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Under-18s will no longer be able to buy nicotine or herbal smoking products in Scotland, under new legislation which has come into force. The ban to protect children and young people from the harms of nicotine addiction extends the protections in age-of-sale rules to all nicotine products, including

A victims’ fund financed by penalties imposed on convicted offenders is open for new applications. More than 10,000 people have been helped through the Victim Surcharge Fund since it was established in 2019, with almost £3.5 million paid out so far.

The Criminal Justice committee is undertaking a short inquiry into AI-generated image abuse and deepfake pornography. The committee has launched its inquiry due to the increasing use of AI-generated intimate images, the harms experienced by victims, and the challenges these offences can present for

A solicitor has been found in contempt of court for a failure to engage with both the court and the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) in relation to a complaint. The solicitor did not respond to the SLCC when a statutory request was made for the relevant case file for the complaint to be i

A groundbreaking exhibition on the history of pro bono legal work across the UK has been officially launched in the Houses of Parliament and is now available to view online. The History of Pro Bono exhibition has been created to mark the 25th anniversary of UK Pro Bono Week, which takes place from 2

A State Duma committee has backed a bill allowing Russia to register vehicles reported stolen in countries it labels “unfriendly”. The proposal would let the Interior Ministry set special procedures for cars listed as stolen internationally. The ministry says it has found about 1,500 suc

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

Lloyds Banking Group, Mondelez International and Société Générale have joined the In House Pro Bono Pledge, bringing its total membership to 25. The pledge asks corporate legal teams to build pro bono work into their organisations. It was launched in April 2024 by the In

The Scottish Land Commission has welcomed Megan MacInnes as its new head of practice and advice. Ms MacInnes joins the commission at an important time for land reform in Scotland, with the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 bringing a renewed focus on responsible land ownership and the role of communit

The Crown Office has lodged a first notice to begin the court process for a fatal accident inquiry into the death of 57-year-old Stuart Drury. The 57-year-old, a prisoner within HMP Edinburgh, died on 3 August 2023.

Security companies linked to Cambodia’s military, police and powerful business networks helped sustain a scamming industry involving human trafficking, forced labour, torture and slavery, Amnesty International has said. A new report, Official Business: Security companies and authorities at sca

A future trainee solicitor from Edinburgh would not have been able to join the profession without the support of the Lawscot Foundation, he told students, alumni and supporters at an event marking the charity's 10th anniversary. Held at Parliament Hall on Tuesday, the Lawscot Foundation marked a dec

Environmental and human rights campaigners have criticised the Scottish government’s decision to exclude the right to a healthy environment from its forthcoming Human Rights Bill, accusing ministers of abandoning a longstanding commitment without consulting stakeholders. More than 100 civil so

A 36-year-old man who allegedly attempted to rob a supermarket while wearing underwear over his head later stole a funeral company’s vehicle and drove to Brussels to buy cocaine. The man appeared before Nivelles Criminal Court on Tuesday, facing charges including attempted extortion, weapons o

A Holyrood committee is taking evidence this morning as it explores the potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of hyperscale data centres in Scotland. The Climate Action Committee is taking evidence from environmental organisations and campaign groups with concerns about t