A new statement of prosecution policy sets out the circumstances in which the use of diversion or referral are appropriate where a child has been accused of rape or other serious sexual offences. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said the new document recognises the seriousness
Latest Articles
Appointments
See all articlesDr Smita Kheria has been elected as chair of the Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA). Dr Kheria, a senior lecturer in intellectual property law at Edinburgh Law School, is the first woman of colour to hold the position since the association was established in 1990.
Sean Austin and Katie Docherty have been reappointed as members of the Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) board. The pair have been appointed by Natalie Don-Innes, minister for children, young people and the Promise, for a further four-year term running from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2029.
Ledingham Chalmers has promoted 11 legal professionals across its Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Inverness offices in one of its largest-ever promotion rounds. Five lawyers — Edinburgh-based litigation lawyers Laila Kennedy and Mitchell Bell, and Aberdeen-based commercial property lawyer Taylor Morri
Jen McCormick has been appointed as a partner at Ashurst. One of 20 new partners, Ms McCormick, who is based in Glasgow, is the regional head of the firm's advance solutions practice for EMEA and the US. She is a finance lawyer by background with experience in banking, restructuring and insolvency.
Dentons has announced the promotion of two new partners in Scotland. Edinburgh-based Kirsty McBirnie and Glasgow-based Lorna Henderson, both in the corporate lending & real estate finance practice, will join the Dentons partnership on 1 May.
Levy & McRae has announced the appointment of Malcolm Cannon as its new COO. Mr Cannon joins the firm with a wealth of experience in both industry and in the legal sector.
Legal Aid
See all articlesLawyers have accused the Scottish government of intentionally delaying action on legal aid until after next year's Holyrood election. The Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) said the profession was being treated with contempt as it confirmed it will escalate its boycott of the government's su
Family members involved in deaths in custody fatal accident inquiries (FAI) are to have immediate, free access to legal aid support and advice. Justice Secretary Angela Constance confirmed that she is using existing ministerial powers to remove means-testing for legal aid in such cases, so that from
Defence solicitors are to boycott the Scottish government’s new Summary Case Management scheme in protest over legal aid fees. In the face of the Scottish government’s continued refusal to engage in meaningful talks with the profession, the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) "has
Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has today launched a new call for views into civil legal assistance, covering civil legal aid and advice and assistance for civil issues, and grant funding for advice organisations. The call for views is part of a new inquiry whic
Lawyers have threatened to boycott the Scottish government's new swifter justice scheme unless legal aid fees are increased. Members of the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) will not take part in summary cases heard as part of the new Summary Case Management (SCM) initiative.
Universities
See all articlesDr Smita Kheria has been elected as chair of the Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA). Dr Kheria, a senior lecturer in intellectual property law at Edinburgh Law School, is the first woman of colour to hold the position since the association was established in 1990.
A special feedback forum will be held to mark 10 years since the establishment of the Sheriff Appeal Court. The event on Wednesday 14 May will hear directly from those who use the court. Attendance is welcomed from advocates, solicitor advocates, solicitors, and others with experience of the appeals
A new Scots Law degree will start at the University of West of Scotland’s (UWS) Paisley campus in September 2025. The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme is a four-year degree with the potential to be undertaken part-time over a six-year period and is fully accredited by the Law Society of Scotla
The University of Glasgow hosted the Brown-Mosten International Client Consultation Competition (BMICCC) earlier this month.
The University of Glasgow’s GO Justice Centre is a key partner in a new research centre led by the University of Liverpool. The Centre for People’s Justice (CPJ) is a coalition of 45 organisations from community, business, philanthropic, cultural, artistic, charitable, legal, government
And Finally
See all articlesA disgruntled former Disney employee who hacked into the company's computers to vandalise its restaurant menus has been jailed. Michael Scheuer, 40, made changes including altering menu information relating to wine regions to reflect locations of recent mass shootings.
Police are on the hunt for a drug dealer believed to have hidden drug-filled eggs across a city as part of an Easter scavenger hunt. Five plastic eggs containing around seven grams of cannabis were allegedly hidden in spots across Lufkin, Texas, with clues to their locations posted on Facebook.
The demolition of a building known as "Britain's biggest man cave" has cost around £220,000 in taxpayers' money.
An accountant has lost a £700,000 court claim against developers after refusing to complete the purchase of a £1.5 million flat in south London's Aykon London One tower, nicknamed the 'Versace Tower' for its fashion house-designed interiors. Mi Suk Park, 54, paid a £381,000 deposit
A legislature has passed a bill dubbed by its detractors as the “Let Politicians Lie Act". The Missouri Legislature passed Senate Bill 22, which allows politicians to rewrite ballot summary language up to three times, even after courts have ruled it unlawful.