News

A retired judge has made a list of recommendations to repair Scotland's broken fatal accident inquiry (FAI) system. Sheriff Principal Abercrombie made 34 recommendations in a new report, which describes the "current intolerable delays" of FAIs as the "collective failing" of disparate parts of the sy

The use of community payback orders (CPOs) by Scottish courts rose by nine per cent last year, according to new figures. Scottish government statistics show that 16,500 CPOs were commenced in 2024-25, up from 15,114 the previous year.

Fair work policies are to be extended at colleges and universities in Scotland as part of a larger change to the funding arrangements for these institutions. It will mean that higher and further education bodies will be expected to meet additional criteria in areas such as addressing workplace inequ

A recently published blog by Legal Services Agency (LSA) summarises key findings from research undertaken by LLM student Sarah McGoogan through a social justice professional project with the University of Strathclyde Law School.

Lord Colbeck will lead the independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Sheku Bayoh, following the resignation of former chair Lord Bracadale. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes notified Holyrood of the appointment yesterday. Lord Colbeck takes up the role from Monday 2

The US Department of War has demanded that a Canadian sex shop stop accepting orders from US soldiers stationed in Bahrain after a butt plug order was rejected by the kingdom. Grace Bennett and Katie Aitken, co-founders of Toronto-based Bonjibon, say they have proudly framed two official US governme

The Aberdeen Law Project has announced the appointment of three new members to its board.  Professor Justin Borg-Barthet, the new head of the School of Law at the University of Aberdeen, and Scott Johnston, a partner at Pinsent Masons, accepted invitations to join the project’s board in O

The detail of the European Union’s long-awaited accession to the European Convention on Human Rights is like a “three-dimensional puzzle” because of the several vital and interlocking elements which need to be agreed, a new study suggests. The Treaty of Lisbon created an obligation

The Law Society of Scotland has launched a new group to further boost social mobility across the Scottish legal sector. Legal and education experts are being sought to join the Lawscot Social Mobility Forum to target barriers linked to poverty, class and social outcomes that prevent prospective and

Inksters Solicitors is now in St Andrews with Kevin Davidson joining the firm as a consultant solicitor. Mr Davidson has over 30 years’ experience as a solicitor. He was a partner in A C Morrison & Richards and then principal of his own firm K.W.A.D Solicitors, both in Aberdeen. Latterly h

Documentary series Murder Case will return in February with a compelling new two-part series, focusing on one of Scotland’s most notorious and enduring mysteries – the disappearance of Elgin mother-of-two Arlene Fraser.  On Tuesday 28 April 1998, two young children returned from sch

The UK’s first safer drug consumption facility has registered 575 users in its first year of operation, according to newly released figures. Since opening on 13 January 2025, The Thistle in Glasgow has been accessed 11,348 times, with staff supervising 7,827 injections of illegal drugs. Medica

The High Court has upheld the disbarment of Navjot ‘Jo’ Sidhu KC, rejecting an appeal by the former chair of the Criminal Bar Association against findings of professional misconduct. Mr Sidhu was struck off by the Bar Tribunals & Adjudication Service after being found guilty of inapp

The Law Society of Scotland is seeking urgent clarification from the Scottish government on why legal aid has again been ignored in the final budget before this year’s Holyrood election. Finance Secretary Shona Robinson announced the 2026-27 budget in the Scottish Parliament on 13 January 2026

A pensioner who taught himself the law to defend the length of grass in his garden has won a five-year battle against local officials. Canadian man Wolf Ruck, 79, told CTV News that he studied law at a postgraduate level in order to pursue his legal action over rules restricting the length of grass