Media Appearances
At Benchmark Advocates we are routinely contacted by news and media outlets seeking expert opinion on the legal issues of the day. In a world of constant news coverage journalists face a significant challenge to obtain the guidance and insight they need to explain legal matters to their audience. It is for this reason that we have created the Benchmark Advocates Media Unit where we provide accurate, expert opinion and comment for media outlets. Journalists can contact us safe in the knowledge that we are looking to assist with their media needs and will endeavour to be available as best we can. If contacted for opinion or appearance in relation to areas of law that we do not specialise in we will look to advise on the best members of the profession to contact.
Our recent appearances for national news and media, across print, television, radio and online include the following:-
Scotland Tonight – 7th June 2019
Edith Forrest appeared on Scotland Tonight to discuss the attempt by former MP Natalie McGarry to withdraw her plea of guilty
Scotland Tonight – 1st July 2019
Edith Forrest appeared on Scotland Tonight to discuss the question of anonymity for persons accused of sexual offences
BBC Scotland – Good Morning Scotland – 9th October 2019
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on Good Morning Scotland to discuss recently published jury research and the possibility of the abolition of the not proven verdict
BBC Scotland – The Nine – 9th October 2019
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on The Nine to discuss recently published jury research and the possibility of the abolition of the not proven verdict
Scotland Tonight – 9th October 2019
Edith Forrest appeared on Scotland Tonight to discuss recently published jury research and the possibility of the abolition of the not proven verdict
LBC – 21 March 2019
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on the Nick Ferrari show on LBC to discuss the options open to Lord Matthews as he prepared to sentence Aaron Campbell for the murder of Alesha MacPhail
LBC – 22 February 2019
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on the Andrew Castle show on Leading Britain's Conversation (LBC), discussing Lord Matthews exercise of section 47 of the 1995 Act - allowing the identification of Aaron Campbell as the killer of Alesha MacPhail.
Scotland Tonight – 31 January 2019
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on Scotland Tonight discussing recent case where teenager who was found guilty of sexual assault was granted an absolute discharge. Video: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1091115329588264966
Scotland Tonight – 28 January 2019
Edith Forrest appeared on Scotland Tonight to discuss recent legal issues.
The Scotsman – 26 January 2019
Thomas Leonard Ross KC quoted in The Scotsman - Legal system ‘robust’ enough to handle pressure of Alex Salmond case https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/legal-system-robust-enough-to-handle-pressure-of-alex-salmond-case-1-4862851
LBC – 13 November 2018
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on the Eddie Mair show on Leading Britain's Conversation (LBC), discussing the proposed abolition of the not proven verdict
Rays of Hope First Ladies Lunch – 7 November 2018
Edith Forrest co-hosted the Rays of Hope First Ladies Lunch with St Mirren CEO Tony Fitzpatrick at the Glynhill Hotel in Paisley - over £16,000 raised
https://twitter.com/BenchmarkLegal/status/1060440551689015296
https://twitter.com/BenchmarkLegal/status/1060438551811293184
Scotland Tonight – 6 November 2018
Thomas Leonard Ross KC appeared on Scotland Tonight, discussing - and defending - the principle of corroboration
https://twitter.com/BenchmarkLegal/status/1060070724059176960
The Times – 18 October 2018
Thomas Ross KC contributed to a piece in The Times regarding why criminal law has become less attractive to young lawyers
https://twitter.com/BenchmarkLegal/status/1052819418755919872