James Graham Leechman was born in Glasgow on 06 October 1906 in Glasgow. His father Walter Leechman was a solicitor and writer. Prior to attending university, James was a student at Glasgow High School. James attended the University of Glasgow from 1924-1930 , taking classes in Mathematics (Ordinary), Natural Philosophy (Ordinary), Constitutional Law and History in his first year; Latin (Ordinary), Mathematics (Intermediate Honours) and Natural Philosophy in his second year; Moral Philosophy (Ordinary), Natural Philosophy and Mathematics (Honours) in his third year; Chemistry, Zoology and Astronomy in his fourth year. He was awarded a second class certificate in Natural Philosophy (Ordinary) in 1924, and a first class certificate in Zoology and a second class certificate in Astronomy in 1928. He graduated with an MA in November 1927 , a BSc in June 1928 , and returned the following year to study law, taking classes in Scots Law, Forensic Medicine and Civil Law in his fifth year and Conveyancing, Jurisprudence and Public International Law in his sixth and final year. He graduated with an LLB in November 1930 and subsequently became an advocate. He later became Solicitor General for Scotland from 1964-1965 and a senator of the Royal College of Justice in Scotland from 1965-1976 . James died in Edinburgh on 15 May 1986 .
From the guide to the Papers of James Graham Leechman, 1906-1986, arts, science and law graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1927, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
