News

One of Scotland’s judges has joined the University of Strathclyde’s Law School as a professor of practice. Lady Wolffe, Sarah P L Wolffe QC, has been a judge in the Outer House of the Court of Session since 2014 and, in 2016, became the first woman to be appointed to the Commercial Court

The Scottish Land Court and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland are to be unified to form an expanded Land Court. It will create a “one-stop shop”, which will be a "more efficient arrangement than currently offered".

The Law Society of Scotland has accused the Scottish government of dragging its feet on legal aid reform following the announcement of its programme for government. An independent legal aid review, which reported over three years ago, recommended an overhaul of the system. However, while the governm

The Office of the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland has admitted health and safety failings which led to the death of a 25-year-old woman. It pled guilty to a contravention of Sections 3(1) and 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 yesterday at the High Court in Edi

More than 260 people attended a tribunals conference held virtually yesterday to consider future developments as the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland enters a period of substantial expansion. The conference discussed the ways in which the Scottish tribunals, both devolved and reserved, have adapted

The Scotsman has published an obituary of Sandy Moffat, who passed away on 13 July. "Major Sandy Moffat, who died on 13 July 2021, was representative of a breed of Scottish lawyer who were effectively ‘twice a citizen’, combining dedication to the high traditions of his profession with l

Pacitti Jones has acquired 167-year-old law firm Alexander, Jubb & Taylor, based in Dennistoun, Glasgow. Solicitor Bill Nugent has been serving the local community of Dennistoun from his practice in Annfield Place for decades, specialising in providing legal services for individuals and families

A former employee of the Crown Office has launched legal action against the prosecution body after claiming she was sacked for raising sexual harassment allegations against a colleague. Kirsten Fordham said she was victimised by COPFS in October 2019 and is now pursuing a case in the Employment Trib

Urquharts has announced the appointment of two solicitors. Andrew Graham-Smith has joined the commercial property department. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, he completed a masters degree in oil and gas law at the University of Aberdeen, before spending four years with an internat

Kay Springham QC and Yvonne Waugh have been appointed as co-directors of Compass Chambers. They replace Steve Love QC and Astrid Smart QC who stepped down after serving for three and five years respectively. It is the first time Compass has had two female members in the role of co-directors. Ms Spri

Jean Wilke has joined the School of Law at Aberdeen University as a lecturer and DPLP programme director. Ms Wilke is experienced in legal research, writing, and providing advice in different legal fields.

The European Commission has demanded daily fines from Poland over its defiance of EU court judgments, resulting in ministers in Warsaw accusing it of aggression and blackmail. The Court of Justice of the European Union will set the penalties.

Northern Ireland's first woman chief justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan and the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP, have marked the opening of the new legal year in Northern Ireland.

The UK’s Department for International Trade has awarded a contract to UK law firm TLT (in consortium with US firm McDermott Will & Emery and Canada’s Borden Ladner Gervais) to advise on three critical trade negotiations as it seeks to shape the country’s post-Brexit trading lan

Certain Irish Sea border checks to be introduced under the Northern Ireland Protocol have been postponed further by unilateral decision of the UK government.