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An appeal by a man who described himself as suffering from a mental disorder seeking damages for medical negligence has lost an appeal against a sheriff’s decision to delete certain averments from probation in the Sheriff Appeal Court. DD, the pursuer in an action against NHS Fife Health Board

The Law Society of Scotland has congratulated the Scottish Mental Health Law Review on the publication of its final report and urged the Scottish government to avoid delays in moving to the implementation phase.

Rap lyrics can no longer be used in court as evidence of criminality under a new California law. The Decriminalising Artistic Expression Act comes after a number of high-profile trials of rappers raised concerns about freedom of expression and racial bias.

Ian Hamilton KC, famous for the 1950 removal of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey to Scotland, has died at the age of 97.

The European Court of Human Rights made three findings of no violation and one finding of a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights in Mortier v Belgium – a case in which the applicant's mother died by euthanasia. She had not wished to inform her children of her eut

Police Scotland may lose senior officers in the coming months, it has been claimed. A retirement boom is expected at all levels of the single force, with a Scottish Police Authority (SPA) memo indicating the body is “anticipating further senior officers may retire in coming months”.

A leading specialist in legal history, human rights, religious freedom, marriage and family law, and law and religion will deliver the opening 2022 Gifford Lecture at the University of Aberdeen. John Witte Jr will deliver the first of a thought-provoking series which brings a unique perspective to f

Compass Chambers advocate David Adams has completed two half marathons in the past three weeks to raise over £1,300 for St Columba’s Hospice. Mr Adams completed the Scottish Half Marathon on 18th September in a time of 1:51:31 and followed that up with the Great Scottish Run on 2nd Octob

Watermans is backing a fund-raising campaign to help disadvantaged children across Edinburgh, the Lothians, and Fife. Cash for Kids, the well-established Radio Forth initiative, will receive a £50 boost for every will or power of attorney written up by the modern law firm from October 3 until

There is an urgent need for reform within the legal sector to improve conditions for those with disabilities and neurodiversity, according to the Legal Services Agency (LSA). With many disabled and neurodiverse people facing issues accessing justice and legal support, the initial findings of researc

A solicitor has criticised the public sum spent on judicial wigs. Defence lawyer Aamer Anwar said he does not support “a 16th century [sic] symbol of vanity” after it was reported that £48,000 was spent in the past five years on wigs.

DWF has been named as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service framework for Wider Public Sector – Legal Services. The firm's appointment spans all three lots, giving the business the ability to advise the wider public sector, primarily local government and other associated bodies, through t

The Sheriff Appeal Court has refused an appeal against a sheriff’s interlocutor allowing the addition of a crave to prove the tenor of a letter said to alter the terms of a deceased man’s will in a dispute between his four children. Elizabeth Skelton, the first defender in an action rais

Pete Duff, professor in criminal justice at Aberdeen University, passed away on 29 September. Among other roles he was director of research for the College of Arts and Social Science, as well as interim head of college for a period. During his distinguished career he also worked at the Centre for Cr

A proposed rise in legal aid fees is a step in the right direction, but further action is urgently needed to resolve the long-term crisis in the sector, the Law Society of Scotland has said. Following discussions with the Law Society, the Scottish government has proposed an £11 million increas