News

Shoplifting is up by more than a third since last year, according to new police figures. The latest recorded crime figures reveal that 40,554 alleged shoplifting crimes were reported to police in the year ending June 2024, up from 30,202 the previous year and 27,045 in the year ending June 2020.

A man who sexually assaulted and raped a teenage girl after meeting her on the street has been jailed. Jakub Sojka was found guilty on 31 July following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

Professor Angela O'Hagan has taken up appointment as chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission. She was previously professor of equality and public policy at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), where she created the current MSc in human rights and previously led the MSc in citizenship and human

Burness Paull has appointed Claire Scott as partner and Lisa Byars as director in the firm's employment law team. Ms Scott and Ms Byars both return to Burness Paull, having worked for the firm earlier in their careers.

A burglar was caught in the middle of a robbery after stopping to read a book on Greek mythology. The 38-year-old man reportedly broke into a flat in the Prati district of Rome but became distracted after picking up a book about Homer's Iliad.

Junior lawyers are being offered bonuses of £38,000 for referring their friends for jobs, as the talent war in London continues. The bonuses are on top of salaries for NQs which start at £180,000 at Paul Weiss and £164,000 at Kirkland & Ellis. The referral scheme at Kirkland &a

Holmes Mackillop's commercial property director, Amir M Ismail, has been accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in commercial leasing. Mr Ismail, who joined Holmes Mackillop in February 2015 and was promoted to director in April 2021, is based in the firm's Glasgow office.

Pinsent Masons is piloting burnout alerts for overworked staff after the death of a partner last year. The firm's new time-tracking system will let bosses know when employees have been consistently working long hours.

TSPC is to host a free event in Dundee highlighting the benefits and process of buying a new build home. The event will be held on Thursday from 5:30-6.30pm, with local mortgage advisers, solicitors, and housebuilders sharing guidance on all aspects of buying a new property.

Shepherd and Wedderburn has announced the appointment of Tricia Walker and Andrew Knight as partners in the employment team. Ms Walker brings a wealth of experience to the firm. With a particular focus on the energy sector.

Jennifer Wallace has joined Thompsons Solicitors Scotland as a salaried partner. Ms Wallace graduated from the University of Dundee and qualified as a solicitor in 2005. Having worked in both civil and commercial litigation, she has extensive experience in appearing at court for clients and has beco

A second-year trainee of Levy and McRae Solicitors has been appointed as a new committee member to the Trainee and Newly Qualified Society (TANQ), which is run by the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow. Cameron Irons, who works across Levy and McRae’s criminal and commercial litigation te

A man who left two prison officers injured after trying to escape from custody during a hospital visit has been jailed. James Demarco had been taken to Perth Royal Infirmary for an X-ray appointment on September 25, 2023. The 34-year-old was handcuffed to a female GEOAmey employee when he caused her

Convictions for rape and attempted rape have more than doubled in a year. There were 160 convictions for rape and attempted rape in Scotland in 2021-22 – up 105 from 78 in the previous year – new figures show.

A former prosecutor in Aberdeen was “stunned” to learn that a customer of his family's pub had planned to have him assassinated, a trial has heard. Darren Harty, 37, gave evidence at the trial of Martin Ready, 41, at the High Court in Glasgow.