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 | James Mackay, Baron Mackay of Clashfern |
| 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 24 June 1960) is a Scottish lawyer. She is the first woman to hold the role of Lord Clerk Register since it was created centuries ago. This important job involves keeping Scotland's historical records.
Lady Angiolini was also appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2025. This means she represents the British Monarch at the Church's main meeting. She has been the Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford since 2012. She also serves as a Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Oxford.
From 2006 to 2011, she was the Lord Advocate of Scotland. Before that, she was the Solicitor General from 2001. She was the first woman, and the first solicitor, to hold either of these top legal positions in Scotland. After leaving these roles, she led several important investigations. These included a review of serious incidents in police custody and the Angiolini Inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard.
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Early Life and Education
Lady Angiolini was born on 24 June 1960 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. Her parents were Mary and James McPhilomy. Her father worked as a coal merchant and later for Rolls-Royce.
As a child, she dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer. One of her first jobs was working at a checkout counter. She went to Notre Dame High School for Girls. She then studied law at the University of Strathclyde, earning her law degree in 1982.
Lady Angiolini's interest in law began when she had to give evidence in a trial as a teenager. She noticed that witnesses often felt unimportant in court. This experience inspired her to pursue a legal career. She wanted to make the legal system better for everyone involved.
Legal Career
Starting in Law
After finishing her studies, Lady Angiolini joined the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. She trained to become a Procurator Fiscal, which is a public prosecutor in Scotland. During her training, she survived a serious train accident.
She worked for eight years as a prosecutor in Airdrie. In 1992, she moved to the Crown Office. There, she focused on improving support for vulnerable victims and child witnesses. She later became a Senior Depute Procurator Fiscal in Glasgow.
In 1995, she was promoted to Assistant Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow. Two years later, she became Head of Policy at the Crown Office. In this role, she helped prepare the department for devolution in Scotland. She also worked on changes related to the Human Rights Act 1998.
In 2000, she became the Regional Procurator Fiscal for Grampian, Highland and Islands. She was the first woman to hold this position. She started a program to help victims stay informed, which was later used across Scotland.
Solicitor General for Scotland
In 2001, Jack McConnell, the First Minister, appointed Lady Angiolini as Solicitor General for Scotland. This was a significant appointment because she was the first solicitor to hold this role. Usually, people appointed to this position were advocates.
First Minister McConnell praised her work as Solicitor General in 2006. He said that choosing her for the role was one of his best decisions.
Lord Advocate of Scotland
After the previous Lord Advocate resigned, Lady Angiolini was nominated for the post. The Scottish Parliament approved her nomination in October 2006. She was sworn in and became a member of the Privy Council a month later.
After the 2007 election, there was a new government led by Alex Salmond. Lady Angiolini thought she might be replaced. However, Salmond asked her to stay in her role. This made her the first Lord Advocate to serve two different governments.
In 2007, she had a public disagreement with Lord President Hamilton, the head of Scotland's judges. This was about a trial that had collapsed. Lady Angiolini expressed her disappointment, which Lord Hamilton felt undermined the independence of the judges.
Lady Angiolini announced in October 2010 that she would step down as Lord Advocate. She left the role after the Scottish Parliament elections in May 2011. Alex Salmond praised her work, saying she brought "significant improvements" to justice in Scotland.
Academic and Other Work
After leaving her role as Lord Advocate, Lady Angiolini became the first patron of LawWorks Scotland. This charity helps people who cannot afford legal advice. In 2011, she became a visiting professor at Strathclyde Law School, her old university. She taught students and helped develop a new course.
In 2012, Lady Angiolini was chosen to become the Principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford. This is a very important leadership role at a famous university. She also served as Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland from 2013 to 2021. Since 2017, she has been a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Oxford.
Later Investigations and Lord Clerk Register
In 2013, Lady Angiolini led an investigation into how baby ashes were handled at a crematorium. She was then asked to review practices at all crematoria in Scotland. In 2015, she published a review on how serious cases were investigated in London.
Her report on serious incidents in police custody in the UK was published in 2017. In 2018, the Scottish government asked her to review how complaints against the police are handled.
Lady Angiolini also chaired an independent inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard. The first part of her report from this inquiry was released in February 2024.
In 2023, she was appointed to the important office of Lord Clerk Register.
Awards and Recognition
In 2011, Lady Angiolini was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This honor was for her services to justice. This title means she is called dame.
In 2022, she was appointed a Lady of the Order of the Thistle (LT). This is the highest honor in Scotland. This title means she is called lady.
She has received honorary degrees from many universities, including Strathclyde and Aberdeen. She is also 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 was given a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by The Herald newspaper.
In May 2023, Lady Angiolini took part in the coronation of Charles III. She represented the Order of the Thistle at this historic event. In 2025, she became the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Personal Life
Lady Angiolini married Domenico Angiolini in 1985. They have two sons. She enjoys walking, picking wild mushrooms, and watching movies.
See also
- First women lawyers around the world
