Divisional Solicitor Rural Affairs Division
Alan Williams
Alan has, since 2008, been the Divisional Solicitor in Rural Affairs Division of Scottish Government Legal Directorate. The division provides legal advice to Rural Directorate; Marine Directorate; Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate; and Constitution, Law and Courts Directorate (property law only). The work has a significant component of EU law. Prior to his current post, Alan was (from 2002 to 2008) a Divisional Solicitor in the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate General for Scotland mainly advising the UK Government on the devolution settlement; from 1999 to 2002, Divisional Solicitor for Criminal Justice matters in the then Office of the Solicitor to the Scottish Executive; and prior to devolution held a variety of legal posts in the former Scottish Office including instructing solicitor for the former Department of Energy in relation to the Piper Alpha Public Inquiry (1988 to 1990).