News

A new report has called on the Scottish justice system to modernise the ‘antiquated’ way it cites witnesses to attend court. Inspectors from HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland (IPS) and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) carried out a joint review into

The UK will no longer grant refugee status on a permanent basis, instead reviewing cases every 30 months to identify refugees who can be sent back home. The sweeping changes announced yesterday by the UK's home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, follow her recent visit to Denmark, which she says has reduce

The UK government is seeking views on banning under-16s from social media through a formal consultation launched yesterday. Many countries are considering following in the footsteps of Australia, which introduced a world-first ban in December.

A former Police Scotland officer who sent sexual messages to an undercover colleague posing as 12-year-old girl has been sentenced. Adam McManus admitted three charges when he appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court on 9 January 2026.

The Scottish Sentencing Council’s new sentencing guidelines on rape offences come into effect today. The two new guidelines, which cover offences of rape and rape of a young child under the age of 13, were developed following "extensive stakeholder engagement and research", culminating in a fu

McKee Campbell Morrison (MCM) has announced the appointment of Ewan Forsyth as associate director in its growing private client team. Mr Forsyth brings significant experience across a wide spectrum of private client work, including complex estates, trusts, succession planning and advising high‑net

Jacqui Taylor has been appointed permanent chamber president of the Local Taxation Chamber and Joy Hosie has been appointed permanent chamber president of the Social Security Chamber. Ms Taylor has been a legal member of the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property) Chamber since it was established

A cross-government group has been established by the Scottish government to consider the impacts of the ongoing conflict in Iran and the surrounding region for Scotland. The group’s priorities include ensuring close co-ordination with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on

Brodies LLP has added to its corporate crime practice with the appointment of new partner Neil Hay. Mr Hay is recognised for his expertise in criminal law and financial crime where he provides strategic legal advice and specialist court representation for individuals, companies and organisations und

India's top court has banned a school textbook which made references to court backlogs and "corruption in the judiciary". The Supreme Court of India has imposed a "complete blanket ban... on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination" of the book, which was published last week by t

Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP (WJM) has expanded with a new office in Aberdeen. The firm – which has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Dunblane and Galashiels – has opened its north east base on Marischal Square in the heart of the city centre.

Watermans has announced the opening of a new office in Dunfermline. 

BTO has welcomed Donna Strong as a new partner in the firm’s real estate team, based in its Glasgow office. This senior hire follows the appointment of partner John Dunlop in the firm’s Edinburgh office last year, further strengthening BTO’s growing real estate capability.

Fragmented ownership, chronic underinvestment, and slow legislative progress are pushing thousands of tenements into deepening disrepair, but with cross-party and cross-sector support for compulsory owners' associations and building reserve funds, a potential positive future could be around the cor

The Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Law (AUCEL) held a seminar on contemporary developments in International Energy Law last month.