News

A 35-year-old Florida police officer has been accused of taking over the home and identity of a man that he had found dead when responding to a welfare check in 2022. In July 2022 police officer Brian Louis Sguros responded to a welfare check at the home of 71-year-old Dennis West, who had died of n

Our weekly round-up of human rights stories from around the world.

A new help desk providing free support to people representing themselves in court has been launched by two universities in Sheffield. Students from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield will be trained to help court users understand procedures and navigate the legal system.

We are delighted to advise that registration is now open for our Annual Conference on Friday 20th November from 12:30pm until 5:30pm at the Balmoral Hotel. Under the Law Society of Scotland's Guidelines, delegates may claim 3 hours of CPD time. The conference is open to all solicitors, in-house lawy

The current constitutional arrangements underpinning the lord advocate’s role should be retained unless and until their existing safeguards are shown to be insufficient to sustain their constitutional legitimacy, according to written evidence published in response to the House of Commons Scott

A Canadian man has been convicted of felony and misdemeanour animal cruelty after stealing a flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel while drunk. Mitchell Fairbarn, from rural Ontario, took 27-year-old Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino’s wildlife habitat in the early hours of 3 March

The latest UK House Price Index showed Scottish house prices remained ahead of the UK average. Average house prices in Scotland saw a monthly increase of 0.9 per cent from July to August 2026 and annual increase of 2.9 per cent, with the average house price at £198,397. 

Samantha McPhillips, an LLM student at the University of Edinburgh, has won the postgraduate category of the Mason Institute’s 2025/26 Student Essay Competition. Her winning essay, From Risk to Capacity: The Limits of Fusion Law in Reforming Involuntary Treatment, was recognised in the competi

The number of people dying in custody or in the care of the state in Scotland rose by 6.5 per cent in 2025, according to a new report. Figures published by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) show that 261 people died last year, compared with 245 in 2024 – an average of

Representatives from across Scotland's legal and advice sectors will come together in November for an evening focused on strengthening collaboration, expanding pro bono support and improving access to justice. Hosted by the Faculty of Advocates on Wednesday 4 November 2026, the event will bring toge

Florida governor Ron DeSantis has pledged to make Tesla’s new 'flying' Roadster legal in the state, joking that it could "leapfrog golf carts in The Villages". "We will make sure that it's legal," DeSantis wrote on X, following Elon Musk’s unveiling of the long-awaited vehicle at a Space

President of the Supreme Court Lord Reed of Allermuir has delivered his valedictory lecture ahead of his retirement next year, focusing on the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the ‘Law Lords’ – the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords – at an event in the court

The Jackdaw gas field is set to begin supplying British homes and businesses by the end of this month after the energy secretary agreed that the regulator could grant consent for production. The project is expected to increase domestic gas production by around six per cent at its peak, support the U

Communities will "have more opportunities to have their say" in shaping how Scotland's largest landholdings are managed under proposals now open for public consultation. The Community Engagement Obligations and draft large land holdings guidance under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 consultation

From artificial intelligence in employment tribunal proceedings to forthcoming changes to statutory time limits and the latest position on fire and rehire, the Faculty of Advocates Employment Law Group Annual Conference 2026 will explore significant developments currently shaping employment law. The