JUSTICE publishes ‘pocket guide’ for Scottish lawmakers

As the makers of our laws, as our representatives, and in holding the Scottish government to account, MSPs wear many hats. To support them in this, JUSTICE has published a new publication, Law for Scottish lawmakers: A JUSTICE guide to the law.

The guide, an update of JUSTICE’s 2015 Westminster-focused publication Law For lawmakers, gives a basic introduction to some of the core legal and constitutional principles with which parliamentarians grapple on a daily basis at Holyrood.

The Lord President, Lord Carloway writes in his foreword: “We are at a crucial point in the development of the Scottish legal system. Political uncertainty over the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, and the place of Scotland in the future world order, are only two of the important issues which the Scottish Parliament will have to grapple with in the coming months and years.

“The legal consequences of the anticipated political change may be very significant. They will require legislative alterations to the substantive law, especially in those areas which have been heavily influenced by the EU. As law-makers, Scottish Parliamentarians will be responsible for many of these alterations.”

While aimed at MSPs, Law for Scottish lawmakers would prove useful to any non-lawyers who have to deal with legal issues, including journalists and NGO workers.

Derek Ogg QC Chair, JUSTICE Scotland , writes in his welcome to the report: “At the heart is a shared understanding – stepping beyond party politics – of the role that Parliament plays in both making the law work and ensuring respect for the rule of law in practice.

“We hope it will prove a useful ‘pocket guide’ for MSPs as well as their staff.”