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Human rights groups have called for the release of Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, who has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for "subverting state power". Mr Quanzhang was the last lawyer awaiting a verdict in connection with a 2015 crackdown which targeted nearly 250 human rights la

The Russian government has unveiled plans to allow officials to escape prosecution for bribery or other acts of corruption in "exceptional circumstances". Anti-corruption groups have derided the announced move from a country frequently ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world.

A motorist who was jailed for eight months after pleading guilty to a charge of drink driving having been caught more than seven times over the legal limit has had his sentence reduced following an appeal. The Sheriff Appeal Court quashed the original sentence imposed on the basis that it was "incom

The Faculty of Advocates has voiced concern at part of the Scottish government's planned approach to the regulation of success fee agreements. Conflict has arisen over proposals concerning entitlement to a success fee on withdrawal from an agreement.

International law firm Dentons has reported its "strongest ever set of financial results" in the UK and Middle East on the back of its merger with Scottish law firm Maclay Murray & Spens. The latest Dentons UK and Middle East LLP consolidated accounts for the financial year ending 30 April 2018

All of Scotland's judges and sheriffs are set to receive specific training on domestic abuse ahead of the commencement of new legislation criminalising physical and psychological abuse of partners or ex-partners. The Judicial Institute for Scotland, the body responsible for educating and training Sc

Lawyers have complained of court delays this week after a new private company took over the contract for transferring prisoners to court, The Herald reports. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has said it expects the "operational issues" to be resolved over the course of the week.

Around one in five trials for rape or attempted rape end in a not proven verdict, according to the latest Scottish government figures. There were 2,255 reports of rape or attempted rape in 2017/18, a 20 per cent increase on 1,878 reports in 2016/17.

Sheriffs and summary sheriffs will be recruited on an annual basis at the same time each year under new plans announced by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS). The Board has announced the launch of annual shrieval competitions, beginning in spring this year.

A local group aiming to bring the former Arbroath Sheriff Court building into community use has been given until the end of march to prove it has enough capital for its proposals, The Courier reports. The Arbroath Courthouse Community Trust (ACCT) has been given a final chance to prove it has the wo

The requirement for a person to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they did not commit an offence in order to access compensation for a miscarriage of justice does not breach their right to presumption of innocence, the Supreme Court has ruled. The question in the appeals was whether the definitio

An American politician who employs hundreds of young teenagers has proposed a new law to scrap restrictions on child labour in his state. Republican Senator Chip Perfect's Senate Bill 342 would remove work permit requirements and working time restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds in Indiana.

A new protocol detailing how landowners, land managers and communities can work together to make "better and fairer" decisions about land use was launched today by the Scottish Land Commission. The protocol supports the Guidance on Engaging Communities in decisions relating to land, which was publis

Proposals to increase the use of electronic tags and reduce the period for which people with prior convictions must disclose them have received the backing of MSPs on the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee. The measures form part of a wider Management of Offenders Bill, that would allow t

A London-based company has admitted a health and safety offence after a falling barrier struck a young girl at a shopping centre in Glasgow. Arcadia Group Ltd, a multinational retail company, pled guilty to a contravention of Sections 3(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. A