News

Professor John Cairns has given the first of the Alan Watson Memorial Lectures, entitled "Slavery and the Law in Eighteenth Century Scotland."

Glasgow University has launched a legal podcast that promises to feature expert discussion on a range of legal topics. The inaugural episode of UofG Law Podcast sees host Dr Alan Brown speak to Dr Jill Robbie about her comparative research project on private water rights.

A university has established its own law firm to give students "real life work experience" while they study. Sheffield Hallam University said the initiative is the first to incorporate work experience into every year of the law degree.

The Law Society of Ireland has expanded an initiative that sees trainee solicitors teach prisoners about the law. The Street Law Prisons programme is now offered in a number of Irish prisons, including Wheatfield Prison, Mountjoy, the Dóchas Centre and Arbour Hill, as well as The Pathways Cen

The teenager filmed in a confrontation at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. in January is suing a newspaper – for £250 million. Nicholas Sandmann, 16, is seeking the sum from the Washington Post based on its initial coverage of an event that saw a group of teenagers in a stand-off

A man found guilty of murder for a second time following a re-trial had had an appeal against his sentence dismissed. Cameron Laurie, who was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum custodial period of 18 years after being convicted, along with co-accused Ryan Gibb, of the murder of James Chad

An infuriated sheriff has thrown out three cases after getting fed up with the lack of work done by the Crown. Cases on hospital assault as well as a knife in jail and a hit-and-run accident were all thrown out within half an hour, The Herald reports.

The Glasgow Sheriff Court Alcohol Court is to deal with domestic abuse cases in which alcohol has played a role from next month. Offenders convicted of domestic abuse offences have so far not been admitted to the court but a new scheme offering an alternative to custody will let the court consi

Motorists who break the law could avoid penalty point by signing up to speed awareness courses (SACs) if proposed plans go ahead, The Scotsman reports. Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC has called for SACs to be introduced to Scotland, bringing it into line with England and Wales.

In fatal damages claims, blood relatives have always been entitled to claim solatium (loss of society) for the loss of the relationship. The current legislation, however, produces some interesting and surprising results where claims for loss of society are made by non-blood relatives, writes Jim Her

Jail terms of under six months are to be banned in England and Wales as the UK government follows Scotland's lead. Justice Secretary David Gauke said that in some cases “prison isn’t working” and that he would “legislate if necessary” in order to prevent judges sentenci

It has been five years since the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Scotland) Act 2014 was passed. Marika Franceschi and Liusa Reid ask what, if anything, has changed?  On 12 March 2014, the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act was brought into force, 10 years after the Civil Partnership

Representatives of the four solicitor professions in the UK and Ireland have met in Belfast to discuss issues affecting lawyers across their jurisdictions.

New guidelines to be released this week will recognise racial discrimination against people on the basis of their hairstyle, the New York Times reports. The change in the law will apply to anyone in the city but is intended to remedy the poor treatment of black people.

A man has been jailed for stealing a diamond ring – by swallowing it. Ian Campbell, 54, was sentenced to more than eight years' imprisonment for "qualified theft" by a court in Turkey, Demiroren News Agency reports.