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The Law Society of Scotland has called for legal reforms to ensure that the law does not discriminate against people who do not have a diagnosed mental illness. The professional body for Scottish solicitors has said it is essential that support is available to everyone who might need it, particularl

Fiona Caldow and Douglas Blyth write about an emerging development in climate litigation. As climate activists increasingly turn to the courts in the fight against global warming, the issue of parent company liability is taking centre stage. The courts' willingness to hold parent companies accountab

A Fettes College abuse survivor who was beaten and sexually assaulted has received £400,000 in damages – the first known sum paid by the school. The brave victim – known as ‘Frank’ – secured the landmark settlement decades after being abused by a former teacher. F

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has developed a service to allow solicitors to complete an online form to lodge a caveat. This service will be available for both Sheriff Court and Court of Session caveats. One of the key features of the service is a new login process different from

A man convicted of raping his stepdaughter and another teenager has lost an appeal against the conviction in the High Court of Justiciary. The appellant, GC, argued that an affidavit provided by a witness, MB, to his solicitors following his conviction amounted to fresh evidence in terms of the Crim

Responding to the Scottish government’s Resource Spending Review announced last week, the Law Society of Scotland has criticised the freezing of justice budgets until 2027, saying that the government’s commitment to the recovery of the courts post-pandemic requires investment which is no

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking to open an office in Kyiv to support its investigations into alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor, confirmed the move at a press conference yesterday following meetings with Ukrainian, Polish and Lithuanian prosecutors at Eur

France has banned English gaming jargon in an attempt to preserve the purity of its language. The country's culture ministry said the video game sector featured too many English words.

A new organisation to represent the interests of Scottish conveyancers has been proposed. The Steering Committee of the Scottish Conveyancers Forum is seeking the views of the profession on the remit and organisation of the body.

President of the Supreme Court, Lord Reed, is to become a patron of the Aberdeen Law Project. Lord Reed said: “The Aberdeen Law Project is a remarkable student-led project. Its volunteers provide a vital link between the community and the legal system, by improving access to justice and by wor

A complaint against a sheriff who is said to have held shares in Rangers FC prior to issuing 20 warrants during a botched police inquiry into the takeover of the club is being investigated. Sheriff Lindsay Wood's activity is being examined by Craig Turnbull, Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathke

Thorntons partner Murray Etherington has vowed to fight to protect legal aid across Scotland.  He said he will also focus on the Law Society’s critical role in regulating the profession following the Scottish government’s proposals to overhaul the country’s legal system.

Canada should ban the buying and selling of all handguns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said. Under a proposed law, private ownership of of all short-barrelled firearms would be prohibited.

The Law Society of Scotland has been awarded an Investors in Diversity accreditation, underlining its record of leading workplace best practice for the Scottish legal profession. The National Centre for Diversity has awarded the accreditation following a thorough process over a year, which included