News

Scottish government plans to end the current system of automatic early release (AER) for certain types of prisoner have been supported in principle by the overwhelming majority of the parliament’s justice committee. The committee noted that the Prisoners (Control of Release) (Scotland) Bill will r

Detailed information on the scale and reach of social security benefits to be devolved to Scotland has been published. The new report gives Scottish specific statistics on each of the 11 benefits that will be controlled by theScottish parliament, such as number of claims, gender and age breakdown an

DAC Beachroft has appointed Colin Bissett (pictured) to lead its insurance-related regulatory unit in Scotland. Mr Bissett joins the firm to further develop and handle instructions from insurers and other clients in the investigation and defence of motor, health and safety and environmental prosecut

The Supreme Court has ruled the UK government’s benefit cap which restricts unemployed claimants to £500 a week in total welfare payments is lawful but that the policy is incompatible with the government's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The jury manual which is produced by the Judicial Institute for Scotland to assist judges and sheriffs in giving directions to juries “does not remove the trial judge’s duty to tailor the charge to the specific circumstances of the case”. A judge issued the reminder as the Criminal Appeal Cour

The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed legislation which will require employers to publish what they pay their male and female staff. The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill which has passed its third reading before the House of Lords will require businesses employing more than 250 peop

A married woman who falsely claimed a taxi driver raped her after having consensual sex with him is facing a possible jail sentence. Chantel Clark, 36, cost the public purse £3,000 after police launched an inquiry following her allegations that she was raped by the driver last May in Midlothian.

The value of Scottish houses has reached a record high after more than making up the losses caused by the financial crisis according to a new report. Average house prices rose to about £167,000 in January.

A solicitor has been jailed for 12 months after he embezzled £13,000 of clients’ cash. Steven Crommie, 37, was told he had broken trust with his clients and firm at Dumfries Sheriff Court.

Scottish Arbitration Centre Chairman, Brandon Malone (pictured), has been invited to join the panel of arbitrators of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Based in New York, and providing conflict management services in more than 80 countries around the world, the ICDR is the global comp

Scottish Renewables has announced the appointment of its new chairman and vice-chairman. Patricia Hawthorn, partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn, has been appointed chairman of the renewables body while Gordon MacDougall, managing director, Western Europe at global renewable developer RES, has been ap

The Faculty of Advocates’ commitment to the rule of law has been strengthened by bringing it within the remit of the human rights committee. The new human rights and rule of law committeewill be chaired by Dorothy Bain QC (pictured), who was formerly principal advocate depute and currently serves

Scotland must not be dragged out of the European Union against its will, Europe and International Development secretary Humza Yousaf has said. Speaking ahead of a debate on Scotland’s membership of the European Union in the Scottish parliament, Mr Yousaf stressed that the UK’s membership must be

Pagan Osborne raised £15,000 as part of a three-year partnership withChildren’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).

A Scots lawyer who failed to undertake any work to conclude the administration of an estate has had his practising certificate restricted for a period of four years after being found guilty of “professional misconduct”. The Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal also awarded £500 compensati