The Community of the College of Justice

Reviews / Votes

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. -- Shona Wilson Stark, Girton College, Cambridge * Cambridge Law Journal, Volume 72, Part 2 * 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. -- Shona Wilson Stark, Girton College, University of Cambridge * Cambridge Law Journal, Volume 72, Part 2 * Those already familiar with John Finlay's work will be aware of his expert scholarship. This book is a testament to the breadth of his knowledge and the erudition of his research. It is clearly the product of painstaking examination of diverse sources from various libraries and archives. His analysis of statistical information drawn from these sources is, as ever, fascinating. Finlay couples this information with many enlightening anecdotes about the ordinary and extraordinary practices of various College members and other relevant events which occurred during this period. Overall, this book significantly enhances current understanding of the careers of the members of the College, the administration and expectations of their offices, and the interactions between members and with the wider city. Finlay presents this information in a clear and accessible manner, and is careful to define technical legal or procedural terms. Thus this book is not only of interest to scholars of legal history, but is also suitable for students and other interested parties. -- Adelyn L M Wilson, University of Aberdeen * Edinburgh Law Review, Volume 17.3 * Those already familiar with John Finlay's work will be aware of his expert scholarship. This book is a testament to the breadth of his knowledge and the erudition of his research. It is clearly the product of painstaking examination of diverse sources from various libraries and archives. His analysis of statistical information drawn from these sources is, as ever, fascinating. Finlay couples this information with many enlightening anecdotes about the ordinary andextraordinary practices of various College members and other relevant events which occurred during this period. Overall, this book significantly enhances current understanding of the careers of the members of the College, the administration and expectations of their offices, and the interactions between members and with the wider city. Finlay presents this information in a clear and accessible manner, and is careful to define technical legal or procedural terms. Thus this book is not only of interest to scholars of legal history, but is also suitable for students and other interested parties. -- Adelyn L M Wilson, University of Aberdeen * Edinburgh Law Review, Volume 17.3 (September 2013) * 'Quite apart from providing the most thorough account available of the legal profession in the eighteenth century, The Community of the College of Justice also provides firm foundations for further study of the development of the law itself.' * J.D. Ford, Journal of Legal History * Recommended as an essential read for students and researchers interested in both Scottish legal or social history. * Shona Wilson Stark, Cambridge Law Journal * Dr. Finlay's book is the culmination of many years of painstaking research in the primary sources, and it presents a useful survey of the subject... This is a book of permanent authority which will be widely read and one which records the legal history of Scotland; it will be relied on for many generations. -- William Hamilton Bryson, University of Richmond * The Legal History Review *