James Wolffe


Walter James Wolffe is a senior Scottish lawyer who has served as Lord Advocate since 1 June 2016. From 2014 to 2016 he was Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, the professional body of the Scottish bar.

Early life

Wolffe was born in Dumfries on 20 December 1962 to Alexandra L. Graham and Antony C. Wolffe, MBE. He was educated at Gatehouse Primary School and then Kirkcudbright Academy. He studied at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an honours degree in law and a diploma in legal practice. He then went on to Balliol College, Oxford to take a Bachelor of Civil Law degree.

Legal career

Wolffe was admitted as an advocate in 1992, then a Queen's Counsel in 2007. He served for three years as an Advocate Depute at the High Court of Justiciary.
He was elected as Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2013 and Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in February 2014, replacing Richard Keen. Wolffe was the winner of an election involving four candidates, and the first Dean to be elected by an electronic vote.
On 31 May 2016 the Scottish Government announced that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had recommended Wolffe to the Scottish Parliament for appointment as Lord Advocate by the Queen. His appointment was confirmed by the Scottish Parliament on 1 June 2016.

Awards and Honours

In 2019 Wolffe was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Personal life

Wolffe married Sarah Poyntell LaBudde in 1987 who uses the judicial title of Lady Wolffe as she is a Senator of the College of Justice in the Supreme Courts of Scotland. They have two sons.