Craig's letters illustrate the everyday concerns of a provincial law agent, demonstrating familiarity with all aspects of legal practice even if Craig himself did not carry them out personally. They show him undertaking tasks typical of writers, such as acting as a professional trustee, and operating as part of a professional network with other law agents. In 1837, however, Donald Horne made the erroneous claim that Craig did not ‘practise as a writer generally’. Prior to becoming a political agent in January 1833, Horne does not seem to have known Craig. It may be that Craig, in his fifties when his partnership with William Rutherford began in 1836, focused on banking and the affairs of his major clients while Rutherford took on the bulk of the more general work and this may have influenced Horne's perception. Even if true, in earlier years, Craig certainly undertook general practice. He described himself as a writer in newspaper advertisements and contributed to the local writers’ widows’ fund. In 1815 he was designed ‘writer’ in a civil action and John Paterson referred to him variously as ‘writer’ and ‘banker’ in his firm's letter book. Craig, as usual, obtained an attorney certificate in 1835 which was sent to Andrew Lang to be recorded. The following year, now working in partnership, he neglected a certificate but he took one again in November 1838.

Setting aside his banking correspondence, Craig's letter books show similarities to those of contemporary local law agents, like Thomas Dykes (1792–1876) in Hamilton and James Russel (c.1788–1858) in Falkirk, although as procurators their focus was not identical to his. His grasp of agricultural leases was discussed in an earlier chapter, but the range of his work reflects an understanding of the disparate areas of law relevant to his clients’ needs.

LEGAL EDUCATION

Nothing specific is known about Craig's legal education but the experience of his early acquaintance, William Jerdan (1782–1869), son of a baron bailie of Kelso, was perhaps not dissimilar to his own. Jerdan trained in law before moving to London where he became famous as editor of the Literary Gazette. According to his autobiography, he spent part of his youth ‘scribbling in the office of Mr James Hume a writer (as attorneys or solicitors in Scotland were called) and distributor of stamps for Berwickshire’.