Congratulations to Alexander McCall Smith, who was called to the Scottish Bar yesterday. Now best known for the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series, McCall Smith was professor of medical law at the University of Edinburgh before turning to fiction.

McCall Smith "devilled" -- trained as an advocate  -- in his youth but was never admitted to the Faculty of Advocates. This was spotted by Richard Keen QC, Dean of the Faculty, who completed the process yesterday. An announcement about the new intrant is expected next week. 

I had the great pleasure of meeting Sandy McCall Smith at the Advocates' Library on Monday. He is as charming and generous as you would imagine from reading his books.