News

People serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP) have one of the highest rates of self-harm in the prison system according to a new report published today by the Prison Reform Trust. Figures show that for every 1,000 people serving an IPP there were 550 incidents of self-harm. Th

A company and individual who accepted the transfer of four properties – challenged by joint administrators of the transferor companies as gratuitous alienations – have had their appeal to the Supreme Court against a decision of the Inner House of the Court of Session dismissed. Oceancrown Ltd, L

A man who was given a community payback order after being found guilty of a statutory breach of the peace by striking the windscreen of a car with a metal bar has won an appeal against his conviction. The Sheriff Appeal Court quashed the conviction after ruling that the case was one in which the cou

The Faculty of Advocates considers that the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland should be raised to 12 from the current age of eight – the lowest in Europe. This follows the reforms effected by the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, in terms of which no prosecution for an o

The Law Society of Scotland has said that clarity is needed on the current time limits for raising claims in court. In its response to a discussion paper published by the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) on prescription law, the Law Society has said that clarity on time limits could reduce time and mon

Following last week's statement from Verbatim Reporters writers stating that the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) had withdrawn its travel and mileage costs, to the detriment of its business, SLAB has responded that there is no legislative provision for these fees and that they will be brought into l

Eilidh Wiseman A new collaborative initiative to promote and support mental health and wellbeing in the Scottish legal community launches this week.

Tim Eicke

This day, 244 years ago, marked a milestone in the fight to abolish slavery, when the Scots-born Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice  declared slavery “odious” and ruled that escaped slave James Somerset must be released in a case that was to usher in the abolition of the trade a

Voting is open for the Law Society of Scotland in-house lawyers committee (ILC) convener election and all in-house solicitors are being encouraged to make the most of their vote. The ILC convener will play a major role in leading and supporting the in-house community and representing in-house solici

Michael Matheson

The senior judge who reunited a girl with her violent father 11 months before he murdered her took “unwarranted” steps in doing so, a serious case review author has said. Mrs Justice Ogg has been severely criticised for her decision in a review into the murder of six-year-old Ellie Butler, who d

Inksters Solicitors is sponsoring Scottish Ensemble’s mini-residency to Shetland which kicks off today with a performance at Sumburgh Airport when the musicians arrive.

Helen Bain Helen Bain outlines the new Simple Procedure Rules which will be introduced in November 2016 and what they will mean for some small claims and summary cause cases.

The rental and lending rights in respect of books also applies to electronic books according to an Advocate General of the European Court of Justice. In the view of Advocate General Szpunar, the lending of electronic books is comparable to the lending of traditional books, which means that the gener