News

The Law Society of Scotland has updated its rules in relation to client assets to increase protections for consumers. The rules clarify existing obligations for solicitor firms which take on another firm’s client assets, including trusts, and highlight that they must identify and contact the o

Legislation has been approved to help create new small landholdings to increase farming opportunities and "bring agricultural tenancy law into the 21st century". The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, passed by Holyrood, grants greater protections for tenant farmers and small landholders and safeguarding

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) has written to First Minister John Swinney expressing concern over his offer to meet with the family of Sheku Bayoh, following the collapse of the public inquiry into Mr Bayoh's death. The SPF has also invited Mr Swinney to meet PC Nicole Short, who was injured b

MSPs have voted to create a new hutting law compelling the Scottish government to publish a model lease for hutting on public land. The change to the law aims to make it easier for people to access public land for low-impact, sustainable hutting in future.

Between August and October 2025, average residential property selling prices across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, and the Borders have risen by 3.7 per cent year-on-year, reaching £298,181, according to the latest House Price Report from ESPC. This growth was particularly strong in East Lothi

TC Young has announced four new appointments. Joining the residential property team are Kirsty Fyfe, solicitor, and Claire Weir, secretary.  In addition, Eilidh Dickson and Stephen Higgins have joined TC Young’s commercial property team as senior associates, further bolstering the firm&rs

A six-strong team from Holmes Mackillop Solicitors has completed the Kelpies Challenge – a one-of-a-kind 1.5-hour assault course set high within the iconic heads of the world-famous Kelpies – to raise £2,800 for St Vincent's Hospice.

Scottish animal welfare charity OneKind has called on the Scottish government to end the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs before killing them in slaughterhouses. The calls come after the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) recommended that UK governments prohibit carbon dioxide stunning as it inflicts

Kim Kardashian has blamed her "frenemy" ChatGPT for failing her law exams. In a video for Vanity Fair, the 45-year-old reality TV star said she relies on the AI tool for "legal advice".

Property factors across Scotland are facing mounting accusations of overcharging, mismanagement and opacity, which suggests the possibility of systemic abuse of homeowners’ trust and money. Advice Direct Scotland said it has seen a steady rise in complaints, describing the trend as “a gr

Harper Macleod has grown its banking and finance team and appointed a new partner. New partner Liana Di Ciacca joins with more than 15 years’ experience on a wide range of complex and high-value debt finance transactions. She advises both funders and borrowers on high profile Scots law matters

Post Office campaigner Sir Alan Bates has reached a multimillion-pound compensation agreement with the Post Office, more than two decades after beginning his fight for justice for victims of the Horizon scandal. Sources close to the deal confirmed the settlement to the BBC, though the exact sum has

Professor Julian Goodare, emeritus professor of history at the University of Edinburgh, will be giving the Stair Society's annual lecture on 15 November. The title of his talk is 'Witchcraft and Scots Law'. The lecture will take place at 11:30 in the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, Edinburgh

‘Fundamental issues’ must be addressed in a bill which seeks to introduce a recall process to the Scottish Parliament. This is the outcome of a report issued by Holyrood’s Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.  The report follows the committee’s consid

COP30 leaders must keep people, and not profits and power, at the heart of negotiations, Amnesty International said ahead of the annual UN climate summit in Brazil. Brazil will host the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bel&ea