News

Laura Paton has been appointed the new HM Chief Inspector of Prosecution in Scotland. Ms Paton has significant inspection experience gained both in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK. She has been a lead inspector within HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland since 2013.

SKO is one of the first of a dozen or so firms in Scotland to go live with a new online tool, designed specifically for Scots family law matters. The tool is already being used by over 50 firms south of the border and another 150 in Australia and New Zealand, writes Rachael Kelsey. Settify was

Taking gender concerns seriously can be a commercial boon to companies, explains Tamar Tammes. The old saying goes that money talks. If that’s true, then more businesses need to listen to what it’s saying about who spends it.

The University of Aberdeen is conducting a research project on the reform of the UK laws on surrogacy and is looking for legal practitioners with experience and/or interest in surrogacy to take part. The project is funded by the Clark Foundation for Legal Education and the key objective is to help t

The Joint Standing Committee for Legal Education in Scotland (JSC) is looking for a lay representative. The JSC is a consultative body comprised of representatives drawn from the main branches of the legal profession and the universities, the aims and purposes of which are to act as a facilitator pr

British judges could be invited to sit on a "special constitutional court" in a united Ireland, a former Chief Justice of Ireland has said. Mr Justice John L. Murray, who served as Chief Justice of Ireland from 2004 to 2011, made the remarks in a panel discussion hosted by the Hibernian Law Journal.

A woman who was fined for refusing to hold the handrail on an escalator has been awarded over £11,500 in damages after a ten-year legal battle. Bela Kosoian was told by a police officer in a Quebec metro station to respect a sign saying "hold the handrail", but refused and subsequently decline

A man serving a life sentence for murder who claimed that his human rights were breached after his “confidential” letters were opened by prison officers has had a £5,000 damages action dismissed. “Limbs in the Loch” murderer William Beggs raised a petition for

The appalling murders of Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones in a terrorist attack have shocked the nation. Two young graduates had their lives snuffed out while volunteering to help the less fortunate rehabilitate themselves. In the agony of their grief, Jack Merritt’s family, sensing the media and

The Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee has concluded that real-terms increases in the revenue and capital budgets for the Scottish Prison Service are needed for 2020/21. The committee is also calling for changes to the post-conviction landscape in Scotland.

The High Court of England and Wales will hear a judicial review challenge over the UK government’s refusal to hold a fully independent, judge-led inquiry into British involvement in rendition and torture, a judge has ruled. Human rights NGO Reprieve, politicians David Davis and Dan Jarvis laun

Dallas McMillan Solicitors has announced two promotions. David Hutchison has been assumed as a partner of the firm and will head up its employment law and commercial litigation team.

BTO Solicitors LLP has announced the appointment of new partner Fraser Hopkins to its construction team. Highly regarded in his field, he will co-lead the commercial side of BTO’s contentious construction caseload alongside partner Jilly Petrie.

Gilson Gray has revealed fuller details of its acquisition of Coulters Letting which has allowed the firm to instantly add an impressive residential letting capability to its property services operation. The addition of Edinburgh-based Coulters Lettings will see eight staff, including the transfer o

New rules have been developed by the Personal Injuries Committee of the Scottish Civil Justice Council for cases proceeding under Chapter 42A of the Rules of the Court of Session.