Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC has returned to practice as an advocate, more than 30 years after he first became a member of the Scottish Bar.

Lord Wallace, the former Deputy First Minister for Scotland, has joined his former political colleague Sir Menzies Campbell QC as a member of Terra Firm Chambers.

Gordon Steele QC, Terra Firma Director, said: “Lord Wallace has a long and distinguished record of service to the people of Scotland, including his important contribution as Justice Minister.

“He will be a great asset to the Scottish Bar and we regard it as a great compliment that he has chosen to resume practice with Terra Firma.”

Terra Firma has been described in the Chambers 2010 Directory as a “true market leader” and “the first port of call” for planning and environment work in Scotland and Emma Potter, Terra Firma’s Practice Manager, said Lord Wallace would complement existing strengths in public and administrative law.

“Lord Wallace has a particular interest in renewable energy developments, with the inevitable planning implications that these involve and his areas of experience and expertise will fit in well with Terra Firma’s core areas of practice.”

Lord Wallace said, “I am looking forward very much to returning to practice and engaging once again in legal work. I hope I can bring with me the experience I have gained as a MP, MSP and Minister both in making law and dealing with its practical consequences.”

As Jim Wallace, Lord Wallace called to the Bar in July 1979 and practised mostly in civil cases.

In the same year he stood unsuccessfully as a Parliamentary candidate in Dumfriesshire but his political career blossomed after he succeeded former Liberal Party leader Jo Grimond as the Westminster MP for Orkney and Shetland.

He served as MP for 18 years and occupied a number of Front Bench posts for the Liberals (and later the Liberal Democrats) including Employment spokesman and Chief Whip.

In 1992 he was elected unopposed as the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

After the 1997 general election Lord Wallace was a key figure in the devolution debate and campaign and led the Scottish Liberal Democrats in the first election to the new Scottish Parliament in 1999. He won Orkney and stood down as a Westminster MP in the 2001 general election.

He was appointed Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice and on three occasions during the term of the first Scottish Parliament became Acting First Minister.

As Justice Minister he was involved in a number of major legal reforms and was instrumental in transforming the method of appointing judges and sheriffs by setting up an independent judicial appointments board chaired by a non-lawyer.

He later became Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning before announcing in 2005 his decision to stand down as party leader and Deputy First Minister.

Lord Wallace stood down as an MSP on the dissolution of the Scottish Parliament in 2007 and in October that year was appointed to the House of Lords.

In November 2008 he received a lifetime achievement award at the Scottish Politician of the Year ceremony.