‘I Give it 100% or I don’t do it at all’

Donald Findlay QC speaks candidly to ‘I was Gonnae.’

When Donald Findlay QC advocates the use of technology in the courtroom you start to realise that this pandemic really has taken its toll. This is a man who “hates technology in any form” but is prepared to put his prejudices aside because “The justice sector has to do something to get it moving again.”

In truth, Donald has ‘hated every minute’ of the restrictions that COVID had brought. First and foremost, it has prevented him from being able to carry out the work he so obviously loves. It is indicative of a work ethic that has seen only one day lost to ill-health in his 35 years plus career. ‘That’s when a restaurant in Aberdeen tried to kill me.” Says Donald.

The motivation for this tireless dedication to his work stems from his ‘very close family’ from whom ‘I learned that hard work brought the greatest reward and the more you put in the more you get out.’ For those who may not know him, Donald Findlay is Scotland’s best-known advocate and Queens Counsel, he is Chairman of Cowdenbeath FC, former vice-chairman of Rangers FC and two times Rector of the University of St Andrews.

A strong advocate of Scotland’s once world-renowned education

If anyone is looking working-class lad made good role model Donald Findlay surely ticks all the boxes. Born in Cowdenbeath, he attributes the success young working-class men like him could attain, to the once world-renowned Scottish Education System, which was at its height at the time of his scholastic career. He attended Harris Academy in Dundee, then Dundee and Glasgow University. Scottish education has in Donald’s view, been going “downhill ever since.” The turning point was? The advent of Comprehensive Education.

‘Coming from a working-class background a profession was something to aspire to.’ ‘The doctor in the community was someone who commanded great respect. Hence Donald was initially steered towards medicine which remained his first choice until a science teacher put paid to that. ‘I hated him as much as he hated me.’ His interest turned life-long passion in defence law was prompted by the high-profile trial in 1958 of Peter Manuel, the infamous Scottish serial killer whose trial was reported in great detail at the time. Add TV series Boyd QC and Donald aged just seven-years-old was hooked. Since then he has been involved in some of the most memorable trials in Scotland’s modern history 1958 and as a consummate storyteller has become a celebrated after-dinner speaker.

When work comes home

Donald does acknowledge that work has taken its toll on his life, ‘The job has become my life and life has become my job’ ‘the job is an obsession - not just a passion. As a defence lawyer ‘sometimes you do just have a thought that here is a young child laying here and murdered’ ‘Sometimes the job has an impact on your own life.’  What Donald can say with certainty is this: ‘Every case I have done I have tried to do my best and that’s something I take pleasure in.’

Donald freely admits that while he wanted to a number of things during the lockdown, he has accomplished none of them. ‘I have never had a plan in my entire life. I have gone through life just doing what I do. His guiding principle: ‘I Give it 100% or I don’t do it at all. ‘The person that inspired Donald most was his father: ‘He was one of the cleverest men, I have ever known… life just didn’t work for him.’

What about the other passion in Donald’s life – football? Was he budding footballer when he was younger? He answers with typical candour. "There is no doubt about it I could have been a professional footballer apart from my severe lack of ability!"

(In memory of Ann McDonald 1932 - 2020)