News

Further measures to prevent people becoming homeless will be introduced as part of amendments to the Housing (Scotland) Bill. The bill currently places a stronger importance on preventing homelessness through ‘ask and act’ duties on social landlords and relevant bodies, such as health bo

Demand from prospective homebuyers in Scotland rose in February according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) residential market survey, and surveyors anticipate that sales activity will increase this year. According to the latest survey results, a net balance of 15 per cen

Simpson & Marwick is returning to the Aberdeen property market after a six-year break. The firm returns under the stewardship of Aberdeen businessman Rob Aberdein, and is focused on re-establishing itself in the region.

The UK's broadcasting regulator has fined a religious TV channel for advertising "miracle water" that it implied could cure cancer and erase debt. The Word Network, based in the US, was slapped with a £150,000 fine in relation to two episodes of the Peter Popoff Ministries, hosted by televange

The Scottish winter fuel payment challenge is being livestreamed today and tomorrow. The petition for judicial review in the case of Fanning and Fanning v the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Scottish Ministers is being heard before Lady Hood in the Court of Session.

Shared Parenting Scotland has published a guide to clear communication for parents, courts and legal professionals. One of the most common complaints made by callers to the helpline, and attendees at group meetings over the years, is that the language of family law procedures and even correspondence

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the death of 71-year-old Joseph Glass. Mr Glass died on 15 May 2021 at HMP Glenochil. The Crown Office is obliged to investigate deaths in custody and a fatal accident inquiry is mandatory.

The University of Aberdeen's Centre for Scots Law hosted an event on the role of the lord advocate featuring advocates Paul Harvey and Dominic Scullion. Mr Harvey, who has served as an advocate depute since 2021, was appointed assistant principal crown counsel for sexual and domestic abuse offences

Holyrood’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee has today launched a new call for views into civil legal assistance, covering civil legal aid and advice and assistance for civil issues, and grant funding for advice organisations. The call for views is part of a new inquiry whic

Plans for a new EU-wide legal framework for deportations, including to "return hubs" established in non-EU countries, have been condemned by human rights campaigners as "unworkable, expensive and inhumane". The European Commission this week proposed the establishment of a common European system for

ESPC has announced a free Buy-To-Let insights and advice event on 20 March, targeted at aspiring property investors and current landlords. The event will be held at Twenty Princes St, and will allow those thinking about beginning a property portfolio, or expanding their current portfolio, to have th

Suspected drug deaths fell by 11 per cent last year, new figures from Police Scotland show. The single force recorded 1,065 suspected drug deaths throughout the year, 132 fewer than in 2023.

A senior paralegal in Edinburgh has become the first person to receive the Law Society of Scotland’s new paralegal accreditation in banking and finance. Ann Clark, who works at Lindsays LLP, received the accreditation earlier this month after demonstrating detailed knowledge of processes, comm

The Scottish Land Commission, in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, has appointed Annabel Davidson Knight as community benefits from nature adviser, the "first role of its kind in Scotland".  The role will focus on "embedding social and economic benefits for local communit

The House of Lords Constitution Committee is inviting written contributions to its new inquiry into the rule of law. The inquiry is seeking to understand the rule of law as a constitutional principle and what the state of the rule of law is in the UK. The committee will consider the different unders