Professor John Finlay

  • Professor of Scots Law (School of Law)

telephone: 5537
email: John.Finlay@glasgow.ac.uk

R436, Level 3, 8 The Square, Glasgow G12 8QQ

ORCID iDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2908-2690

Biography

John Finlay graduated LLB (Hons) in the University of Edinburgh in 1993 where he was winner of Lord Cooper Memorial Prize for Most Distinguished LLB (Honours) graduate. He then tutored at Edinburgh from 1993-1998 and, from 1995-6, was a lecturer in law. He completed his PhD in legal history in 1997, being joint winner of the Jeremiah Dalziel Prize in British History in the same year. John moved to Glasgow in 1998 as a lecturer in law. He was later promoted to senior lecturer and, in 2013, to a personal chair in Scots law. From 2006 until 2012 he was Chief Adviser of Studies in Law and acted as Deputy Chief Adviser from 2012-15. From 2013 he has been Student Mobility Officer in the College of Social Sciences.

John has been a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society since 2003 and of the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland since 2002. From 1997-2005, he was one of the honorary publication secretaries of the Scottish Legal History Society. John has served on the Council of the Stair Society and was twice, 2000-2004 and 2012-2014, secretary and treasurer of the Scottish History Group. He has also published with both the Stair Society and the Scottish Record Society. He has been involved in a number of international research collaborations, including three projects funded by the Gerda Henkl Stiftung and one by the Rheinisches Institut für Notarrecht.

John is a member of the AHRC Peer Review College and is a Research Assessor with the Carnegie Trust. He has published extensively in the area of legal history, including four books, the last of which appeared in July 2015 (aided by funding from the AHRC). He has also written a short text on the contemporary law of Trusts.

Research interests


John’s research interests lie primarily in legal history. He has published extensively on the development of the legal profession in Scotland and on the history of legal practice in local courts and in the Court of Session. Any prospective research students are very welcome to contact John to discuss their ideas.

Publications

Selected publications

Finlay, J. (2012) The Admission Register of Notaries Public in Scotland, 1700-1799 [2 vols.]. Scottish Record Society: Edinburgh.

Finlay, J. (2014) Tax the attornies!’ Stamp duty and the Scottish legal profession in the eighteenth century. Journal of Scottish Historical Studies, 34(2), pp. 141-166. (doi: 10.3366/jshs.2014.0118)

Finlay, J. (2012) The Community of the College of Justice: Edinburgh and the Court of Session 1687-1808. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780748645770

Finlay, J. (2015) Legal Practice in Eighteenth-century Scotland. Series: Legal history library, 18. Brill: Leiden. ISBN 9789004 294936

All publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2018 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2004 | 2002 | 2000 | 1999
Number of items: 35.

2022

Finlay, J. (2022) ‘Inter arma enim silent leges?’ Impressment and the Scottish Courts in the later eighteenth century. Edinburgh Law Review, 26(1), pp. 1-28. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2022.0736)

2021

Finlay, J. (2021) Schottland. In: Decock, W. (ed.) Konfliktlösung in der Frühen Neuzeit. Series: Handbuch zur Geschichte der Konfliktlösung in Europa (vol 3). Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 659-678. ISBN 9783662561010

2020

Finlay, J. (2020) David Boyle’s fee book. Juridical Review, 2020, pp. 1-24.

2018

Finlay, J. (2018) The Admission Register of Notaries Public in Scotland, 1800-1899 [2 vols]. Scottish Record Society: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780902054622

Finlay, J. (2018) The petition in the Court of Session in early modern Scotland. Parliaments, Estates and Representation, 38(3), pp. 337-349. (doi: 10.1080/02606755.2018.1532976)

2016

Finlay, J. (2016) Professorial opinions and Scottish-Dutch legal relations at the turn of the eighteenth century. Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis: Legal History Review, 84(1-2), pp. 245-289. (doi: 10.1163/15718190-08412p08)

2015

Finlay, J. (2015) Scots lawyers, England, and the Union of 1707. In: MacQueen, H.L. (ed.) Miscellany VII. Stair Society: Edinburgh, pp. 243-263.

