BSc Manch 1901, LLB 1914, MB ChB 1920; MRCS LRCP 1920.
Laing studied medicine at Owens College Manchester and St Bartholomew's Hospital. He held junior positions at MRI before entering general practice in Cheetham Hill Manchester. He may have been a son of James Laing. He was barrister at law for the Middle Temple. Laing was also deputy coroner for Salford District, anaesthetist for Northern Hospital Manchester and surgeon to Manchester police and fire brigade. Laing later moved to Kent, but then retired to Ashton-under-Lyne. Niven died between 1950 and 1957.