Laura McBrien

Laura McBrien serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Law School, where she holds the pivotal role of Director of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice—a mandatory vocational program for aspiring solicitors and advocates in Scotland.

Her scholarly focus centers on Legal Education and Professional Legal Practice, with complementary engagement in Criminal Law and Private Law as reflected in the Law School's research infrastructure. This aligns with Edinburgh Law School's established strengths in Criminal Law and Evidence, Criminology, and Private Law research clusters.

In her directorship, she oversees curriculum design, accreditation compliance with the Law Society of Scotland, and practical skills training integration. Her leadership bridges academic legal theory with courtroom-ready competencies, directly shaping Scotland's future legal practitioners through the Diploma's intensive professional development framework.