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A man who pled guilty to a violent assault who claimed he was the victim of a “miscarriage of justice” because he may have been suffering from a “mental disorder” at the time of the offence has had an appeal against his conviction rejected. The appellant alleged “defect

On 25 March, the Scottish government published new guidance on social distancing for businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak, including which businesses are allowed to remain open during the period of so-called “lockdown”. This comes into effect immediately, writes Stephen McGowan. Leisu

Directors across the UK are asking the UK government for a temporary indemnity which allows them to keep technically insolvency firms in operation during the coronavirus pandemic without fear of legal action. Under current legislation, company boards can be sued for failing to wind up a company if i

Tayside Health Board has been fined following three incidents in which patients died by suicide using ligature points. Perth Sheriff Court heard that, between 1 April 2012 and 4 November 2015, on the Moredun Ward at general adult psychiatry ward of Murray Royal Hospital, Perth, three patients were a

Advocate Niall McCluskey will be presenting a free one-hour CPD seminar on the Coronavirus Act 2020 on Thursday 2 April at 1pm on Zoom, to which all are welcome. The bill which was fast-tracked through Parliament in three days will give ministers, councils, police, health professionals and coroners

To help clients mitigate the challenges that the coronavirus pandemic poses, Shepherd and Wedderburn's COVID-19 advisory group has launched a webinar series providing guidance on the commercial and legal issues that business owners, employers, and advisors should be considering now. To receive notif

MacRoberts has assembled a dedicated team of legal advisers to support clients and their families during the outbreak of coronavirus in the UK. Led by managing partner Neil Kennedy, the team is devoted to ensuring business continuity and uninterrupted client service, with the health and wellbeing of

Gilson Gray has created an emergency hotline for all queries and issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hotline can be used by anyone in Scotland looking for guidance on any area of law, property and financial advice - from corporate and employment law matters to family law issues, lettings a

The Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators (SOLAR) has appointed Vlad Valiente as its new president. Mr Valiente is the legal services manager and data protection officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the fourth largest fire service in the world. He is also a co-convener o

The way we operate as an economy has changed, but the business world has adapted and changed with it. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced all businesses to re-evaluate how they operate on a global level. Many businesses have responded by increasing their capacity to operate remotely, through the enhanc

There has been no let-up for Scullion Law's Urfan Dar, who has quickly adapted to working (and training) from home – though his kids appear to be taking a decidedly more relaxed approach.

Dear Editor Following on from Graham’s editorial on 25 March, I would just like to extol the virtues of home-working in the days and months ahead.

People wishing to take oaths remotely have been asked to provide their own holy book or scripture. Oaths, for the religious, and affirmations, for the irreligious, must now, of course, be made over Skype, Zoom or another VoIP service.

Lawyers in England have been afforded a wry laugh during the current crisis at the expense of the Solicitors' Regulation Authority. In a statement on the coronavirus, the regulator stresses that it expects law firms to have "appropriate contingency plans in place for disruption."

All Sheriff Court business has been consolidated into 10 courts across Scotland. In response to the government restrictions on movement during the emergency, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is now moving to the next phase of its contingency plans.