I'd just like to congratulate all students studying around the world who completed their LL.Ms successfully over the past academic year (2005-6).

I don't know if you will graduate in a large ceremony, or receive a handshake and a letter from your school office, but I hope that you take time to sit back and appreciate the hard work you have put in over the past 12 months or more. I'd have thought that most of you will have had your ceremony by now, but here at The University of Edinburgh, we have only just been going through our winter graduation ceremonies, including all the successful LL.M students here at the School of Law!

If you'd like to see a picture of the splended McCewan Hall, The University of Edinburgh's graduation hall, with the ceremony underway please follow this link: http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/distancelearning/images/graduation/lawllmgraduation2006-1280.jpg

It was an excellent ceremony. You'll see from the picture that there is a great set of pipes above the seated academics. They were sounding out from an organist hidden somewhere, while all the guests were taking their seats - and a most beatiful sound it was too. Then the ceremony proper commenced, with the procession leading in from the back of the hall, through the audience and onto the stage.

I was a mere spectator, I should point out, not receiving any awards there. I was sat up in the first balcony level, but with a clear view of the Principal, Lord Provost, honorary guests and the students getting their heads tipped by the hat as they walked up one by one.

Two honorary awards were presented, as well as MSc and other Master awards. A short choral interlude and then some more awards!

The graduates all looked most pleased to be there, including LL.M students who had completed their degree via distance learning and are now the proud recipients of an LL.M in Innovation, Technology and the Law! I know that many people were worried that they might trip up as they were collecting their award. Fortunately, no one did.

Special congratulations to you all of you from The University of Edinburgh and all other higher education institutions around the world.

Colin.