News

There should be new statutory aggravations in relation to gender and age as protected characteristics, according to a review on hate crime submitted to Scottish ministers today. Lord Bracadale's review sets out recommendations in relation to the suite of laws covering hate crime offences in Scotland

Holyrood has passed a new law that stops Shetland being put in a box on maps of Scotland. Under the Islands (Scotland) Bill, Scottish government bodies will not be able to include Shetland in a box.

A man who claimed Romania allowed the United States Central Intelligence Agency to transport him to a detention site under its secret extraordinary rendition programme and subject him to ill-treatment and arbitraty detention suffered violations of his rights under the ECHR, the European Court of Hum

A Digby Brown partner has become the first solicitor in Scotland to be accredited as a specialist in both brain injury and spinal cord injury. Moira Kay, who has been with the firm’s serious injury department for over 13 years, received the accolade from the Association of Personal Injury Lawy

Matthew Stimson considers the ramifications of the Stage 1 Report on the Planning (Scotland) Bill. On 17 May 2018, the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee published its Stage 1 Report on the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

More patients affected by violence will be offered support during admission to hospital to help them turn away from violence in their lives. The Scottish government has awarded £140,000 to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit to expand its ‘Navigator’ programme to Queen Elizabeth U

Via @LyonCourt: The Lord Lyon King of Arms, accompanied by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Lord Justice Clerk and the Officers of Arms, with Balaklava Company and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, witnessed the rededication by the Minister of St Giles of the refurbished Mercat Cross.

Brewin Dolphin is growing its matrimonial team in Scotland with the appointment of family law and mediation expert, Anne Hall Dick, as a consultant. Ms Dick will work with the Brewin Dolphin team to enhance its understanding of the market. She will also provide mentoring and training to the firm&rsq

The Faculty of Advocates' Gavin MacColl QC, has been appointed independent chair of the Scottish Rugby Council standing committee on governance. Mr MacColl, who called in 2000 and took silk last year, is one of the bar’s specialists in commercial law.

The Scottish Arbitration Centre has announced that Norman Fiddes has agreed to sit on its Arbitral Appointments Committee, joining its Domestic Sub-Committee. The centre’s arbitral appointments service has been operating since it was first introduced in December 2014. When parties specify

Blackadders has appointed Susie Clark as an associate solicitor in its Dundee office. Ms Clark will help to develop the firm’s conveyancing credentials and portfolio of clients in Dundee and Angus. She has over two decades of experience as a property lawyer and will reinforce the firm's p

A gang which flew drugs into a prison using a drone filmed themselves for nearly 20 minutes, a court heard yesterday. The jury at Perth Sheriff Court saw footage of men packaging drugs recovered from the grounds of Perth Prison, The Scotsman reports.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has two paid placements available for law students. The SSSC is flexible with dates but is looking for people available between July 2018 and March 2019.

A prisoner who was found to be entitled to damages following a serious assault by another inmate after warning a prison officer that his attacker had previously threatened him has had the decision upheld by appeal judges. Keith Porter was convicted of attempted murder following the attack on Daniel

Lord Reed has been appointed Deputy President of the Supreme Court. Her Majesty The Queen made the appointment on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following the recommendation of an independent selection commission.