The nobile officium, the extraordinary equitable jurisdiction of the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary, is exercised infrequently, perhaps partly due to a lack of familiarity with the jurisdiction and an awareness of when (and how) it could be applied. This may not be surprising as, until now, there has been remarkably little written about the nobile officium.

Dr. Stephen Thomson, Assistant Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law, has recently completed a significant research project on this enigmatic jurisdiction, presenting his findings in his new book 'The Nobile Officium:  The Extraordinary Equitable Jurisdiction of the Supreme Courts of Scotland'.  This is the only substantial, systematic text to have been written on the nobile officium, described by Lord Hope of Craighead in his foreword to the book as “a work of real scholarship which makes a significant contribution to the literature on Scots law”.

In celebration of the book’s publication, Terra Firma Chambers, in conjunction with the Avizandum Publishing, will host a presentation by Dr Thomson, followed by a drinks reception, in Parliament House on Thursday 4th June, from 4.30pm. 

The talk has been accredited by the Faculty of Advocates as contributing 1 hour CPD for its own members and is eligible for a similar award from the Law Society for the solicitor branch of the profession. As the nobile officium is not confined to one specific field of law, the presentation should be of interest to practitioners and scholars in almost any area of Scots law. For full details, please see attached.

Space will be limited and accordingly if you would like to reserve a space please email seminars@terrafirmachambers.com.