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