The Inner House of the Court of Session has refused an appeal against a decision that a university was entitled to charge the higher rate of tuition fees to a South African-born optometry student who held UK citizenship by birthright and fled the country due to threats against his family, holding th
Appointments
See all articlesShoosmiths has announced the appointment of Sarah Fitzpatrick as partner and head of planning. Her arrival marks a significant milestone in the continued build-out of Shoosmiths’ planning team across the UK, following the promotion of Matt Nixon to partner in London and appointment of Steven S
Harper Macleod has announced the promotion of Bobby Murray to partner in its dispute resolution team. Based in Edinburgh, Mr Murray advises clients on a broad range of dispute resolution matters, with a particular focus on insurance-backed disputes.
Anderson Strathern has announced a series of senior promotions across its Edinburgh, Glasgow and Orkney offices. Four lawyers have been promoted to director and partner level, following a period of sustained activity for the firm, particularly in rural and estates, private client and commercial real
MJC LAW has welcomed two new team members and celebrated two internal promotions. Kellie Marshall joined the firm on 23 March 2026 as a newly qualified solicitor, bringing with her a strong foundation in working with clients in sensitive and often complex situations.
Holmes Mackillop Solicitors has promoted Emma Donaldson, former senior associate in its private client team, to a director of the firm. Following qualification as a solicitor in 2007, Ms Donaldson has focused on working for individuals and families in private client matters. She has extensive experi
Continued success at Thompsons Solicitors Scotland has been underlined by a series of new promotions at the firm.
Universities
See all articlesThe Aberdeen Law Project (ALP) has secured two separate four-figure sums in connection with a consumer dispute. Prior to ALP’s engagement in the matter, the client had purchased an unfit vehicle and attempted to resolve the matter independently. ALP engaged in correspondence with the opp
The US intends to launch its Artemis 2 rocket this week, marking the first time humans will venture beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. As well as highlighting the technological and scientific challenges of manned space flight, the programme also emphasises the legal complexities of send
The number of law students suspected of using AI to cheat has risen at several Scottish universities, an investigation by Scottish Legal News has found – with one expert warning that the figures are likely underreported. SLN made freedom of information requests of all Scottish universities tha
Kapil Summan
The University of Aberdeen Mooting Society will host the finals of the Main Faculty Moot on 19 March. This year’s competition will be judged by Michael D Anderson KC, a graduate of the university and an experienced criminal advocate who was called to the bar in 2006 and took silk in 2022. 
Scottish academics have contributed to a new collection celebrating women in legal history, launched at Queens’ College, Cambridge. Published by Bloomsbury, Celebrating Women in Legal History: Making and Shaping a Discipline champions the work of women in legal history and their contributions
Legal Aid
See all articlesSolicitors who provide legal aid will receive a 13 per cent increase in fees from September this year. The fees hike is part of a wider package of support including also funding for up to 40 legal aid traineeship places and digital support to help firms purchase devices to assist trainees in their w
The Law Society of Scotland is seeking urgent clarification from the Scottish government on why legal aid has again been ignored in the final budget before this year’s Holyrood election. Finance Secretary Shona Robinson announced the 2026-27 budget in the Scottish Parliament on 13 January 2026
The Scottish government is pausing it’s proposed changes to legal aid for adults with legal incapacity (AWI) cases, following an intervention by Govan Law Centre. Last month, GLC wrote to the Holyrood's Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee to recommend rejection of a draft Scottish statut
The Law Society of Scotland has warned that proposed changes to legal aid fees for cases related to adults with incapacity (AWI) would further exacerbate the shortage of solicitors for such work. The warning is contained in a submission by the Law Society on potential changes to legal aid regulation
Laura Simpson and Christine McKellar of Govan Law Centre raise the alarm over proposed changes to legal aid for adults with incapacity in Scotland. It is no secret that Scotland’s legal aid system is in urgent need of reform. With the increase in legal aid deserts caused by an ever-diminishing
And Finally
See all articlesSwiss cheesemakers have praised a court ruling which has saved the iconic holes in Emmental. Traditionally, the holes in Emmental have been caused by hay particles inadvertently introduced to the milk when cows are milked by hand in the barns where they live and eat.
A viral video has captured a woman's impressive escape from police custody through the cracked window of a police car. Footage shared by FOX 2 Detroit shows Kendra Aney first poking her head from the backseat window before carefully manoeuvring her whole body through it – remarkably landing on
An iconic clip of a man's arrest in Australia after eating "a succulent Chinese meal" is to be preserved in Australia's National Film and Sound Archive. The incredible and memorable monologue unleashed by Jack Karlson during his arrest in Brisbane in 1991 was captured by a TV news crew from the Seve
Hundreds of thousands of KitKat chocolate bars have been stolen by criminals with "exceptional taste". Nestlé said 413,793 bars, weighing 12 tonnes in total, had been stolen while being transported from a factory in Italy to Poland.
A man alleged to have a bong built into his car to allow him to smoke cannabis while driving has been arrested for the 98th time. The man, who has not been named, was one of two suspects apprehended by police in the US state of Washington in connection with organised retail theft.









