News

The Scottish government has denied there is any problem with the legal aid duty rota after a freedom of information request revealed a fourfold increase in the number of solicitors withdrawing from providing cover in police stations. The new figures acquired by the Scottish Liberal Democrats show th

Morton Fraser has been appointed to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Wider Public Sector Legal Services Panel. Morton Fraser is the only Scottish independent firm to be directly appointed to lot one of the panel, meaning its public sector team will be available to provide commercial legal ser

Davidson Chalmers has recruited Laura Irvine as its eleventh partner to head up its newly launched regulatory team. She joins from BTO Solicitors where she was a partner. One of Scotland’s leading data protection and cybersecurity specialists, Ms Irvine wrote the Law Society of Scotland’

The recent Court of Appeal decision in Bellman v Northampton Recruitment Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 2214 provides a stark, timely reminder of both the personal and legal consequences of what can happen when work outings turn for the worse, write Alan Strain and Kieran Buxton. Mr Bellman worked for Nort

Shepherd and Wedderburn has announced that Emma Robertson, senior associate in the firm's rural property and business team, has been accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in agricultural law. Ms Robertson joins a select group of lawyers with the accreditation, including Shepherd

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has highlighted an improving picture in its complaints handling, as it publishes its annual report and annual accounts which were laid before the Scottish Parliament earlier today. There was a 6.3 per cent increase in the number of complaints received

Dungavel immigration centre has been criticised for its use of "disproportionate" measures to ensure detainees do not escape. A report published yesterday by HM chief inspector of prisons, Peter Clarke, criticised the use of a dog to patrol the perimeter of Dungavel House, following the escape of a

A pilot of so-called flexible operating hours will go ahead in family and civil courts in England and Wales in spite of opposition from barristers. The UK government dropped its proposals for early starts and late finishes in the criminal courts after the Bar of England and Wales warned it would thr

Two police officers who were seriously injured, as well as the officers who came to their aid and arrested the man responsible, displayed extreme bravery, professionalism and sound judgement, a PIRC report has found. A 43-year-old man was deliberately struck by a police car during an attempt to arre

The audio of Professor Hector MacQueen's Stair Society Annual Lecture for 2018 is now available online. Professor MacQueen delivered the lecture on Friday entitled 'The Kings of Scots v The Earls of Douglas 1406-1455: a Game of Thrones?' and began with the minority of King James II 1437-1449 an

Journalist John Forsyth is compiling anecdotes for an item entitled 'Christmas Eve in the Courthouse' for BBC Radio 4 next month. Criminal courts often sit on Christmas Eve. Misjudged festive celebrations by Santa or his elves often lead to their appearance among the overnight custodies.

Pictured (L-R): Alexandra Smith, Emma de Sailly, Katrina Barclay, Hamish Lean and Paul Tinson Shepherd and Wedderburn is supporting the work of two rural charities in Scotland with charitable donations to RSABI and the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET).

A care assistant who said his fear of nappies constituted a disability has lost a discrimination case against his employer. The Irish worker, who cannot be named, was on sick leave for over three years before his dismissal on the grounds of incapacity last year.

A property owner who sued the Royal Bank of Scotland for breach of contract over the mortgage lender’s early termination and demand for repayment of three loans has had his £160,000 damages action against bank dismissed following an appeal. The Inner House of the Court of Session upheld

The Faculty of Advocates has given strong support for reform of the “archaic” offence of child cruelty, but warned that care must be taken to prevent everyday discipline from being criminalised. The Scottish government is looking at possible changes to section 12 of the Children and