Academic and Charity Work
After leaving her government roles, Lady Angiolini became involved in many other important areas. She became the first patron of LawWorks Scotland, a charity that helps people who cannot afford legal advice.
She also returned to her old university, the University of Strathclyde, as a visiting professor. She taught students and helped create a new master's course.
In 2012, she was chosen to become the Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford. This is a very important leadership role at one of the world's most famous universities. She has also been a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford since 2017.
From 2013 to 2021, she was the Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland. She is also an Honorary Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Later Work and Lord Clerk Register
Lady Angiolini has led several important investigations. In 2013, she looked into how baby ashes were handled at a crematorium in Scotland. This led to a wider review of crematorium practices across the country.
In 2017, she published a report for the UK government about how deaths in police custody are handled. In 2018, she was asked to review how complaints against the police are managed in Scotland.
She also led a major independent inquiry into public safety issues, with her report being released in February 2024.
In 2023, she was appointed to the ancient and important office of Lord Clerk Register.
Special Honours and Awards
Lady Elish Angiolini has received many special honours for her work:
- In 2011, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by the Queen. This gave her the title Dame.
- In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II appointed her a Lady of the Order of the Thistle. This is a very high honour in Scotland, and it gave her the title Lady.
- She has received many honorary degrees from universities across Scotland, including Strathclyde, Aberdeen, and St Andrews.
- She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
- In 2011, she received a Special Achievement Award from the International Association of Prosecutors.
- In 2022, she won a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from The Herald newspaper for her contributions to public life.
- In May 2023, she took part in the Coronation of Charles III, representing the Order of the Thistle.
Personal Life
Elish Angiolini married Domenico Angiolini in 1985. They have two sons. She enjoys walking, picking wild mushrooms, and going to the cinema.
See also
- First women lawyers around the world
