About the Murray Stable

Part of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland, the stable assists Advocates in the running of their practices

A stable is only as good as its members - and its clerks.

A good advocates clerk has to master a wide range of "people" skills - often a mentor, sometimes a friend, confidant(e), advisor, social worker, occasionally a wielder of the carrot and stick.

Clerks are the oil in the legal machine, the essential link between the solicitor and the advocate. The clerk is continually trying to resolve the eternal triangle of the best advocate at the best rate to suit the convenience of the agent.

Iain Murray explains:

Traditional clerking was very inward looking, aimed at serving only the direct needs of counsel

The modern clerk simply has to be more client-driven than ever before. We look to give best service to agents so that they can add value to their clients in turn.

We regard ourselves as modern, innovative, client focused practical, efficient and effective, with a pragmatic and realistic approach to resolving issues.

In keeping with a modern and pragmatic approach Murray stable clerks are happy to receive instructions by e-mail and believe that time spent at the beginning setting up terms of engagement saves enormous effort and resources trying to resolve disputes after the event.

However good a website is, there will always be some subtle and complex questions it can't address, which is why Murray stable clerks are always happy to speak to agents.

They aim to answer four out of every five incoming telephone inquiries within four rings and if that proves impossible, voicemail calls are always returned.