News

Pauline Hughes outlines the implications of changes to flexible working laws. The Scottish government has recently announced that they will soon be passing new legislation around flexible working, updating the current rules to, ironically, make the scheme more flexible for employees.

The number of drink and drug-driving incidents in Scotland has soared in recent years, at the same time as the number of convictions has plummeted, according to “deeply alarming” new statistics. The figures, contained in a written answer from Justice Secretary Keith Brown, show that that

A Coatbridge confectionery company has been fined £5,000 for health and safety failings which led to the injury of an employee. Lees of Scotland Limited, who make teacakes, snowballs, and meringues, pled guilty to a charge under health and safety legislation on 13 December 2022 at Airdrie Sher

Historical witchcraft persecution and a proposed bill to pardon convictions are the subjects of the latest episode of BBC ALBA’s current affairs programme, Eòrpa. Reporter Eileen Macdonald speaks to women’s rights activists, local groups memorialising accused witches and camp

DAC Beachcroft has announced that health and safety specialist Zoe McDonnell has joined the firm as a partner in its six-strong Scottish regulatory – safety, health & environment team. Based in DACB’s Glasgow office, she moves from BLM where she was a partner and led its Scottish reg

CMS has played a key role in bringing a new skatepark to Banchory. Staff from the firm’s Aberdeen office provided free advice and significant legal support to the Banchory Skatepark Group which has recently opened its modern facility in the Deeside community.

A Crown Bill of Advocation in respect of a sheriff’s decision to adjourn and later desert a trial diet for a serving soldier accused of sexually and physically assaulting another soldier has been refused by the Sheriff Appeal Court. Respondent Ryan Cooper had been placed under special bail con

Donald Findlay KC earned the most from legal aid in 2021-22, figures from the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) show. The grand old man of the Scottish legal profession returned to the top of the table having dropped to ninth place in the previous year. He made £382,000 from legal aid in 2021-2

There was a significant recovery in most areas of legal aid activity in 2021-22 following the substantial drop the previous year, according to the annual report of the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB). The total cost to the taxpayer of providing legal assistance was £118.2 million in 2021-22.

A senior law firm partner was left embarrassed after circulating a memo about climate change with reference to the non-existent "Valerian Sea". In a newsletter sent round a City of London firm, the lawyer said he had a "eureka moment" when he was "leaving a Scandinavian port on the Valerian Sea in t

The Scottish government is on a collision course with the courts again as it prepares legislation criminalising conversion therapy, according to a KC. Double silk Aidan O’Neill KC has warned that the proposals would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

The Inner House of the Court of Session has made an order for two solicitors to deliver a file to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission that it had sought as part of a complaint investigation into them, under exception of any privileged material contained in it. It had previously been held by the

No child aged under 18 will be sent to a young offenders institution under legislation that has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill aims to improve experiences and outcomes for children by diverting them away from the criminal courts, with maxi

Thorntons has expanded its Glasgow practice with the appointment of a new senior solicitor and legal director to its commercial real estate team. Richard Hart has over 25 years’ experience in the real estate sector acting for housebuilders, landowners and tenants on all aspects of site acquisi

Views on juryless trials made in response to a consultation were mixed, according to a new report. An analysis of the three-month consultation on improving peoples’ experience of the justice system found “support across the board” for giving complainers in sexual offence cases an a