Defence counsel Tony Lenehan KC writes that juryless trials are being driven by ideology rather than evidence. After reading the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill I was disappointed but not surprised. I am disappointed at the many politicians, lobbyists, academics and
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Dhana McIver has been appointed by Balfour and Manson as its first disability officer. Ms McIver, who is profoundly deaf and wears hearing aids in both ears, is a trainee solicitor who has had a wide-ranging career in the law, having worked for six years as an executry paralegal and 11 years with th
The Dundee criminal defence agents met on Wednesday 3 May, and it was a unanimous decision that they will not be taking part in the Scottish government's planned juryless trials pilot scheme. After this meeting I noted numerous Bar Associations and Faculties doing the same thing. On Tuesday 9 May, w
A former judge of the Supreme Court has expressed concern about the compatibility of Scottish government proposals for juryless rape trials with the independence of the judiciary. Lord Hope of Craighead has said he is "very uneasy" with clause 40 of the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotlan
UK law firm Burges Salmon, which has an office in Edinburgh, has introduced parental leave coaching for parents returning to the workplace after parental or adoption leave. The firm is working in partnership with Bright Horizons to implement a range of new work and family policies to help retain sta
An MSP has called for the Scottish Parliament to instruct an independent KC-led inquiry into some of the Scottish Housing Regulator’s interventions and approach to regulation in general. In a recent speech to the Scottish Parliament, Stirling constituency representative Evelyn Tweed said she f
A man who had decree by default granted against him after he walked out of court during a diet of debate has lost a Sheriff Appeal Court challenge against the sheriff’s decision. Appellant Mohammed Aslam was the defender in an action raised in Glasgow Sheriff Court by the Royal Bank of Scotlan
The son of a Church of Scotland minister who first attended the General Assembly 45 years ago has been appointed its new procurator. Jonathan Brodie KC, of Arnot Manderson Advocates, said he is "deeply grateful" to be given the opportunity to take on the role which entails providing legal advic
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales has ruled that a position taken by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that it is never possible to make advance payments of Universal Credit to claimants who do not possess a National Insurance number at the time of their initial application is flaw
The Law Society of Scotland’s Council has selected Glasgow solicitor Michael Samuel as just the 20th person to receive honorary membership. He is the first person bestowed with life membership of the Law Society since 2021, and just the 10th person since the millennium.
Sheila Webster is in chipper mood when we catch up on Teams. Though she recently broke her shoulder tripping over a desk in the office, she has just had her sling removed and, while she is still in some pain and reliant on her husband – Themis Advocates KC Andrew Webster – for lifts, she
Patricia Taylor has been elected president of the Scottish Young Lawyers' Association following its annual general meeting. The Executive Committee also comprises:
Thorntons has promoted four of its lawyers to partner. The new partners are Kim Campbell, corporate; Amy Jones, employment; and Kirsty Stewart, intellectual property, all of whom are based in Dundee, alongside Debbie Dewar, land and rural business, who is based in Perth.
Former Edinburgh solicitor Paul Cannavan left behind his career in the courts to start a new hospitality venture, The Dell at Glenlivet, in the scenic region of Speyside.
A 21-year-old woman who pretended to be a man to seduce a teenager into a relationship has been found guilty of sexual assault. Georgia Bilham, from Alpraham, Cheshire, was convicted of sexual assault, by kissing, at Chester Crown Court after approximately three hours of deliberation.