Year of Call: 2025
Declan Graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an Honours Degree in Law, thereafter going on to complete the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh.
In practice, Declan began his legal career as a Trainee Solicitor with a busy Criminal Defence firm in the North East of Scotland. He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors by Early Admission and has been running trials in courts across Scotland and appearing in the most serious cases in solemn proceedings from a very early stage as a result. By the end of his first year he was appearing regularly in solemn courts and successfully representing clients in a wide variety of Sheriff Court trials including allegations of sexual offences and supply of drugs.
At the end of his Traineeship he moved to one of the biggest Criminal Defence firms in Glasgow and quickly built a reputation as a highly sought after trial lawyer. He went on to conduct a significant amount of Jury and Summary trials representing clients from all walks of life across the country.
He has successfully represented clients accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, serious and organised crime, sexual assaults, highly complicated criminal prosecutions under the proceeds of crime act, firearms, robbery and many others.
Declan also regularly represented clients in high profile football related criminal allegations during his time as a Solicitor.
He called to the bar in 2025 as a Lord Hope Scholar.