News

The adequacy of the audit and accountability arrangements of those who will be delivering the proposed new devolved powers in future is the focus of a call for views launched today by the Public audit committee. Organisations such as the BBC, Department of Work and Pensions, British Transport Police

Fiona McAllister (pictured) discusses privacy rights six months after the creation of IPSO. Six months after the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) issued its Data Protection guidance and the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) took over from the Press Complaints Commission, we still

An increasing number of fake marriages are taking place in Scotland as people attempt to use the system as a means of entry into the UK according to official figures. Registrars have reported a peak of 570 suspected fraudulent weddings in the past year, according to the National Records of Scotland.

A senior member of the Faculty of Advocates has been appointed the first President of the Scottish Tax Tribunals. Andrew Stewart QC (pictured), will lead the new tribunals, which are being created to deal with devolved taxes.

A legal hearing is to be held in Edinburgh to speed up the criminal investigation into the North Sea helicopter crash which saw four offshore workers killed. The lord advocate, Frank Mulholland QC (pictured), will argue in the Court of Session on May 19 that accident investigators should hand over t

A heroin addict who was jailed for selling ecstasy at a rave to fund his habit has won an appeal against sentence. Andrew Fisher was sentenced to three years imprisonment after being found with over 100 ecstasy tablets at a dance event, but appeal judges reduced the custodial term after ruling that

SCBA members celebrate International Women’s Day at Edinburgh High Court

Some lawyers are threatening defamation action against clients who leave negative reviews of their services on ratings websites. Increasingly, law firms are sending out “intimidatory” letters in order to scare their customers and clients into removing criticism of them.

This weekend will see celebrations and events across the world to mark International Women’s Day. The dean of the Faculty of Advocates, James Wolffe QC (pictured) said: “Sunday will be International Women’s Day.

Past president of the Law Society of Scotland Bruce Beveridge has been appointed a non-executive director and chair of thinkWhere, a geographic information system (GIS) consultancy. Mr Beveridge has extensive senior executive and board experience with a career which has included the Government Legal

Friends and members of the SYLA are reminded that ticket sales for the SYLA Spring Ball close at 2359 on Friday 13 March 2015– ball-goers are encouraged to get their tickets now to avoid disappointment.

Measures to improve the transparency of information about MSPs' financial interests are today being proposed by the Scottish parliament’s standards procedures and public appointments committee. In its report, the result of an inquiry conducted over the course of this session, the committee propose

A top advocate has launched an attack against Scottish government proposals to end automatic early release for long-term prisoners, saying the SNP has adopted a “bogus, populist position” that will not improve public safety. Brian McConnachie QC (pictured), former principal advocate depute at th

Armed police have responded to over 1,600 routine incidents despite assurances form Police Scotland last year that the practice would end. Assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins (pictured), giving evidence to Holyrood’s policing committee yesterday, said officers in armed response vehicles (ARV

The son of a woman with Alzheimer’s disease who challenged a decision of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (MHTS) to make a compulsory treatment order (CTO) in relation to his mother has had his appeal refused. Judges in the Inner House of the Court of Session upheld a ruling of the sheriff