James Rankin McKail was born on the 2 August 1892 . His father was John McKail, a builder and brickmaker. James Rankin McKail attended the University of Glasgow , Scotland, from 1914-1918 to study Law. In his first year 1914-1915 he studied Scots Law and International Private Law. In his second year 1915-1916 he studied Conveyancing and Evidence and Procedure. It was in the class of Evidence and Procedure that he was awarded a special certificate in view of the Class Prize as well as being awarded a certificate of merit. In his third year he studied Civil Law and Forensic Medicine. There is no record of him matriculating for the academic session of 1917-1918 so it is possible that he returned in 1918 only to sit his exams. He graduated BL in 1918 .
On graduating he found employment as a Law Clerk. In 1919, James Rankin McKail passed all the examinations necessary for his admission as a Law Agent (or solicitor). However, it wasn't until 1925 that he was actually registered as a Law Agent. In 1933, he was admitted as a member of the Scottish Law Agent's Society. McKail returned to the University of Glasgow as an Additional Examiner in Conveyancing in 1953. In 1955 , he was admitted as a member of the Merchants' House of the City of Glasgow. On his certificate of admittance he is recorded as working for Messrs Biggart, Lumsden & Co , Solicitors, 105 West George Street, Glasgow. He died on the 11 February 1977 .
From the guide to the Papers of James Rankin McKail, 1892-1977, solicitor and law graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1915-1955, (Glasgow University Archive Services)
