James McKay Defence Solicitors

28/12/2025

Not only is driving after drinking alcohol or taking drugs a serious crime, you can:

🚗 Lose your driving licence

📚 Lose your place at university or college

💼 Lose your job

💀 Cause a life changing injury or death Get home safely this Christmas.

Road Safety Scotland

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all our clients and colleagues. 🎅🏻 The office is now closed for the festive period until Monday 5 January 2026. However, voicemails and emails will be checked regularly.

22/12/2025

Our power and phones are down. You can still leave a voicemail and these will be getting checked regularly. Hopefully back up and running properly tomorrow 🤞🏻

23/10/2025

CHANGE OF COURT TIME - ELGIN SHERIFF COURT

Notional Trial Diets and Summary Case Management Hearings that were set down to call at 2pm have been changed - will now call at 12 Noon.

You should attend at Elgin Sheriff Court no later than 11.45am.

If you are unsure of what type of hearing you have please don't hesitate to give the office a call 01343 556500

04/07/2025

MONDAY 7 JULY IS A COURT HOLIDAY FOR ELGIN SHERIFF COURT

ANY CUSTODIES WILL BE TAKEN TO INVERNESS SHERIFF COURT

14/04/2025

Let’s talk about Ketamine…

Once known mainly as an anaesthetic, ketamine is now increasingly used recreationally—and it's not without risks.

While it may seem harmless to some, regular ketamine use can lead to serious mental and physical health issues, including memory problems, bladder damage, and dependency. It can also increase the risk of accidents due to its dissociative effects.

What starts as a quick escape can quickly become a trap.

If you or someone you know is struggling with ketamine use, you're not alone.
Support is available through Arrows—whether it's for yourself, a friend, or a family member. You can reach out to us for advice, information, and support.

Let’s keep having honest conversations that save lives.

09/04/2025

Remember we are Moray's only firm who concentrate only on defence work in the JP Court, Sheriff Court, Sheriff and Jury Court and the High Court. Our team of experienced solicitors together with access to a wide range of highly experienced High Court Advocates are here for you.

So if you find yourself with an Undertaking to appear at Court, a citation from the Procurator Fiscal or in Police custody do not hesitate to contact us.

01343 556500
www.jamesmckay.uk
[email protected]

We are also Moray’s only firm authorised under the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s Police Station Duty Scheme to give advice and attend for Police Station interview 24 hours a day.

23/12/2024

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Our office is now closed until 3 January 2025.

Voicemails will be checked regularly and emails to [email protected] will also be checked.

06/11/2024

There is scaffolding round the building but we are still open 😊

10/09/2024

05/09/2024

We are pleased to see that some of the Advocates we work alongside have been appointed as Kings Counsel. Congratulations to them all.

Sep 4, 2024

Eighteen new King's Counsel and five new Honorary King’s Counsel appointed.

Twenty-three new King’s Counsel have been appointed by His Majesty The King on the recommendation of First Minister John Swinney.



The new King’s Counsel appointees are: Desmond Cheyne, Advocate; Marie Clark, Advocate; Colin Edward, Advocate; Edith Forrest, Advocate; William Frain-Bell, Advocate; Scott McAlpine, Advocate; Ross McClelland, Advocate; James McConnell, Advocate; David Moggach, Advocate; Craig Murray, Advocate; David Nicolson, Advocate; Lili Prais, Advocate; Gillian Ross, Advocate; Usman Tariq, Advocate; Laura Thomson, Advocate; Angela Gray, Solicitor Advocate; Kathleen Harper, Solicitor Advocate; and Iain Paterson, Solicitor Advocate.

The new Honorary King’s Counsel appointees are: Sheriff Principal Aisha Anwar; Professor James Chalmers; Professor Alan Paterson; Professor Stephen Tierney; and Judge Susan Walker.

Background

The rank of King’s Counsel is generally reserved for those who have distinguished themselves in practice in the Supreme Courts. Advocates and Solicitors with Rights of Audience in the Supreme Courts are eligible to apply to the Lord Justice General, Scotland’s senior judge. Before making nominations to the First Minister, the Lord Justice General consults other judges, the Lord Advocate, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates and the President of the Law Society of Scotland.

Honorary King’s Counsel is an honorary award unique to the legal profession. It recognises those in the profession who have made a major contribution to the law of Scotland or the legal profession and how it is advanced, outwith practice as an advocate or solicitor advocate.