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Fair Work Secretary Neil Gray has welcomed figures showing the gender pay gap in Scotland has fallen to a record low. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings shows the gender pay gap in Scotland fell from three per cent in 2022 to 1.7 per cent in 2023 – the

Woman and girls will be better protected and victims’ needs prioritised as part of reforms to improve justice services and create safer communities, the Scottish government has announced. The Vision for Justice Delivery Plan published today also includes actions to address "long-standing chall

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have called on the Scottish government to protect the justice budget and enhance community policing after new research found that less than half of violent assaults resulted in a criminal charge being reported to the Crown Office last year. Scottish Liberal Democrat re

More than four out of five expert witnesses want judges to be willing to give them anonymity in criminal or controversial cases. The finding comes from the 2023 Expert Witness Survey, from the Law Society Gazette, and concerns cases in which experts are instructed to give evidence in emotionally dif

Thorntons’ Sports Challenge Dinner handed over an incredible £29,000 to two local charities following the sell-out event at the Apex City Quay Hotel earlier this year. The two charities, The Archie Foundation and Children’s Aid, will split the money evenly to be used for a range of

A life prisoner is seeking more than £50,000 in damages after prison guards allegedly stole pornographic magazines from his mail. The man, 57-year-old John Alexander, is serving a life sentence in Michigan's Kinross Correctional Facility for second-degree fleeing from police.

The rent freeze introduced by the Scottish government is not unlawful, a senior judge has ruled after an appeal by private sector landlords. Landlords across Scotland had sought judicial review in the Court of Session. Their lawyers argued they had suffered discrimination as a result of “unlaw

Scotland's FOI watchdog has suggested it could take action against the Scottish government if WhatsApp messages sent during the pandemic have not been retained. Ministers have come under pressure after the UK Covid Inquiry found that they had failed to hand over any communications.

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Ukraine war: Russia intensifies bombing in worst attack of the year

New research suggests that nearly two out of three Scottish legal professionals have experienced mental health issues in the past five years, underlining the importance of the Law Society of Scotland’s sector-wide focus on wellbeing. More than 3,000 legal professionals – including solici

A man who changed his surname as a joke has been refused a British passport until he changes it back. Kenny Fu-Kennard, previously known as Kenny Kennard, was refused a passport by the Home Office on three occasions this year, the Daily Mirror reports.

A Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder project will be taken forward in Tayside in partnership between Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Police Scotland and NHS Tayside. Bairns’ Hoose pathfinders will provide coordinated child-centred and trauma-informed support from all

Legislation giving Scottish ministers powers to assess and remediate buildings within scope with unsafe cladding, where consent of the owners cannot be provided, has been published. Under proposals in the Housing (Cladding Remediation) Bill, the Scottish government would also create and maintain a C

Thursday 9 November 5.30pm Sir Charles Wilson Lecture Theatre This year’s lecture, on “Equity and Interpretation” will be delivered by Professor Timothy Endicott, Vinerian Professor of English Law at All Souls College, Oxford. In it, Professor Endicott will explore the judicial int

Freeths has advised on completion of EG Group’s £2.07 billion sale of its UK operations to Asda. Founded by Issa brothers in 2001, EG Group is a British retailer which operates filling stations, convenience stores and fast-food restaurants across Europe, the United States and Australia.