News

A vital piece of asylum legislation will be highlighted at a major Faculty of Advocates-sponsored event, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Scottish Refugee Council. The 1951 Refugee Convention, at article 31 (1), can in stipulated circumstances provide a defence for refugees agains

From left: Crispin Agnew QC, Cathy Magee and Neil Macdougall, advocate

A property development company which claimed that its lawyers were in “breach of contract” has been awarded more than £2.7 million. A judge in the Court of Session ruled that the legal firm was “negligent” in its failure to ensure that the company complied with the terms of two revolving cr

Caroline Loudon Lindsays has promoted Caroline Loudon, head of the firm’s licensing and gambling team, to partner.

A number of promotions across six areas of the business have been announced at Lindsays.

Janet Murray Police Scotland will need to find £11 million in funding to break even in the coming financial year its finance chief has warned.

Complaints arising from family law transactions account for one in five of all complaints made in Scotland about solicitors. In response to this, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has released a guide for consumers, aimed at helping them avoid running into difficulties with their famil

Derek Penman A police watchdog has said there is “merit” in considering a statutory code of practice for Police Scotland’s stop and search policy after it expressed a lack of confidence in the single force’s recorded figures.

A number of legal figures have called for clarity on how anyone who assists a loved one to die will be dealt with by the law, calling the current situation “shameful”. The letter, signed by 21 academics, is being sent to the Scottish parliament’s health and sport committee this week and urges

Reconviction statistics published today by Scotland’s chief statistician indicate that during the past decade there has been a decrease in the proportion of offenders being reconvicted, and a decrease in the number of times that offenders are reconvicted. This has largely been driven by decreases

Jennifer Paice A Scottish government-approved scheme meant to protect tenants’ deposits from bad landlords is facing criticism over concerns the Crown will pocket £1 million in unclaimed deposits in the next three years.

An ambulance driver who faced prosecution because she ran a red light at 10mph as she responded to a 999 call in Aberdeen is calling for emergency service crews to be given stronger protections. Kristine Hutchison was handed a significant legal bill after the case against her went to court.

The latest year’s statistics on criminal justice social work have been published by Scotland’s chief statistician. Figures from Criminal justice social work statistics: 2013-14 show that the successful completion rate for social work orders has risen in each of the last five years, from 59 per c

Craig Pike  

A consultation launched by the Scottish government will see a major overhaul of legislation in the private rented sector. Housing minister Margaret Burgess (pictured) said plans to reform private sector tenancy laws will remove the fear of eviction and help tenants to assert their rights