Opinion

The chancellor promised a Budget of “breathing space now and fresh hope for the future”. For partners in Scotland’s law firms, that breathing space is on hold until the Scottish Budget on 3 December, writes Alex Docherty. Nothing in the Budget was aimed specifically at law firms. W

Scotland's civil courts need procedures that are not only legally sound but proportionate, accessible and effective in practice, writes Ahsan Mustafa. The Scottish Civil Justice Council (SCJC) occupies an important position in the administration of justice in Scotland. It was established on 28 May 2

Changes to corroboration and the use of evidence from absent witnesses have weakened protections against wrongful convictions in Scotland, writes Douglas McConnell. In more than 20 years as a criminal defence solicitor, I have watched Scotland’s criminal justice system evolve significantly. of

2025 was a difficult year for any solicitor with farming clients, if I may be bold enough to appoint myself temporary spokesperson for such a group, writes Catherine Bury. The surprise changes to inheritance tax reliefs applying to agricultural property were enough to provoke the conversations Micro

Scottish retailers must ensure their policies and procedures comply with new restrictions on the promotion and placement of less healthy food and drink products now in force, writes Zoe Betts. The Food (Promotion and Placement) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 came into force on 1 October. The regulation

As the nights draw in and the shops silt up with Hallowe’en plastic, spare a thought for the poltergeist. Invisible to the human eye, dismissed as a noisy nuisance if making its presence felt. Court reporters in Scotland can empathise, writes Rosalind McInnes, legal director at BBC Scotland. D

The handling of a solicitor complaint has raised questions about undisclosed evidence, investigator accountability and the independence of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission’s decision-making process, writes Mohammed Sabir. Complaints against solicitors are inevitable. The important ques

When the allied victors surveyed in the 1940s and 50s the rubble of a European continent – and world – ravaged by the breakdown of the rule of law they sought to draw up a charter of universal human rights and freedoms designed to guard against a slip back into the abyss. It might be sur

As the saying goes, the devil is in the detail. It is tempting to be cautiously optimistic, with the recent Scottish company insolvency figures released by the Insolvency Service showing a 23 per cent reduction in August 2026 compared to August 2025, writes Stuart Clubb. Following a period of elevat

Jonathan Barne KC of Axiom Advocates outlines the key points of the co-insurance defence and its potential consequences. Beware. It lurks. Ill-defined. Morphing. Misunderstood. But, potentially, very dangerous to the unwary. The co-insurance defence.

On any view, a single death on Scotland’s roads is one death too many. However, is the way we measure the success or otherwise of road safety policies correct and should we only look at the number of fatalities and/or serious injuries? For example, in 2023 there were 27 motorcycling fatalities

A good understanding of “informed consent” helps patients play an active role in decisions about their medical treatment, writes Claudia Preiss. Historically, there has been a paternalistic approach to deciding patient care; the medical professional makes the treatment decisions on behal

The UK government has published its response to a consultation on improving access to flexible working, confirming that it will introduce significant reforms designed to strengthen employees’ ability to secure flexible working arrangements, writes Dr Anne Sammon. The reforms will also work to

The government has confirmed it will extend “day one” employee bereavement and pregnancy loss rights from next April. The changes will give more people a legal right to take time off work after suffering a bereavement or pregnancy loss in another shake-up to employment rights, writes Dr

Twenty years ago, the Scottish Parliament passed the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. At the time, it was a major step forward in animal protection law, writes The Animal Law Foundation. The Act prohibits causing animals unnecessary suffering. It also places a positive duty on those re