News

The general principles of the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) Bill have been agreed by MSPs. Under the bill, a new method of setting the discount rate used in determining long-term future awards of damages would be introduced.

Victims will have greater involvement in the parole process and will be able to find out more about parole decisions, Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has pledged. The proposals, which have been informed by the experiences of victims and families in Scotland’s criminal justice process, are inclu

Two new members have been appointed to fill vacant positions on the Scottish Sentencing Council. Susan Fallone has been appointed as a judicial member, replacing Gillian Thomson. Ms Fallone has been a Justice of the Peace in Edinburgh since 2013. She currently works as a civil litigation solici

Govan Law Centre has settled a Sheriff Appeal Court (SAC) case where a single female parent and her children were due to be evicted following an unsuccessful evidential hearing which had been conducted by a firm of solicitors in Glasgow. Parties have agreed to allow the appeal insofar as it relates

A woman who failed to fully inherit the estate of her deceased husband, based on a will written in accordance with Greek civil law, because Greece automatically applies Sharia law to Greeks of Muslim faith suffered a violation of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) of the European Convention

Pictured (L-R): Elin Jones, Greg Robertson, Mairi McCallum and Rory Anderson Grigor & Young LLP recently raised £4,531 through a wills promotion in each of its Elgin & Forres offices for Moray Foodbank.

Six people in the Midlands have been jailed for being members of the proscribed neo-Nazi group National Action (NA), including a couple who gave their son the middle name "Adolf" in tribute to the Nazi leader. Leicester man Daniel Bogunovic, 27, and Oxfordshire couple Adam Thomas, 22, and Claudia Pa

Music star Shakira is facing prosecution in Spain for allegedly avoiding €14.5 million in taxes between 2012 and 2014. The singer – made famous in Europe by her record-breaking hit Hips Don't Lie - allegedly used 14 shell companies to hide income while a Spanish resident.

The Law Society of Scotland has called for an "evidence-based review system" to ensure the sustainable future of the Scottish legal aid system. Alison Atack, president of the Law Society, said it is "essential that we have a legal aid system that ensures people across Scotland can access the legal a

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf appears to have ruled out a new approach to child witnesses that would prevent them from having to give evidence more than once, The Herald reports. The Scottish government is considering an approach inspired by the "Barnahus" (Children's House) model in Norway, where

A solicitor representing the family of one of the 2014 Glasgow bin lorry crash victims has called on the UK government to change the law to prevent further tragedies. Ronnie Conway, Scottish co-ordinator for the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), warned that there is "no system in place

The Scottish government has said it is still considering a public inquiry into the death of Kirkcaldy man Sheku Bayoh in police custody in 2015 following a new BBC documentary about the case. BBC Scotland broadcast CCTV footage of Mr Bayoh's arrest for the first time last night in the Disclosure: De

Rachael Kelsey, a director at SKO Family Law Specialists, will be writing regular updates for Scottish Legal News in coming weeks, dealing with the specifics of the Brexit implications for family law. Here, Rachael gives a general overview of where we are with the three most likely political outcome

The Scottish government has relegated the full integration of British Transport Police (BTP) into Police Scotland to a "long-term" goal, preferring "a stronger oversight role" for the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in the interim. Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said in a letter to MSPs that his off

The House of Lords is set to overhaul its disciplinary processes next year to better support complainants in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC, The Times reports. The 82-year-old peer and former barrister resigned from the Lords last week ahead of a vote