Paul Nelson KC called to the Bar in 2004, having been in practice for a decade as a criminal defence solicitor and procurator fiscal. He built, as described by the Lord President in his speech opening the Legal Year in 2022, “a busy practice as a respected trial lawyer”, before taking Silk that year. He specialises in criminal practice at first instance and appellate level, both for defence, and, having been appointed advocate depute ad hoc in 2017, for the prosecution.