Contact
Our clerking team has a thorough knowledge of the strengths of each of our Advocates and can offer sound advice on selecting suitable counsel.
Westwater Advocates
Faculty of AdvocatesParliament House
Edinburgh EH1 1RF DX 549302, Edinburgh 36
Consulting Rooms
The clerks can book meeting rooms at the following locations:
Clerk
Sheila Westwater
ClerkWorking Week
Sheila, whose name the stable bears, has been the clerk of her own stable since 1991. She has in that time built up a collection of counsel who highly value her efficiency, reliability and unstinting dedication to providing our users with the best possible service.
She has led her team with energy and humour, synchronising the individual talents and qualities of each to produce a team that meets the needs of clients, instructing solicitors, direct access bodies and counsel alike. When the opportunity of devolution arose, the Westwater Stable decided to devolve as a whole, primarily to help ensure the continuity of that service.
Although she is the leader of the team, she is accessible to be approached directly in relation to any matter that may arise in the course of instructing any of our counsel.
Sheila works Tuesday to Friday.
Deputy Clerks
Christina Ballantyne
Deputy ClerkWorking Week
Christina has devoted her considerable skills and energy to Faculty Services since 1983, when she joined the accounts department to deal with all aspects of fees and accounts. She then spent ten years in the credit control department dealing mainly with the difficult but necessary matter of civil legal aid accounts.
Having had opportunities to assist some of the other stables in a clerking capacity in the 1990’s, Christina found the job to which she is ideally suited, as Deputy Advocates’ Clerk in the Westwater Stable where she has become an essential part of our clerking team. Christina is always at hand to listen, understand and action.
Christina works Monday to Thursday.
Jane Morrison
Deputy ClerkWorking Week
Jane has been our Deputy Advocates’ Clerk since January 2011, which already seems a long time ago. She very quickly became a key ingredient of the Westwater Advocates clerking team, bringing with her that rare combination of cheerful service and no-nonsense efficiency.
Jane has an honours degree in English Literature and Classics and previously worked as an administrator in accountancy and surveying firms.
Jane works Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Debbie Dawson
Deputy ClerkWorking Week
Debbie joined the stable as Deputy Advocates’ Clerk in January 2019 covering Jane’s maternity leave. Debbie is a familiar face and voice to many having worked for Faculty Services Limited since 1991, previously within the Credit Control and Data Operations departments and for the last 3 years she has worked with various stables in a clerking capacity.
Debbie is efficient, approachable and reliable and a very welcome addition to the Westwater Clerking team.
Mardi Thompson
Deputy ClerkWorking Week
Mardi joined Westwater Advocates as Assistant Deputy Advocates’ Clerk in January 2022 and was promoted to Deputy Advocates' Clerk in April 2023. Mardi has a Dual Qualifying Bachelor of Laws Honours Degree from the University of Strathclyde. She embraced her role with a welcome rush of enthusiasm and energy and has already established herself as an invaluable member of our clerking team.
Rosie Hanlon
Deputy ClerkWorking Week
Rosie is our most recent addition to the team having joined us in January 2025. She was previously a specialist child and family law paralegal in a busy Edinburgh firm. That specific prior experience and insight has proven to be invaluable and along with her diligent, proactive and supportive attitude has ensured her smooth and successful assimilation to the team. Rosie’s quiet and considerate people skills and her enthusiasm for learning and growth will no doubt see her continue to flourish in her role with us.