Ximena Vengoechea, Advocate LLB (Hons), MA, LLB (Scots ), MCIArb

Personal information

Address Advocates’ Library, Parliament House, , EH1 1RF Telephone (work) 0131 226 5071 Mobile 07724494522 Email [email protected]

Clerking information

Clerk Susan Hastie Address Hastie Stable, Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF Telephone 0131 260 5654 E-mail [email protected]

Professional Qualification

Qualification: Advocate (Year of call 2013) Faculty Scholarship. Establishment: Devil-Masters: Kay Springham, Neil MacKenzie, Sarah Livingstone

Academic Qualifications

Dates: 2017 Qualification: MCIArb (Distinction), University of Aberdeen, School of Law.

Dates: 2009 – 2011 Qualification: Accelerated LLB (Ord), University of Edinburgh, School of Law.

Dates: 1999 – 2000 Qualification: MA in Peace Studies (Distinction), Lancaster University. Chevening Scholarship.

Dates: 1998 Qualification: Post Graduate Diploma (Advanced) in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Raoul Wallenberg Institute. Lund University, Sweden. SIDA Scholarship.

Dates: 1998 Qualification: Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Universidad del Rosario, Colombia.

Dates: 1995 – 1996 Qualification: Constitutional Law Specialist (Post Graduate degree), Especialización en Derecho Constitucional, Universidad de los Andes, Colombia.

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Dates: 1989 – 1993 Qualification: Abogada, LLB (Hons), First Class, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, Ciencias Políticas y Sociales. UNC Scholarship.

Career Summary

Dates: 2013 – (current) Position: Advocate, The Hastie Stable, Faculty of Advocates

I am regularly instructed in the areas of crime (defence, prosecution and appeal work), immigration (advice, representation and appeals) and human rights. I appear in and both as a Junior to Senior or as Junior alone. As Junior to Senior I attend consultations and trial diets and take accurate and complete notes of proceedings, perform legal research and summarise materials as required. As Junior alone, I deal with cases from various stages of preparation to their presentation in court. I peruse, analyse and summarise material evidence (documentary or other), identify relevant legal issues, instruct further evidence, provide advice, draft opinions and court documents and present legal arguments before a .

I have been appointed Presenting Office for the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Office of the Scotland in Asylum and Immigration Matters. I am a Committee Member of the Scottish Criminal Association (SCBA), Clerk to the Human Rights and Rule of Law Committee (HRRoL), and Director of the Eurodevils Programme at the Scottish Bar.

Dates: 2012 – 2012 (9 months) Position: Paralegal, Litigation Department, Simpson & Marwick (Clyde & Co), Edinburgh

I prepared cases at both pre-litigation and litigation stages in the areas of construction law, insurance and personal injury. I identified core legal issues and gathered evidence, researched relevant law, drafted legal documents, presented defences, negotiated with opposing parties and prepared cases for court.

Dates: 2008 – 2009 (1 year) Position: Legal Assistant/Trainee, Judicial Studies Committee, Edinburgh

I assisted with the preparation and delivery of training courses and seminars for Sheriffs and Senators of the . I researched legal topics, drafted training materials and coordinated the logistics around training events. I reviewed case law and legislative developments of interest to members of the judiciary. I attended Bench requests for information regarding legislation or case law as well. I liaised with members of the judiciary, court personnel, government representatives and legal academics on a day-to-day basis, which demanded excellent interpersonal skills.

Dates: 1998-1999 (1 year) Position: Legal Adviser/Advocate, Elite Human Rights Unit, Office of the Advocate General (Procuraduría General de la Nación), Colombia.

I provided the Advocate General of Colombia with on human rights and humanitarian law issues. I researched national and international law and doctrine, drafted opinions and prosecuted members of the Colombian Armed Forces for breaches of national and international human rights standards. I instructed the gathering of evidence by a team of technicians assigned to my cases, and gathered evidence myself: I inspected loci, perused material evidence, received testimony, drafted indictments, prosecuted those accused and drafted legal documents and decisions. I liaised with colleagues, fiscals, representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations, witnesses and victims.

Dates: 1994-1998 (4 years) Position: Legal Adviser/Advocate, Department of Constitutional Control, Office of the Advocate General, (Procuraduría General de la Nación), Colombia.

I drafted the opinion of the Advocate General of Colombia within the process of Constitutional review of . I researched national and international law and doctrine, analysed laws, examined the constitutional compatibility of primary and secondary legislation and its compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law standards. I specialised in the area of criminal law,

Page 2 of 3 although I also reviewed laws in the areas of law, extradition, military justice and child law. I also reviewed the constitutional compatibility of bilateral and multilateral instruments to which Colombia was a party.

Dates: 1994 (6 months) Position: Legal Research Assistant, Ministry of Law and Justice, National Government of Colombia

I researched materials on the causes of violence in Colombia at the initial stages of the design of a National Strategy for the Prevention of Crime. I gathered and examined academic and legal sources, interviewed experts, summarised information and presented my findings in the form of a final report. I thereafter joined the review of the final draft of the Project of Law on the Administration of Justice, which became the Law of the Judiciary.

Dates: 1991-1992 (2 months) Position: Legal Research Assistant, Department for Community Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs (Home Office)

I gathered, selected and collated information concerning existing legal means for democratic participation at local and national level, as part of a government pre-legislative research team.

Additional Information and Experience

• Placements at various Scottish law firms, namely Anderson-Strathern (Parliamentary and Public Law Dept.); Burness and Paul (Dispute Resolution Dept.); Hughes Walker (Family Law), and McGill & Co. (Immigration Law).

• Microsoft and Apple software application systems. • London City and Guilds Adult Teaching Qualification. • Languages: English and Spanish (both Fluent), Italian and French (both Intermediate).

Areas of Interest

Jurisprudence and legal reasoning, human rights, criminal law, equality, children’s welfare and development.

Other Interests

Latin American literature, Latin American music, dance and drawing.

Referees

The Right Honourable Lord Ericht, Scottish , Parliament House, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1RF. [email protected]

Sheriff Alistair Thornton, Court House, Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy, Scotland KY1 1XQ. Telephone: 01592 260171. [email protected]

Michael Howlin Q.C. The Faculty of Advocates, Advocates’ Library, Parliament House, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1RF. Tel: 0131 226 5071 [email protected]

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