Community of the College of Justice

John Finlay is Professor of Scots Law at the University of Glasgow. He is author of: Men of Law in Pre-Reformation Scotland (Tuckwell Press, 2000), contributor to The Edinburgh History of the Book in Scotland, volume 1 (Edinburgh University Press, forthcoming) and author of 'Women and legal representation in early sixteenth-century Scotland' in Women in Scotland 1100–1750 (Tuckwell Press, 1999). He has published numerous papers on Scottish legal history in journals such as the Scottish Historical Review, Edinburgh Law Review and the Juridical Review.

John Finlay's latest book provides a vivid insight into the unique history of Scotland's College of Justice. Finlay has undertaken painstaking archival research to make this work a rich and original contribution to Scottish legal history. His work draws fascinating conclusions as to how the College shaped Edinburgh and Scotland, both socially and legally.... This book is therefore recommended as an essential read for students and researchers interested in both Scottish legal or social history. Finlay explicitly encourages the greater use of legal sources by historians, and believes that much can be learnt about "social and political attitudes" and "life in general" from such sources (p.257). He has provided a perfect starting point for such interdisciplinary work.

• Acknowledgements; Abbreviations and references; 1. Introduction; 2. The College and the Urban Community; 3. The College and Urban Administration; 4. The Lords of Session; 5. Advocates; 6. Writers to the Signet; 7. The Working Chambers of the College; 8. Subordinate and Minor Office-holders in the College; 9. Conclusion; Appendix 1; Appendix 2; Appendix 3; Bibliography; Index of subjects; Index of persons; Index of judicial titles.