News

A New Jersey judge has ruled that gay conversion therapy is fraudulent. Peter Variso Jr, Hudson County superior county court judge said in his ruling on a case concerning a group called Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (JONAH) that the claims are illegal as per the state’s Consumer Fraud

The body overseeing civil courts has recommended that an online court be created to deal with claims up to £25,000. The Civil Justice Council has proposed lawyer-free, virtual dispute resolution courts to be made available within two years.

The UK government has been urged to widen the ambit of its child sex abuse inquiry to the entire UK rather than just England and Wales. A Home Affairs committee report called for the inquiry to cover Scotland and Northern Ireland, including the claims of abuse at Kincora Boys’ Homein Belfast in th

Local councils have threatened the Scottish government with legal action after it “imposed” a budget deal for teacher numbers on them. Officials of local authorities have said ministers have a “case to answer legally”.

A law student who studied at Glasgow Caledonian University has been murdered in Baghdad along with his father and the family’s bodyguards. Mohammad Al Janabi, 29, who was described as “vibrant and peace-loving” and was due to receive his PhD from the University, was shot dead with his father �

The chief constable of Police Scotland has admitted mistakenly recording “several hundred thousand” stop and searches per year. Sir Stephen House (pictured) said the numbers of routine encounters, such as taking alcohol from young people had distorted official statistics.

A man charged with being in possession of a class A drug with intent to supply has had his challenge to a decision to postpone his trial for five months refused. It was argued that the sheriff’s decision was “oppressive, erroneous and contrary to law”, but the Criminal Appeal Court ruled that

Lady Hale, deputy president of the Supreme Courtdelivered the Bryce Lecture 2015 at Somerville College, University of Oxford recently. In the address, Lady Hale explores the evolving relationship between the courts and parliament, paying particular attention to the role the UKSC plays in protecting

Rona Dennison discusses brand development and protection in Scotland’s food and drink sector. After the historic year of 2014, the appetite for Scotland’s food and drink brands shows no sign of being satisfied in the coming 12 months. Our food and drink sector relished the opportunity to showcas

The lord advocate, Frank Mulholland QC(pictured), will visit Aberdeen to give a key note speech on access to justice and how it impacts society. The event, which is being organised by the award-winning Aberdeen Law Project, is expected to attract a capacity audience when it is held on Friday 27 Febr

DWF has announced the appointment of Ben Powell (pictured) as a partner in the firm’s construction, infrastructure and projects team in Edinburgh. Mr Powell has previously worked at Dundas & Wilson, McGrigors, Hammonds and, most recently,Tods Murray, where he was a partner in the capital proje

The Insurance Bill received royal assent this week, implementing reforms recommended by the law commissions of England and Wales and of Scotland to modernise and simplify insurance contract law across the UK. The Insurance Act 2015 will give effect to reforms recommended by the law commissions in th

The Law Society of Scotland has published a report following an independent review of consumer protections for people buying and selling property in Scotland. The review, by former Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen CBE QC, examined the current consumer protections in place as well as conveyancing pract

A number of police officers accused of sex crimes have been put on restricted duties or suspended. Data seen by The Scotsman indicates there are currently 13 officers suspended from Police Scotland while a number of offences are investigated.

The Scottish Ministers have been found in contempt of court after prison officers breached an undertaking not to open an inmate’s letters. A judge in the Court of Session ruled that the Scottish Prison Service took “no steps” to inform any member of its staff at HMP Glenochil about the existen