News

A second year law student at the University of Dundee been named as the second recipient of the Kirk Murdoch Scholarship, which could lead to a traineeship with multinational law firm Pinsent Masons. 19-year-old Emilia Gordon will receive financial support, professional mentoring, and a place on Pin

There is a real risk of unintended consequences from this noble attempt to provide greater clarity, transparency and consistency in hate crime law, writes Fred Mackintosh QC of Terra Firma Chambers. The Justice Committee’s call for views on the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill close

A bill aiming to strengthen local government in Scotland through the incorporation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government into Scots law is due to be scrutinised by a Holyrood committee. The Charter, which was created in 1985 by the Council of Europe and ratified by the UK in 1997, sets ou

Standard contractual clauses (SCCs) remain valid but the EU-US Privacy Shield has been struck down, explains Loretta Maxfield. On Thursday 16th July, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) made a landmark decision in Data Protection Commissioner v. Facebook Ireland and Maximillian Schrems

Webinar - The Cumberlege Review: Potential Consequences for Product Liability in Scotland – Wednesday 22nd July at 4pm On 8 July 2020, the Cumberlege review was published in England. It contains a scathing indictment of leadership and regulation of the provision of medicines and medical device

The UK government has named the 10 sites which will host so-called "Nightingale courts" to alleviate the pressure on courts and tribunals resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The sites including Middlesbrough Town Hall, the Knights’ Chamber within the grounds of Peterborough Cathedral, and th

The mooted introduction of a US-style system of salaried public defenders in Ireland would be a "complete disaster", lawyers have said. A new programme for government includes a commitment to "independently examine the option of a dedicated system of public defenders".

A recently discovered handwritten copy of Irish revolutionary and barrister Wolfe Tone's famous 1798 speech from the dock is set to be auctioned for up to €70,000 (around £63,400). The written copy of the speech, delivered by Tone before he was sentenced to death for his role in the Irish

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the most senior liberal judge on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), has said she will not retire despite undergoing chemotherapy for a recurrence of cancer. In a statement, the 87-year-old judge, who has previously been treated for cancer on a number of occasions,

A man sawed his neighbour's garage in half following a dispute over the boundary line between the two properties. Construction worker Gabriel Brawn used a reciprocating saw to destroy half of the structure after a land surveyor confirmed that the garage straddled the boundary line between the two ho

A prisoner serving a life sentence who submitted freedom of information requests for information he believed would help prove his innocence has had a petition for judicial review of the decision not to grant him legal aid refused. William Beggs was refused legal aid to appeal to the UK Supreme

Aberdein Considine has announced the appointment of Nicola Gray as a partner in the firm's employment law team. The move represents Ms Gray's return to the firm where she trained after a seven-year hiatus. She rejoins from Mackinnons, where she previousy led employment services, specialising in the

A sporting silk will be able to combine work and pleasure after being appointed to Scottish Rugby’s discipline panel. Matt Jackson QC was a keen rugby player and still takes great interest in the game.

Wright, Johnson & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) has published a free report to help a variety of industries manage social distancing in their working environments. The firm worked with 4c Engineering, with EU funding via Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to scope out various technologies that can assist w

The Scottish property market has seen a huge demand since the coronavirus lockdown restrictions have been eased, according to property firm ESPC. From 29th June to 14th July 2020 (inclusive), ESPC has seen a 39 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of homes coming to market. Over the same per