The Faculty of Advocates’ director of training and education, Dr David Parratt, has achieved a highly unusual hat-trick, after calling to the Northern Ireland bar.

Dr Parratt was already dual qualified, having been admitted to the Scottish bar in 1999 and to the bar of England and Wales in 2009.

He joined the Northern Ireland bar at a ceremony in Belfast, and is believed to be only the second Scottish advocate, after Roy Martin QC, to hold the triple membership.

He said: “I am honoured to be admitted to the Hon Society of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland and called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

“The ceremony was similar to ours with admission firstly to the Inn and then a procession to court to appear before a judge – the Lord Chief Justice.

“I hope my qualification will lead to a strengthening of the ties between our Bar and the Northern Ireland Bar. Already we have had discussions about shared advocacy training opportunities.”