News

The departure of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III from the position of US Attorney General would normally be a matter for celebration. His appalling track record is everything you might expect from an Alabama lawyer named in honour of two Confederate heroes. But he did at least have the s

The sister of an electrician killed in a preventable incident at work has backed a bid to reform the law around culpable homicide. Louise Taggart, whose brother Michael Adamson was killed in 2005, says Claire Baker MSP’s member’s bill would “plug the justice deficit” and &ldq

Much of Scotland’s land will remain outside the proposed Register of Controlled Interests in Land, whose purpose is to make land ownership more transparent – according to a report by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee. MSPs also found that there could be gaps or lo

Neil Falconer discusses regulation of the highly controversial video game mechanic known as the 'loot box'. In computer gaming a loot box is essentially an in-game virtual lottery. A box is purchased by a player with real money. The virtual items found within loot boxes may be something highly

Views are being sought on the regulation of success fee agreements – which are ‘no win, no fee’ or 'no win, lower fee' – to safeguard the interests of people considering civil legal action. In May, the Scottish Parliament passed the Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Procee

The laws that determine when an individual’s legal rights and obligations are extinguished if not acted upon have been reformed, following legislation passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament. The Prescription Bill aims to increase clarity, certainty and fairness for those in dispute over

The former Advocate General for Northern Ireland has warned that Brexit risks undermining the rule of law in Northern Ireland if the UK government doesn't change course. Dominic Grieve, Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland from May 2010 to July 2

Registration is open for the ever-popular 21st Century Bar Conference, which this year has Lord Clark as the keynote speaker. A diverse programme includes Lord Clark’s judicial colleague, Lord Ericht, who will look at the Commercial Court, as well as David Sellar QC (Company Law), Jonathan Mit

Human rights group Amnesty International has highlighted 20 important cases involving the Human Rights Act 1998 to mark 20 years since it received royal assent. Kate Allen, Amnesty's UK director, called the act "the unsung hero of UK life" and hit out at threats from politicians

Writing for our sister publication Irish Legal News, Dublin solicitor Wendy Lyon examines the new book by sex workers and activists Juno Mac and Edinburgh-based Molly Smith. From its striking cover – designed to resemble the outside of a Soho sex shop – and provocatively punny title

A courthouse was forced to cancel proceedings after it turned out to be infested with bed bugs for a second time in three weeks. Lawyers, jurors and court officials were asked to leave to allow exterminators to return to the building.

The passengers of a car who suffered whiplash injuries following a road traffic accident have had the damages awarded in their favour reduced after the driver of the other vehicle’s insurers successfully challenged the medical evidence given in support of their claims. The Sheriff Appeal Court

The Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission are launching the first of a series of public consultations about legal reforms aimed at ensuring the country is prepared for the introduction of automated vehicles. This is an early milestone in a three-year review to examine a

The Scotland for a People’s Vote campaign has welcomed the decision of the Scottish Parliament to formally approve its “unequivocal support for a public vote on the final terms of the Brexit deal” – the first legislature in the UK to do so. Holyrood voted by 65 MSPs to 3

The Scotsman has published a full obituary of leading company lawyer Tom Lawrie, who has passed away at the age of 84. Mr Lawrie had been a partner in Maclay Murray & Spens and acted for many of Scotland's largest companies.