Finlay, J. (2015) Jurisdictional complexity in post-union Scotland. In: Donlan, S.P. and Heirbaut, D. (eds.) The Laws' Many Bodies: Studies in Legal Hybridity and Jurisdictional Complexity, c1600-1900. Series: Comparative studies in continental and Anglo-American legal history (32). Duncker & Humblot: Berlin, pp. 223-248. ISBN 9783428147151

Finlay, J. (2015) Legal education, 1650-1850. In: Anderson, R., Freeman, M. and Paterson, L. (eds.) The Edinburgh History of Education in Scotland. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, pp. 114-132. ISBN 9780748679157

Finlay, J. (2015) Legal Practice in Eighteenth-century Scotland. Series: Legal history library, 18. Brill: Leiden. ISBN 9789004 294936

2014

Finlay, J. (2014) Tax the attornies!’ Stamp duty and the Scottish legal profession in the eighteenth century. Journal of Scottish Historical Studies, 34(2), pp. 141-166. (doi: 10.3366/jshs.2014.0118)

Finlay, J. (2014) Local lawyers and their libraries in Eighteenth-century Scotland. Journal of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, 9, pp. 43-60.

2012

Finlay, J. (2012) The Community of the College of Justice: Edinburgh and the Court of Session 1687-1808. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780748645770

Finlay, J. (2012) The Admission Register of Notaries Public in Scotland, 1700-1799 [2 vols.]. Scottish Record Society: Edinburgh.

Finlay, J. (2012) Corruption, regionalism and legal practice in Eighteenth-century Scotland: The rise and fall of David Armstrong, advocate. Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, 86, pp. 143-172.

Finlay, J. (2012) Trusts. Dundee University Press: Dundee, UK. ISBN 9781845861292

2011

Finlay, J. (2011) Arbitration in Eighteenth-Century Scotland. Juridical Review, 2011, pp. 277-291.

Finlay, J. (2011) Religion in the history of family law in Scotland. In: Mair, J. and Orucu, E. (eds.) The Place of Religion in Family Law: A Comparative Search. Series: European family law (30). Intersentia: Cambridge, OR, USA, pp. 267-302. ISBN 9781780680156

Finlay, J. (2011) Scots lawyers and House of Lords appeals in Eighteenth-Century Britain. Journal of Legal History, 32(3), pp. 249-277. (doi: 10.1080/01440365.2011.627151)

Finlay, J. (2011) The history of lawyers in the British Isles. In: Dolemeyer, B. (ed.) Anwaelte und ihre Geschichte. Mohr Siebeck: Tubingen, pp. 1097-1226. ISBN 978-3-16-150757-1

2010

Finlay, J. (2010) The History of delay in Civil Procedure: Scotland 1600-1808. In: Rhee, C. H. (ed.) The History of Delay in Civil Procedure. Series: Comparative Studies in Continental and Anglo-American Legal History (28). Dunker & Humblot: Berlin, pp. 121-152. ISBN 9783428134090

2009

Finlay, J. (2009) The History of the Notary in Scotland. In: Schmoeckel, M. and Schuber, W. (eds.) Handbuch zur Geschichte des Notariats der europäischen Traditionen. Nomos: Baden-Baden, pp. 393-428. ISBN 978-3-8329-4068-3

Finlay, J. (2009) Lawyers and the early modern state: regulation, exclusion, and numerus clausus. Canadian Journal of History: Annales Canadiennes d'Histoire, 44(3), pp. 383-410.

2008

Finlay, J. (2008) Advocates unlimited: the numerous clausus and the college of justice in Scotland. Historical Research, 82(216), pp. 206-228.

Finlay, J. (2008) Pettyfoggers, regulation, and local courts in early modern Scotland. Scottish Historical Review, 87(1), pp. 42-67. (doi: 10.3366/E0036924108000048)

2007

Finlay, J. (2007) The lower branch of the legal profession in early modern Scotland. Edinburgh Law Review, 11(1), pp. 31-61. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2007.11.1.31)

2006

Finlay, J. (2006) Ethics, etiquette and the early modern Scots advocate. Juridical Review(2), pp. 147-178.

Finlay, J. (2006) Ratio decidendi in Scotland 1650-1800. In: Bryson, W.H. and Dauchy, S. (eds.) Ratio Decidendi: the Guiding Principles of Judicial Decisions. Series: Comparative Studies in Continental and Anglo-American Legal History (25/1). Dunker & Humblot: Berlin, pp. 117-135. ISBN 9783428122165

Finlay, J. (2006) Advocacy, patronage and character at the Eighteenth-century Scots bar. Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis: Legal History Review, 74(40210), pp. 95-119.

