Opinion

If he might crave the reader’s indulgence, this idle scrivener would very much like to share his fun idea for an exciting new parlour game or, equally, a pub quiz for the judicially aware at any learned hangout where good claret can be had. A subtle combination of Where’s Wally and Clued

The understandable furore over the malicious dishonesty of those involved in the prosecution, better word persecution, of innocent sub-postmasters by the once trusted Post Office seems to me merely one example of a wider malaise in our present society. Like many bad-tempered old court lawyers, I hav

The role of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in the Horizon scandal must be investigated, writes a concerned solicitor. The recent ITV drama on the Horizon scandal has shocked the nation. This has been an issue that has troubled me since listening to Nick Wallis’ excellen

Stuart Munro, who acted for Susan Sinclair, the first subpostmaster in Scotland whose conviction was overturned on appeal, writes on the scandal that has caught the public's attention. The broadcast of a major new drama on ITV, Mr Bates vs the Post Office, has brought the Post Office Horizon scandal

Retired solicitor advocate David Brookens recalls seeing someone take the law into their own hands in his early days in court. Yesterday's edition of The Times carried a story that really struck a chord with me: a story about a judge in Florida being attacked by a dissatisfied accused. My very first

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced proposals to ensure that consumer credit scores will now better reflect individuals’ financial situations, writes Venetia Jackson. The proposals set out a range of measures aiming to improve the information collected by credit reference

I try to avoid criticism of political figures on social media – but like most people I can be provoked beyond endurance. Last week First Minister Humza Yousaf attended an event at the University of Strathclyde at which the consultation on a Scottish Human Rights Bill was discussed. I am very h

Should we be seeking to remove a significant number of disputes from the courts altogether, asks John Sturrock. Recently in these pages, I mentioned a talk I’d given to a Worldwide Advocacy Conference in July 1998. Then, I’d identified two related developments with implications for civil

Fragomen solicitor Kelly Hardman explains the roll-out of a new scheme which helps to digitalise the UK’s border is already under way – and energy sector companies which deploy workers from overseas need to pay heed to its implications. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) initiativ

Scotland should recall recent history before approving a law that would make dictators blush, writes Andrew Stevenson. Last month the Scottish Law Agents’ Society gave evidence to the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament. We opposed the proposal to al

Northern Ireland barrister James Stitt examines a Scottish case with significance for clinical negligence practitioners. Once more, a Scottish case has provided an opportunity for a substantial development of the law in the field of clinical negligence.

Do not read on; it is all rubbish. A suggestion, which has had some press coverage recently, is that we may in future be subject to criminal sanctions if our bins contain material of the wrong kind. The “thinking” behind this is to encourage recycling. No sensible person would be opposed

Businesses operating in the UK energy sector should consider how they can use their gender pay gap (GPG) data as a catalyst for change in their organisation, writes Susannah Donaldson. Analysis by Pinsent Masons has found that many businesses in the sector are already taking positive action to

In recent days Colombian pop star Shakira has settled a long running dispute with the Spanish authorities on her tax residence between 2012 and 2014. The singer has paid over 7.5 million euros to bring the case to an end, writes Kevin Winters. The Spanish authorities reportedly argued that Shak

Proposed new measures to tackle unsafe cladding in Scotland will have “significant consequences” for the country’s real estate industry when adopted, writes Graham Horsman. The Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill – expected to be passed by mid-2024 – is