Faculty of ADVOCATES, in Scotland, a respectable body of lawyers, who plead in all causes before the Courts of Session, Justiciary, and Exchequer. They are also intitled to plead in the house of peers, and other supreme courts in England.
In the year 1660, the faculty founded a library upon a very extensive plan, suggested by that learned and eminent lawyer Sir George McKenzie of Rosehaugh, advocate to King Charles II. and King James VII. who enriched it with many valuable books. It has been daily increasing since that time, and now contains not only the best collection of law-books in Europe, but a very large and select collection of books on all subjects. Besides, this library contains a great number of original manuscripts, and a vast variety of Jewish, Grecian, Roman, Scots, and English coins and medals.
A candidate for the office of an advocate undergoes three several trials: The first is in Latin, upon the civil law and Greek and Roman antiquities; the second, in English, upon the municipal law of Scotland; and, in the third, he is obliged to defend a Latin thesis, which is impugned by three members of the faculty.
Immediately before putting on the gown, the candidate makes a short Latin speech to the lords, and then takes the oaths to the government and de fideli.
The faculty at present consists of above 200 members. As an advocate or lawyer is esteemed the gentlest profession in Scotland, many gentlemen of fortune take the degree of advocate, without having any intention of practising at the bar. This circumstance greatly increases their number, gives dignity to the profession, and enriches their library and public fund. It is from this respectable body, that all vacancies on the bench are generally supplied.