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The Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal (SSDT) has launched a consultation on whether expenses should be calculated and taxed with reference to the last published Law Society’s table of fees or whether it should update them. It says of the table: "It is very old and its use is not approve

Dear Editor, Douglas Cusine is right in pointing out that there is no need to wait for the end of civil litigation in the so-called "Rangers malicious prosecution case" before setting up an inquiry into what caused the Crown in Scotland to prosecute maliciously for the first time in history. I pract

The latest provisional statistics from the UK House Price Index show that the average price of a property in Scotland in December 2020 was £162,983, an increase of 8.4 per cent on December 2019. Compared with the previous month, house prices in Scotland decreased by 1.2 per cent between Novemb

When I first embarked on my legal career, I never thought for a moment that the profession I so eagerly wanted to join and belong to would also be the profession in which I felt trapped.  After a successful career spanning 20 years, its only once I left that I truly recognised my failings, as w

Fines collection rates have been steady during the pandemic with three-year rates showing percentage rises, according to the latest figures from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. The three-year collection rates for all fine/penalty types show improvement for both value and number when the f

A railroad engineer who deliberately defecated on company property and said it was a "present" for his boss has kept his job. Matthew Lebsack was fired by US rail giant Union Pacific after the incident in November 2016, but a federal appeals court has reluctantly reinstated him.

In Scotland, vulnerable individuals who find themselves arrested and prosecuted for criminal offences may be eligible for support at various stages of the criminal process in order to allow them to participate effectively. The nature of, and entitlement to, such support depends on the stage in which

A man who crashed his van into another vehicle in a leisure centre car park in Kirkcaldy has had his appeal by stated case refused by the Sheriff Appeal Court (Criminal Division).  Marcus Wishart was convicted in Kirkcaldy Justice of the Peace Court of contravening sections 170(2), 17

A new judgment paves the way for a potential change in the law that would allow for a good faith purchaser to have their real rights in property modified – without their consent. The Inner House of the Court of Session refused a reclaiming motion challenging a decision to allow a petition for

Following an election among four candidates, Faculty members have chosen Stephen O’Rourke QC to be the new Keeper of the Library, replacing Mungo Bovey QC, who stepped down as a Faculty office-bearer after serving in the role for more than 12 years. The Keeper is responsible for the Advocates

The European Commission is expected to decide this week that data protection standards are high enough in the UK to allow personal data transfers between the UK and the EU to continue. The adequacy assessment has huge significance for businesses operating across the UK and the EU. It has attracted e

Jury trials have returned to Aberdeen after almost an entire year, with the opening of a remote jury centre. The Vue cinema on Shiprow now accommodates jurors.

Gerry Sinclair never planned to spend close to two decades as chief executive and principal solicitor at the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC). Having cut his teeth at Ross Harper & Murphy before spending 15 years as a named partner at Sinclair McCormick & Giusti Martin, he e

Petitions are at their lowest level in nine months and are five per cent lower than the average monthly pre-Covid level, according to new figures from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). This shows the volumes of cases being progressed each month in the High Court, Sheriff Court and Ju

Tayside and Fife is enjoying a mini property boom as supply exceeds demand throughout the region. The high demand has led to a surge in prices for all residential properties, with price increases reported locally of seven per cent.