Defence lawyer

The defence case, Eric Kennedy hears, is evidently very appealing

DAVID McCaig would have to plead guilty if asked whether he enjoys his

work. He has plenty of evidence to show that his day-to-day routine as a

criminal lawyer is a worthwhile and satisfying career.

He first wanted to become a lawyer in his fifth year at St Joseph's

Academy in Kilmarnock. ''I was looking at some brochures provided by the

guidance department,'' he recalls, ''and took a notion to try it out''.

The four-year honours course at Edinburgh University is a tough way to

try out anything. It takes a great deal of study and commitment and

parts of it, he admits, were difficult.

Other parts were more interesting: in particular the case studies and

criminal law. He also enjoyed delict, the area of civil law where people

sue others for wrongdoing such as assault or negligence.

He graduated LLB (Hons) in 1982 and then completed the year-long

Diploma in Legal Practice to become a solicitor.

After that came a two-year traineeship in a legal practice, working

with a firm in the centre of Glasgow and gaining expertise in civil law,

trusts and executries, conveyancing, and criminal court work.

He had worked for this firm for two summer periods as a student, and

had come to admire the criminal lawyers. ''I wanted to do it, too,'' he

says.

In his second year as a trainee he got his chance in a case at Ayr,

where he had to handle a straightforward guilty plea. He was hooked, and

at the end of his traineeship was offered a job with the company as an

assistant doing criminal court work.

Three years later he became a partner, and when the firm de-merged

some time later, he and a fellow partner formed their own company,

Doonan & McCaig, specialising in court work.

''It is a hugely satisfying job,'' he says. ''For a start it is very

competitive. But more importantly, you are often dealing with people for

whom this is the first taste of the legal system.

''They don't know what to expect and need someone to guide them

through it. I should also say that many people are wrongly accused.''

A typical day sees him arrive at his Glasgow office about 9am, go

through the mail, then head for one of the sheriff or district courts in

the Central Belt where most of his work is concentrated, to represent a

client.

A case might take all day, or could be over in a matter of minutes.

Either way, he returns to his office to attend to paperwork and

interview clients.

He also visits prisons such as Barlinnie, the women's unit at Cornton

Vale, and the young offenders' institution at Longriggend near Airdrie.

The worst place he has seen was the solitary-confinement cages at

Peterhead which, he says, defied description.

All in all, however, he derives great satisfaction from what he does.

''Obviously I am working with the guilty as well as the innocent. But

the criminal lawyer fulfils a very important role.''