The Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee has published the findings of its inquiry on options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum. The Scottish and UK governments should negotiate a “clear pathway” allowing Scotland to exercise its dem
Appointments
See all articlesBrodies LLP has added to its corporate crime practice with the appointment of new partner Neil Hay. Mr Hay is recognised for his expertise in criminal law and financial crime where he provides strategic legal advice and specialist court representation for individuals, companies and organisations und
Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) has expanded with a new office in Aberdeen. The firm – which has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Dunblane and Galashiels – has opened its north east base on Marischal Square in the heart of the city centre.
BTO has welcomed Donna Strong as a new partner in the firm’s real estate team, based in its Glasgow office. This senior hire follows the appointment of partner John Dunlop in the firm’s Edinburgh office last year, further strengthening BTO’s growing real estate capability.
Burness Paull has appointed Tim Dale to the new role of knowledge and client service partner. Mr Dale – who brings a decade’s experience of leading and growing a knowledge function in an international law firm – will be responsible for elevating all aspects of Burness Paull’s
The Law Society of Scotland granted extended rights of audience to 15 new solicitor advocates in two ceremonies held this week.
The Lord President, Lord Pentland, has appointed new employment judges in Scotland. The new salaried judges in the Dundee Office of Employment Tribunals are:
Universities
See all articlesThe Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law (AUCEL) held a seminar on contemporary developments in International Energy Law last month.
Work by Edinburgh Law School postdoctoral research fellow Dr Jacob Fredrickson has helped inform a theatrical production staging at the historic Old Bailey this March. Justice? Trial and Error will transform Court No 1 in the Old Bailey into a live performance space from 15–19 March 2026, draw
Dundee University has won the Lord Jones Intervarsity Mooting Competition on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Hosted by the University of Dundee Mooting Society at Dundee Law School, the competition follows the format of the Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Moot in London.
GCU Law academics Dr Andrew Tickell and Seonaid Stevenson-McCabe have been nominated for a research prize for leading a successful campaign to secure lifelong anonymity for victims of sexual offences in Scotland. The Glasgow Caledonian University lecturers have been shortlisted for the Socio-Legal S
The Committee of Heads of Scottish Law Schools responds to an article in Scottish Legal News last year on the use of AI in their institutions. In early December 2025, Corsino San Miguel wrote an article for Scottish Legal News in which, drawing on selected examples from law firms and certain law sch
Legal Aid
See all articlesSolicitors who provide legal aid will receive a 13 per cent increase in fees from September this year. The fees hike is part of a wider package of support including also funding for up to 40 legal aid traineeship places and digital support to help firms purchase devices to assist trainees in their w
The Law Society of Scotland is seeking urgent clarification from the Scottish government on why legal aid has again been ignored in the final budget before this year’s Holyrood election. Finance Secretary Shona Robinson announced the 2026-27 budget in the Scottish Parliament on 13 January 2026
The Scottish government is pausing it’s proposed changes to legal aid for adults with legal incapacity (AWI) cases, following an intervention by Govan Law Centre. Last month, GLC wrote to the Holyrood's Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee to recommend rejection of a draft Scottish statut
The Law Society of Scotland has warned that proposed changes to legal aid fees for cases related to adults with incapacity (AWI) would further exacerbate the shortage of solicitors for such work. The warning is contained in a submission by the Law Society on potential changes to legal aid regulation
Laura Simpson and Christine McKellar of Govan Law Centre raise the alarm over proposed changes to legal aid for adults with incapacity in Scotland. It is no secret that Scotland’s legal aid system is in urgent need of reform. With the increase in legal aid deserts caused by an ever-diminishing
And Finally
See all articlesIndia's top court has banned a school textbook which made references to court backlogs and "corruption in the judiciary". The Supreme Court of India has imposed a "complete blanket ban... on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination" of the book, which was published last week by t
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been charged with drugs offences after telling a podcast he once took ecstasy decades ago. The controversial left-wing politician and leader of the MeRA25 party said he had tried ecstasy in Australia in 1989 but was discouraged from doing so again a
A senior judge in Pakistan has been removed from office after it emerged he obtained his law degree through fraud. Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri served on Islamabad High Court for five years before the invalidity of his undergraduate degree at the University of Karachi came to light.
New York police say they are investigating "criminals" who pelted officers with snowballs after they turned up to a mass snowball fight. Videos circulating on social media show a rain of snowballs coming down on officers attending the event, which was organised online in the wake of a major blizzard
A man who admitted smuggling drugs into Mexico has been given the benefit of the doubt after saying he didn't mean to bring them back to Canada. Daniel Jacob Cluett was charged with three counts of importing substances into Canada after border officials found cocaine and MDMA in his luggage.










