News

The Law Society of Scotland has today welcomed the Scottish Law Commission’s Draft Third Party Rights Bill. Michael Clancy, director of law reform at the Law Society, said: “We fully support the intention of the Third Party Rights Bill and believe that the legislation will provide clarity and ce

Paul Wheelhouse A bill to reform succession laws, including the effects of divorce, dissolution or annulment on a will, has been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Holyrood’s Finance Committee has called for a wide ranging debate on taxation policy following the implementation of new financial powers arising from the Smith Commission. The committee issued the call in its report on the Scottish government’s draft budget for 2016-17, published today.

(L-R): Neil Davidson, Joanne Gosney, Bruce Langlands,Tahirah Yousaf and Craig Brown Digby Brown Solicitors has announced a series of associate-level promotions in its Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen offices, a move the firm’s chief executive Fraser Oliver has described as reflecting the depth and b

Neil Stevenson The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), Scotland’s independent body for complaints about lawyers, is consulting on a new strategy for the next four years, aimed at putting consumer understanding at its heart.

Lorna Jack The Law Society of Scotland has formed a partnership with the ESPC (Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre) andBDP Estate Agency Software, to deliver a one-stop-shop digital platform for property solicitors.

Alex Neil Women who have suffered violence and abuse will benefit from a funding boost of £570,000 to help build stronger and more resilient women’s support groups across Scotland, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil announced today.

Michael Gove The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) decision to abandon plans for the two-tier criminal legal aid contracting regime. Legal aid fee cuts for criminal defence lawyers are to be dropped and the old rates restored following the government's U-t

A legal secretary who stole almost £79,000 from clients and spent the money on shopping sprees has been jailed for two and a half years. Dianne Spragg, 48, from Caerphilly in Wales, forged 65 cheques at Cardiff firm Geldards. The cheques were from “mentally incapacitated” customers.

A Scots law firm whose complaint to the legal complaints watchdog about the conduct of a solicitor from another firm was ruled ineligible has successfully appealed against the decision. The firm complained to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission that the lawyer may have been guilty of profession

Lord Drummond Young The Inner House of the Court of Session has rejected a law firm's bid to avoid contributing more than £50,000 to the Scottish Solicitors’ Staff Pension Fund £10 million deficit.

The Law Society of Scotland has supported plans to remove the need for suspects to pay a contribution towards the cost of legal advice they receive while held in custody at police stations but has cautioned that fundamental difficulties with legal aid arrangements for police station work remain. Reg

A bill to improve access to justice for survivors of domestic abuse and tackle the rise of so-called revenge porn will be debated at the Scottish Parliament today. The Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Bill, introduced by the Scottish government, will modernise criminal law and strengthen powers for

John Swinney New legislation to introduce a supplement on purchases of additional residential properties has been published by the Scottish Parliament today.

Jennifer Cummings Murray Beith Murray has announced the appointment of Jennifer Cummings as associate within the Edinburgh-based private client firm. The promotion takes effect from 1 February 2016.