News

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.

The public is being asked for their views on how the law covering succession in Scotland could be made fairer. A newly-launched consultation asks how an estate should be split when there are both a surviving spouse and children.

Lawyers gathered last week at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow to hear a debate on the merits of the Roberton Review.  The panel consisted of report author Esther Roberton; Scottish Legal Complaints Commission chief executive Neil Stevenson; former Law Society of Scotland president C

It has emerged that 500 people per month caught with cannabis in Scotland are avoiding prosecution as police issue warnings instead. Anti-drugs campaigners have criticised the policy as a “soft touch” approach but police have defended their use of recorded police warnings (RPWs) as a way

More than 1,400 prisoners are being housed in overcrowded ‘doubled-up’ single cells across Scotland. A total of 1,420 prisoners are currently being held in these cells, with one in every 10 single-cells in the prison estate housing more than one inmate.

Anderson Strathern has added six newly-created director roles to complement its partner base as the firm aims to build on a record financial performance in 2018. Victoria Simpson (private client), Gary Burton, Sarah Philips and Robbie Wilson (dispute resolution), Neil Fraser and Jon McGee (commercia

Ledingham Chalmers has appointed employment law expert John Lee to its team in Edinburgh. The University of Strathclyde graduate is qualified to practise in Scotland, England and Wales and has worked in London and Edinburgh advising clients from a wide range of sectors including energy and util