News

Nine new members have been admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in a second – and hopefully, last – calling ceremony under physical distancing.

The Civil Justice Committee of the Law Society of Scotland has called on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) to urgently review a decision to refuse paper-based simple procedure actions. SCTS has confirmed to the Law Society that, except in exceptional circumstances, simp

The test for standing in judicial review cases brought on ECHR grounds should be that of 'sufficient interest', a new briefing by the Human Rights Consortium Scotland argues. Chris McCorkindale and Douglas Jack from Strathclyde University were commissioned by the consortium to produce a researc

A draft law which would increase the penalties for dog-owners whose pets chase, attack or kill farmed animals is to be considered by a Holyrood committee. The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has issued a call for views on the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, which

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is set to speed up the global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, according to a leading industry legal expert. Norman Wisely, the Aberdeen managing partner at CMS, says many of the forthcoming post-pandemic economic stimulus packages about to b

The WAG wars continue as Rebekah Vardy files an action for defamation in the High Court of England & Wales against Colleen Rooney, but how would her action fare in Scotland? Scott Clair tells all. Celebrity watchers took a sharp intake of breath last October in what has been described by some pu

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP has unveiled a new look brand identity that underlines its commitment to delivering a quality service for clients in the face of the current pandemic. Fraser Gillies, managing partner at WJM, said: “Our brand purpose is to do the right thing, make a differe

New Nightingale-style courts will be opened to deal with the backlog of more than half a million criminal cases that have built up during the pandemic, The Times reports. Ten sites have been identified by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), amongst them town halls and university lecture theatres, wh

The Citizens Rights Project has announced a further free webinar in its series of events on EU citizens’ rights in Scotland. This webinar, on Thursday 2 July, will look at what rights EU citizens now have to access local government services in Scotland. The topics to be covered are:

A winemaker has been barred from selling a non-alcoholic sparkling wine called "Nosecco" because the name is too similar to Prosecco. The High Court in London ruled this week on a years-long dispute between French winemaker Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) and Prosecco producers.

For a little lockdown levity, we asked some of our readers to recommend their favourite law-related books.

A property developer that granted an option to purchase land it owned next to Edinburgh Airport in favour of the airport has failed to establish that the option had not been validly exercised. New Ingliston Ltd granted the option to Edinburgh Airport Ltd in October 2001. The airport s

Stuart Munro of Livingstone Brown Solicitors responds to SLN's editorial on fatal accident inquiries held remotely. The delays involved in fatal accident inquiries are, in many cases, disgraceful. Bereaved families can struggle to move on with their lives while the circumstances of their loved one&r

A former youth footballer is suing Celtic FC over alleged sexual abuse. Thompsons Solicitors has sent papers on behalf of a client seeking damages from the club.

Robert More makes some worrying predictions about legally aided criminal defence work in the wake of the lockdown. The Scottish government has recently released the response to its consultation on legal aid reform. The consultation was commissioned in light of the Independent Strategic Review by Mar