News

Public access barristers are expecting the volume of work obtained directly from clients to increase over the next few years as a result of the public access scheme which allows consumers to use barristers directly, without needing to instruct a solicitor or other intermediary. These findings are ta

An advocate general of the EU’s highest court has expressed disappointment that a Brexit vote could see legal cooperation between the UK and EU come to an end. Eleanor Sharpston QC told The Guardian that a vote to leave the EU would deprive the European Court of Justice (ECJ) of some of its best t

A man who alleged that he was sexually abused as a child in a Catholic boarding school more than 50 years ago will not be allowed to pursue his claim. A judge in the Court of Session ruled that the pursuer’s case failed on the basis that any obligation of the defenders to make reparation for any w

Lord Neuberger delivers the closing keynote address at the World Bar Conference in Edinburgh. Photo credit: Phoebe Grigor. The importance of independent advocates as “a very precious asset” in a democratic society has been underscored by Lord Neuberger, President of the UK Supreme Court.

Anthony Fincham

John Halford The UK government has been forced to back down on introducing a residence test for civil legal aid claims in England and Wales.

Toni Ashby Clyde & Co has promoted 16 of its lawyers to equity partner across its international network, including Edinburgh-based Toni Ashby and Bruce Goodbrand, both from the insurance sector group.

Robert Carr

The European Court of Human Rights will be delivering a Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Murray v the Netherlands at a public hearing on 26 April. The case concerns the complaint by a man convicted of murder in 1980, who consecutively served his life sentence on the islands of Curaçao and Arub

The revamped website for our sister publication Scottish Construction Now is proving more popular than ever with its readers after attracting a record 39,000 unique visitors last month. Page views for the site at www.scottishconstructionnow.com topped 75,000 over the same period, maintaining its con

Sheriff Principal Craig Scott QC A motorist who was ordered to forfeit his £15,000 car after admitting two significant drink-related road traffic offences within a period of just over a week has failed in an appeal against what he claimed was a “disproportionate and excessive” penalty.

The Law Society of Scotland has made a £780,000 payout from its client protection fund to two homebuyers, 13 years after they were victims of a solicitor’s fraud which meant they did not own the Aberdeen flats they lived in, The Herald reports. Sinclair Brebner and his neighbour ColinTorr found o

David Johnstone Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has approached the Scottish government’s law officers asking them to ensure controversial agricultural holdings provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill are fully compliant with human rights legislation.

James Wolffe QC A Second Edinburgh Declaration has been adopted by the International Council of Advocates and Barristers (ICAB) in a fitting finale to the World Bar Conference 2016.

Paul Gilroy QC A senior UK lawyer has said the new EU trade secrets directive will serve as a deterrent to potential whistleblowers, The Times reports.