Neil was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University, in the latter of which Neil was awarded LLB (Hons) and a Diploma of Legal Education.  After completing his legal traineeship, Neil went to the Bar.  He was admitted as a Member of Faculty in June 1999.  At the Bar he practises in civil law, mostly in medical negligence, industrial disease, and abuse cases.  He was Faculty’s Director of Training and Education from December 2017 to June 2021; he continues to be an active advocacy trainer, having trained in Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Africa, as well as extensively in the UK.  Neil took silk in 2019 and became Keeper of the Library in February 2022.  In this position, he is the Office Bearer of Faculty with responsibility for the Advocates’ Library, he convenes Faculty’s pro bono offering (the Free Legal Services Unit), and convenes the Joint Collection Management Committee for the Faculty of Advocates Abbotsford Collections Trust and the Abbotsford Trust.