Search:

A pilot court project in Aberdeen that sees sheriffs tackle the reasons behind persistent offending has been hailed as “pioneering” by Justice Secretary Michael Matheson (pictured). Since November 2015, sheriffs in Aberdeen Sheriff Court have been involved in identifying support for the chronic

Senior solicitor advocate Iain Paterson (pictured) of Paterson Bell Solicitors earned £195,000 in legal aid payments in 2015-16, new figures show. Mr Paterson's total payments represented a 27 per cent decline on £267,000 in 2014-15, but he retained his position as the highest-earning solicitor ad

Glasgow-based Livingstone Brown Solicitors has maintained its status as the largest recipient of legal aid in Scotland, despite a 13 per cent drop in the total amount it received. The firm was paid nearly £1.7 million in 2015-16, down from more than £1.9 million in 2014-15.

Donald Findlay QC (pictured) earned more in legal aid payments than any other advocate in 2015-16, new Scottish Legal Aid Board figures show. Mr Findlay was paid £288,000 in 2015-16, an 11 per cent increase on £259,000 in 2014-15.

Scotland's total legal aid bill was £137.8 million in 2015-16, down slightly on £138.6 million in 2014-15, according to the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). The figures are included in SLAB's annual report, laid before the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

The training, welfare and conduct of members of the Scottish Housing and Property Tribunals have become the responsibility of the Lord President, Lord Carloway (pictured) under changes which came into effect from today. Lord Carloway delegated his responsibility for the efficient disposal of busines

Prosecutors successfully challenged a judge’s decision to acquit a man accused of rape after a juror left the jury room to make a personal phone call after they had begun their deliberations. The Criminal Appeal Court ruled that acquittal was “not the appropriate remedy” and that in the circum

Librarians in Kerry were stunned this week to have a book returned — 67 years late. The €1,200 fine on Ruby of a Thousand Dreams, an adventure romance by Roland Daniel, was waived as part of an amnesty.

https://youtu.be/In8ZkPaZJFE A coalition of four churches has produced a video imagining the welcome Mary and Joseph would receive if they arrived in the UK seeking asylum.

Thanks to all who took part in our quiz and congrats to the winners. Copies of Willie McIntyre’s Present Tense and £25 M&S vouchers are on their way…. The answers are:

Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court (Photo credit: Google Street View) Sheriff James Williamson has criticised prosecutors over the number of cases in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court which have been postponed due to problems with CCTV evidence, The Herald reports.

Pictured (l-r): Jenna Dicken and Paddy Fulton Balfour+Manson has announced the promotion of four members of its litigation team to associate: Mark Boni, Paddy Fulton and Iain Thomson in Edinburgh, and Jenna Dicken in Aberdeen.

Pictured: Lois Craig, Catherine Bury, Hazel Moir and Allan Collie A senior associate with Ledingham Chalmers has become one of only four lawyers recognised as agricultural law specialists in the north of Scotland.

Katie Williams

The Crown Office has announced that it will stage a single Fatal Accident Inquiry into two separate fatal accidents for the first time. Under sections 13 and 14 of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016, an FAI will be held within the Lothian and Borders Sheriffdom to conside