2004

Finlay, J. (2004) The early career of Thomas Craig, advocate. Edinburgh Law Review, 8(3), pp. 298-328. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2004.8.3.298)

2002

Finlay, J. (2002) Foreign Litigants Before the College of Justice in the Sixteenth Century. In: MacQueen, H. (ed.) Stair Society Miscellany 4. Stair Society: Edinburgh, pp. 37-50. ISBN 9781872517155

2000

Finlay, J. (2000) James Henryson and the origins of the office of King's Advocate. Scottish Historical Review, 79, pp. 17-38.

Finlay, J. (2000) Men of Law in Pre-Reformation Scotland. Tuckwell Press: East Linton. ISBN 9781862321656

1999

Finlay, J. (1999) Robert Galbraith and the role of queen's advocate. Juridical Review, pp. 277-290.

Finlay, J. (1999) Women and Legal Representation in Early Sixteenth-Century Scotland. In: Ewan, E. and Meikle, M.M. (eds.) Women in Scotland 1100-1750. Tuckwell Press, pp. 165-175. ISBN 1862320462

This list was generated on Thu Jun 30 13:08:15 2022 BST.
Jump to: Articles | Books | Book Sections
Number of items: 35.

Articles

Finlay, J. (2022) ‘Inter arma enim silent leges?’ Impressment and the Scottish Courts in the later eighteenth century. Edinburgh Law Review, 26(1), pp. 1-28. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2022.0736)

Finlay, J. (2020) David Boyle’s fee book. Juridical Review, 2020, pp. 1-24.

Finlay, J. (2018) The petition in the Court of Session in early modern Scotland. Parliaments, Estates and Representation, 38(3), pp. 337-349. (doi: 10.1080/02606755.2018.1532976)

Finlay, J. (2016) Professorial opinions and Scottish-Dutch legal relations at the turn of the eighteenth century. Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis: Legal History Review, 84(1-2), pp. 245-289. (doi: 10.1163/15718190-08412p08)

Finlay, J. (2014) Tax the attornies!’ Stamp duty and the Scottish legal profession in the eighteenth century. Journal of Scottish Historical Studies, 34(2), pp. 141-166. (doi: 10.3366/jshs.2014.0118)

Finlay, J. (2014) Local lawyers and their libraries in Eighteenth-century Scotland. Journal of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society, 9, pp. 43-60.

Finlay, J. (2012) Corruption, regionalism and legal practice in Eighteenth-century Scotland: The rise and fall of David Armstrong, advocate. Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, 86, pp. 143-172.

Finlay, J. (2011) Arbitration in Eighteenth-Century Scotland. Juridical Review, 2011, pp. 277-291.

Finlay, J. (2011) Scots lawyers and House of Lords appeals in Eighteenth-Century Britain. Journal of Legal History, 32(3), pp. 249-277. (doi: 10.1080/01440365.2011.627151)

Finlay, J. (2009) Lawyers and the early modern state: regulation, exclusion, and numerus clausus. Canadian Journal of History: Annales Canadiennes d'Histoire, 44(3), pp. 383-410.

Finlay, J. (2008) Advocates unlimited: the numerous clausus and the college of justice in Scotland. Historical Research, 82(216), pp. 206-228.

Finlay, J. (2008) Pettyfoggers, regulation, and local courts in early modern Scotland. Scottish Historical Review, 87(1), pp. 42-67. (doi: 10.3366/E0036924108000048)

Finlay, J. (2007) The lower branch of the legal profession in early modern Scotland. Edinburgh Law Review, 11(1), pp. 31-61. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2007.11.1.31)

Finlay, J. (2006) Ethics, etiquette and the early modern Scots advocate. Juridical Review(2), pp. 147-178.

Finlay, J. (2006) Advocacy, patronage and character at the Eighteenth-century Scots bar. Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis: Legal History Review, 74(40210), pp. 95-119.

Finlay, J. (2004) The early career of Thomas Craig, advocate. Edinburgh Law Review, 8(3), pp. 298-328. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2004.8.3.298)

Finlay, J. (2000) James Henryson and the origins of the office of King's Advocate. Scottish Historical Review, 79, pp. 17-38.

