Search: Scottish syndicate purchased land 1901 for £5000

A primary school worker who abused her position to embezzle thousands of pounds from school funds earmarked to help pupils from impoverished backgrounds has been jailed for 16 months. Administrative officer Jane Duncan, 54, of Dundee, stole around £28,000 from Mill O’Mains Primary betwee

Senior defence lawyers have raised concerns about the right to a fair trial after Justice Secretary Angela Constance introduced amendments to extend “rape shield” protections in sexual offence cases. The measures, to be voted on by MSPs on Tuesday as part of the Victims, Witnesses, and J

MSPs on Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee have voiced their alarm at the extent of “legal aid deserts” in Scotland. The committee has been exploring civil legal assistance, commonly known as legal aid, in response to concerns raised about access to jus

This book presents an extensive analysis of the judgments delivered in the UK Supreme Court during its first 10 years (2009-2019). Detailed statistical data is provided of how each of the justices voted in a range of different contexts, including cases involving the state, socio-economic underdogs,

Police Scotland have backed Ash Regan MSP's plan to criminalise buying sex.  Ms Regan’s members bill would make buying sex a criminal offence, with those convicted facing fines of up to £10,000 and possible jail sentence.

The King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR), in partnership with National Museums Scotland, hosted Scotland’s first Treasure Trove Annual Event on Friday at the National Museum of Scotland, marking the launch of the Treasure Trove Scotland Annual Report for 2024/25. The event brought t

The English legal press had their knives out for the Law Society of Scotland this past week. This was on the back of its announcement of a deferral of at least a further two years (to add to the existing 15 years since the introduction of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010) in bringing about alt

Scotland’s most senior judge has highlighted the importance of the rule of law and judicial independence during a speech at the annual opening of the legal year ceremony. Addressing attendees at Parliament House in Edinburgh, the Lord President, Lord Pentland, stressed that the judiciary must

Harper Macleod has strengthened its expertise in public and parliamentary law with new appointments. Lucy Frazer has joined the firm as a senior associate with expertise in equality issues, human rights and civil liberties. She brings significant experience of advising and litigating in relation to

The Crown Office has published new guidance for businesses that discover economic crime such as fraud, money-laundering and bribery within their organisations.  The guidance has been issued following the recent creation of new criminal offences which extend the scope of corporate criminal liabi

Those who have been involved in the All Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court since it was established in 2015, gathered at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday to mark its 10th anniversary. Among those attending were sheriffs past and present who have sat on the Personal Injury Court.

A new report from the Prison Reform Trust, developed through a prisoner-led consultation at HMP Glenochil, calls for urgent reforms to restore hope for men serving very long-term sentences in Scotland’s prisons.  Drawing on surveys and focus groups with prisoners, the report reveals syste

James Chalmers and Fiona Leverick reflect on the life of the late Sir Gerald Gordon. Sir Gerald Gordon, who died recently at the age of 96, made an extraordinary contribution to the criminal law of Scotland during his lifetime. Born and educated in Glasgow, where he graduated in philosophy and Engli

An act that aims to promote the use of British Sign Language (BSL) in Scotland has significantly improved the daily lives of BSL users, according to a report by MSPs on Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. Stakeholders told the committee that the British Sign Langua

Public bodies are failing to deliver on their duties of advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations between different groups, according to a new report from Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee. The Public Sector Equality Duty is a legal requiremen