News

A new inquiry to investigate whether changes to legal aid funding have left some victims of discrimination unable to access justice has been launched today by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Following changes to legal aid in 2012, funding for most discrimination cases can only be accessed

A crackdown on lawyers and activists associated with the campaign against forced wearing of the hijab in Iran intensified over the weekend. Human rights lawyer and women’s rights activist Hoda Amid was arrested at her home on Saturday, a day after the arrests of her fellow lawyers Payam Derafs

A man who allegedly ran out on dinner dates with women, leaving them to pay the full bill, is facing up to 13 years in prison. Paul Gonzales, 45, allegedly took financial advantage of at least 10 women he met on dating apps or websites.

Proposed legislation to give Scottish courts the power to order damages awards to be paid periodically has been hailed by the Faculty of Advocates as a “long overdue reform”. The Faculty has also welcomed provisions in the Damages (Investment Returns and Periodical Payments) (Scotland) B

The independent review on the impact of policing on affected communities in Scotland during the miners' strike is today launching a call for evidence. John Scott QC, who is leading the review, and his advisory panel, comprising Dennis Canavan, former MP and MSP, Jim Murdoch, professor of public law

One of Scotland’s foremost experts on immigration law and migration policy has joined Burness Paull LLP. Jamie Kerr has worked solely in the field of immigration, asylum and nationality law for over a decade, supporting public and private sector clients on the full suite of business

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP has announced the promotion of Joanne Ockrim and Martin O’Neill to partner. Ms Ockrim graduated from Strathclyde University before joining WJM as a trainee and subsequently advancing through the firm.

Murgitroyd, a global intellectual property attorney firm headquartered in Glasgow, is on track to report profit before taxes of just under £4.1 million. In a trading update, the group said it expects profits for the year to 31 May to be line with market expectations and up from £3.8m in

Forensic expert Professor Dame Sue Black has called for the creation of a national database of sex offenders' penises to help tackle sexual crimes. Professor Black said that suspects can be identified by their penises alone and that it is the practice among many to upload such photos to we

An annual gathering of Catholic lawyers has become the subject of a row because of the church's handling of child abuse, The Times reports. Leading figures from Scotland's legal profession gather annually at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh for the Red Mass, which ushers in the new legal year.

John Sturrock QC reflects on the latest edition of Lord Hope's diaries. Earlier this year, I commented on the first of Lord Hope’s Diaries. That volume was illuminating and surprising, not least in disclosing the insecurity which Lord Hope sometimes experienced in his time as a practising QC. Sinc

It is ironic that as the Scottish government make plans to introduce a new benefit to alleviate funeral poverty, one of its agencies, the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AIB), has been cashing in on life insurance policies of people that have passed away, writes Alan McIntosh. This has led to bereaved fam

Tom Wood notes how the Scottish government has neglected one minority group. Scotland has come a long way in its recognition and response to domestic violence. It’s barely 30 years since this endemic curse was dragged out of the shadows and police forces and other authorities started

MSPs from the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee are to visit Dundee, Forfar and Montrose today. The politicians are carrying out fact-finding visits in readiness for two new parliamentary inquiries that get underway at Holyrood this autumn.