Finlay, J. (1999) Robert Galbraith and the role of queen's advocate. Juridical Review, pp. 277-290.

Books

Finlay, J. (2018) The Admission Register of Notaries Public in Scotland, 1800-1899 [2 vols]. Scottish Record Society: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780902054622

Finlay, J. (2015) Legal Practice in Eighteenth-century Scotland. Series: Legal history library, 18. Brill: Leiden. ISBN 9789004 294936

Finlay, J. (2012) The Community of the College of Justice: Edinburgh and the Court of Session 1687-1808. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780748645770

Finlay, J. (2012) The Admission Register of Notaries Public in Scotland, 1700-1799 [2 vols.]. Scottish Record Society: Edinburgh.

Finlay, J. (2012) Trusts. Dundee University Press: Dundee, UK. ISBN 9781845861292

Finlay, J. (2000) Men of Law in Pre-Reformation Scotland. Tuckwell Press: East Linton. ISBN 9781862321656

Book Sections

Finlay, J. (2021) Schottland. In: Decock, W. (ed.) Konfliktlösung in der Frühen Neuzeit. Series: Handbuch zur Geschichte der Konfliktlösung in Europa (vol 3). Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 659-678. ISBN 9783662561010

Finlay, J. (2015) Scots lawyers, England, and the Union of 1707. In: MacQueen, H.L. (ed.) Miscellany VII. Stair Society: Edinburgh, pp. 243-263.

Finlay, J. (2015) Jurisdictional complexity in post-union Scotland. In: Donlan, S.P. and Heirbaut, D. (eds.) The Laws' Many Bodies: Studies in Legal Hybridity and Jurisdictional Complexity, c1600-1900. Series: Comparative studies in continental and Anglo-American legal history (32). Duncker & Humblot: Berlin, pp. 223-248. ISBN 9783428147151

Finlay, J. (2015) Legal education, 1650-1850. In: Anderson, R., Freeman, M. and Paterson, L. (eds.) The Edinburgh History of Education in Scotland. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, pp. 114-132. ISBN 9780748679157

Finlay, J. (2011) Religion in the history of family law in Scotland. In: Mair, J. and Orucu, E. (eds.) The Place of Religion in Family Law: A Comparative Search. Series: European family law (30). Intersentia: Cambridge, OR, USA, pp. 267-302. ISBN 9781780680156

Finlay, J. (2011) The history of lawyers in the British Isles. In: Dolemeyer, B. (ed.) Anwaelte und ihre Geschichte. Mohr Siebeck: Tubingen, pp. 1097-1226. ISBN 978-3-16-150757-1

Finlay, J. (2010) The History of delay in Civil Procedure: Scotland 1600-1808. In: Rhee, C. H. (ed.) The History of Delay in Civil Procedure. Series: Comparative Studies in Continental and Anglo-American Legal History (28). Dunker & Humblot: Berlin, pp. 121-152. ISBN 9783428134090

Finlay, J. (2009) The History of the Notary in Scotland. In: Schmoeckel, M. and Schuber, W. (eds.) Handbuch zur Geschichte des Notariats der europäischen Traditionen. Nomos: Baden-Baden, pp. 393-428. ISBN 978-3-8329-4068-3

Finlay, J. (2006) Ratio decidendi in Scotland 1650-1800. In: Bryson, W.H. and Dauchy, S. (eds.) Ratio Decidendi: the Guiding Principles of Judicial Decisions. Series: Comparative Studies in Continental and Anglo-American Legal History (25/1). Dunker & Humblot: Berlin, pp. 117-135. ISBN 9783428122165

Finlay, J. (2002) Foreign Litigants Before the College of Justice in the Sixteenth Century. In: MacQueen, H. (ed.) Stair Society Miscellany 4. Stair Society: Edinburgh, pp. 37-50. ISBN 9781872517155

Finlay, J. (1999) Women and Legal Representation in Early Sixteenth-Century Scotland. In: Ewan, E. and Meikle, M.M. (eds.) Women in Scotland 1100-1750. Tuckwell Press, pp. 165-175. ISBN 1862320462

This list was generated on Thu Jun 30 13:08:15 2022 BST.

Grants

Professor Finlay has been awarded the following grant:

2012

Awarded the sum of £41,601 by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for research on Legal Practice in Eighteenth-century Scotland.

Supervision