News

The Law Society has published guidance for solicitors on good practice in working with transgender employees. Gender reassignment is a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act 2010 and the Law Society's guidance has been prepared to help solicitors fulfil their duties as employers under the

A man who raped a 14-year-old girl while her mother was in the next room has had his prison term increased following a Crown appeal against sentence. The Criminal Appeal Court ruled that the sentence of three years imprisonment was “unduly lenient” and increased it to one of five years.

The Faculty of Advocates has entered the debate on repealing the Human Rights Act 1998 in favour of a Bill of Rights by declaring that it is not convinced of the need for substantial reform, in evidence to theScottish Parliament’s European and External Relations Committee. The committee is examini

The House of Lords has called on the Prime Minister to halt the Scotland Bill amid fears the process is being undertaken with “undue haste” and without an assessment of the political and economic consequences for the UK. In its report A fracturing Union? The Economic Affairs Committee said there

Parents who hit their children are more likely to subsequently abuse them and leave them with lasting effects according to a new report. Research commissioned by charities and the Children's Commissioner found that smacking kids can result in depression and a higher probability that they will become

Paul Wheelhouse Plans to strengthen the community justice system in Scotland have passed stage 1 at the Scottish Parliament amid concerns the measures are too "timid".

A football club has been accused of breaking heraldic law by using an unregistered coat of arms as its crest. Ayr United has been referred to the Court of the Lord Lyon in a complaint by a rival team who accuse it of breaking the law which dates back to the reign of King Charles II.

Graham Construction has been awarded the £18m contract to complete the refurbishment of Edinburgh Law School. Work on the "Old College Law School Refurbishment Project" will begin on Monday and see Graham onsite at the South Bridge building until winter 2017/18.

Michael Gove Westminster's Justice Select Committee has called for the abolition of the criminal courts charge “as soon as possible” in a damning assessment of the costs.

. He was sympathetic to the proposed declaration relating to the Guidance but agreed that it would be wrong to make it without considering further submissions. Jamie Kerr, an immigration expert at Thorntons said: "This decision seems to be a very harsh one, especially given that compliance with the

The publisher of GQ magazine has been found in contempt of court over a “seriously prejudicial” article on the phone-hacking trial. The High Court in London ruled that the article had created a “substantial risk” the trial of former News of the World (NoW) editor Rebekah Brooks, former deput

Elaine McDougall Motorists in Glasgow have paid more fines this year in traffic offences caught on CCTV than in any other council area in the UK BBC News reports.

Professor Mark Poustie A new report recommends an increase in the number of penalties available for wildlife crime offences.

The Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission (SCCRC) has referred the case of a man convicted of various offences relating to the possession and distribution of indecent photographs of children to theHigh Court following the decision in Strachan v HMA2011. In accordance with the commission’s statu

An English local authority that challenged a decision which meant the costs of providing accommodation for an elderly care home resident who moved north of the border could be recovered from the council has had a petition for judicial review refused. A judge in the Court of Session dismissed the cha