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L to R: Derek Duncan, Partner at RSB macdonald; Lesley Macdonald, Partner at RSB macdonald; (at front) Alasdair Cummings, Managing Partner, Lindsays; (at back right) Derek Petrie, Partner, Lindsays Scottish law firms RSB macdonald and Lindsays are set to merge with effect from 6 July 2015, both comp

Public health minister Maureen Watt MSP Scotland has become the first nation in the UK to introduce a new death certification system that scraps fees for cremation forms and creates new rights for relatives.

Morton Fraser represented international investment group Rockspring Property Investment Managers in the successful but "challenging" sale of student accommodation in Edinburgh for £20 million. The Morton Fraser team, led by lawyers Elspeth Carson and David Stewart, dealt with all property and const

Lord Carloway The Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Carloway, has launched a programme of workshops run by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service to discuss methods to discover the truth in criminal trials in the modern era, and the greater use of pre-recorded evidence.

Law Society staff are swapping a day in the office for a day running an Edinburgh charity shop to raise funds for Save the Children’s Nepal Earthquake appeal. Six Law Society of Scotland employees will be taking over Mary’s Living and Giving Shop for Save the Children in the heart of Edinburghâ€

Sir Stephen Sedley, former Judge in the Court of Appeal for England and Wales is to deliver Edinburgh Law School’s annual Ruth Adler Lecture next week on the subject of human rights. Sir Stephen's topic — Human Rights and the Whirligig of Time — is particularly timely. The event is free to att

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson will go on trial this Friday accused of committing perjury in the trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan. Coulson, 47, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh today and entered a plea of not guilty to the allegation that he lied under oath at Sheridan's own p

Lord Hardie, chairman of the inquiry Members of the public have been invited to submit written evidence to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry, especially detailing how they were affected by the protracted development.

The Law Society of Scotland is moving to a new office in Edinburgh later this year, the professional body of Scottish solicitors has announced. Law Society president Alistair Morris and chief executive Lorna Jack said the existing offices at Drumsheugh Gardens were increasingly unfit for purpose and

Coroner Joanne Kearsley A private security guard who shot and killed two ex-servicemen in Iraq was not properly vetted by his employer, according to an inquest into their deaths.

Voters could be asked to elect the next intake of MSPs for a five-year term to avoid an electoral clash with the UK general election expected in 2020. The devolved parliament has four-year terms, but is barred by law from holding elections at the same time as UK general elections, European Parliamen

The Faculty of Advocates has voiced reservations about allocating fatal accident inquires (FAIs) to summary sheriffs, the new lower level of judicial office created under court reform legislation. Ministers have included FAIs in the jurisdiction of summary sheriffs in the Inquiries into Fatal Accide

NHS 24 is suing a software company following a contractual dispute over the terms of an agreement to install a new computerised system for handling calls. A judge in the Court of Session allowed the Scottish medical advice service a proof before answer in its dispute with Capgemini UK Plc over two k

Left to right: David Barniville, SC, Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland, Gordon Jackson, QC, James Wolffe, QC, Dean of Faculty, Stephen Hockman, QC, Treasurer of Middle Temple, and Gerald McAlinden, QC, Chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland. The Faculty of Advocates was a proud host of

Members of the Scottish Parliament are set to debate the Scottish Government's Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Bill today. Holyrood will debate the general principles of the legislation, which is intended to "consolidate and strengthen the existing criminal law against human traffickin