News

The UK has dropped to 35 out of 180 countries in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in part due to a "worrying legal environment" for journalists in Northern Ireland. The international NGO said the UK's efforts to promote media freedom globally were unde

Scammers are duping the public and businesses with counterfeit goods to profit from the panic and fear caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) has reported a spike in counterfeit crime along with cybercrime and fraud as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, wi

Dr Kath Murray, Lisa Mackenzie and Lucy Hunter Blackburn highlight some concerns between gender representation legislation and consistency with the Equality Act. In early 2018, with support from most parties, the Scottish Parliament passed the Gender Representation on Public Boards Act, aimed at imp

Scullion LAW is offering free wills to everyone in Scotland aged 18+ in aid of Marie Curie. Scullion LAW is the only law firm in Scotland offering this service. It has completed 700 sills since the campaign launched in 2015 and the firm hopes to be able to create over 1,000 by August while raising a

Inspired by the extraordinary exploits of Captain Tom Moore, the slightly younger Lincoln (aged one), son of Terra Firma deputy clerk Tracy Whitelaw, has embarked on his own daily garden walk to help raise funds for the NHS.

Couples are set to be married in online weddings following a shake-up of marriage rules in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Twitter that he is issuing an executive order allowing for marriage licenses to be obtained remotely and for clerks to perform ceremonies via video conference.

A woman who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for shaking an eight-month-old baby and endangering her life has lost her appeal against conviction. Syeda Begum appealed on the grounds that the trial judge had misdirected the jury regarding expert evidence and had erred in repelling a de

The first online court hearings in response to the coronavirus situation will get underway this week as work continues to get Sheriff Court business online. The Court of Session virtual court will convene with an Inner House case tomorrow before the Lord President, Lord Carloway, sitting with Lords

The Society of Solicitor Advocates has expressed opposition to the suggestion by the Scottish government that juries be abolished in solemn trials for the duration of the coronavirus emergency. The option, which was tabled again by the Scottish government last week but which is not expected to appea

The Scottish government and Scottish Prison Service intend to introduce mobile phones in Scotland’s prisons to maintain contact between people in custody and their families during the COVID-19 outbreak. The move follows the suspension of visits to help protect all those within prisons, includi

The Scottish Law Agents Society (SLAS) has called on Revenue Scotland to extend the period within which additional dwelling supplement tax can be reclaimed – to 24 months. SLAS raised concerns that its clients will suffer financial loss as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic wher

Douglas Mill looks at some of the opportunities the current lockdown presents. Or perhaps two months. Or longer. Who knows. And that is the worst of it, as business planning and strategy without a timeline is impossible. Part of the difficulty of the current situation is, I think, psychological for

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has issued its judgment following its first sitting in Scotland in 15 years. On 2 March 2020, the Tribunal, chaired by Lord Doherty, heard legal arguments on whether or not Creative Scotland, the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries acros

Healthcare workers should be granted "immunity" from civil liability for medical negligence during the coronavirus pandemic, the Medical Defence Union (MDU) has said. The largest medical defence organisation in the UK, which provides legal support to around 200,000 healthcare workers, said existing

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, UKELA Scotland had begun preparing for its annual conference. At present it is still hoped that the conference will be able to proceed, and topics and speakers have been identified. The proposed date for the conference is Thursday 24th September 2020.