Donald Findlay QC: Highest criminal legal aid earner

The highest-earning firms of solicitors have also been revealed in the Scottish Legal Aid Board's annual report.

The amount paid out by the fund rose to �135.1m due to increases in criminal legal aid and advice and assistance over the last financial year.

Donald Findlay QC was the highest paid advocate, receiving �267,000 in fees. The Glasgow Govan MSP, Gordon Jackson QC, came in sixth on �163,000.

The board's chairwoman, Jean Coupar, said: "During the year we have seen an increase in expenditure due mainly to higher volumes of criminal legal aid work."

Top five advocates Donald Findlay QC �267,000 Edgar Prais QC �197,000 Gary Allan �174,000 Frances McMenamin QC �168,000 J Graham Robertson �167,000

The costs of criminal legal aid rose by 9% to �80.4m - �1.7m less than the cost in 1997/98 when there were 14,649 fewer grants.

The number of applications for summary criminal legal aid went up by 4% to �79,927, the highest level so far. Grants for solemn proceedings (those involving a sheriff and jury or in the High Courts) increased by 11% to �12,148.

On the civil side, the number of applications fell by 4% to 19,151. Net costs dropped to �17.4m.

"The long-term downward trend in the volume of civil legal aid applications continued but we were pleased to see a slowdown in the rate of decrease," Ms Couper said.

Top five firms Ross Harper �1.8m Livingstone Brown �1.4m Bruce Short & Co. �1.29m Adams Whyte �1.2m Gilfedder & McInnes �1.18m

"Legal aid is an important public service for many people who do not have the financial resources to assert their legal rights."

Applicants were now benefitting from changes to the legal aid system in the past year, including increased financial eligibility levels for civil aid.

However, she added: "We believe there is scope for legal aid to be further modernised and developed borth in its operation and its interaction within the justice system."