News

Plans to ban single use vapes and raise the tobacco age of sale so that no one born on or after 1 January 2009 can ever legally be sold tobacco in Scotland have been published. Ministers have agreed to take forward the recommendations following a consultation on ‘Creating a Smokefree Generatio

The number of criminal legal aid solicitors dropped from 1,459 in 2007 to 966, the Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) has said as it warned the system was heading for collapse. The Scottish government's public spend on legal aid has declined by 45 per cent, allowing for inflation, over the p

A case challenging a 50 per cent increase in social care charges for disabled Glaswegians has been granted permission to proceed. In March last year, Glasgow City Council (GCC) amended its Social Work Services Social Care Charging Policy, increasing the charges it levies on disabled and non-disabled

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza. South Africa brought the case to the court, asking it to order Israel to stop military action until it could come to a decision on whether the country had committed genocide.

A community campaigner has won the 2024 Robert Burns Humanitarian Award (RBHA). Gail Penfold won the award during an online ceremony which took place on 25 January to celebrate Burns Night.

The Law Society of Scotland has highlighted serious failings in the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

A new rule would allow politicians in the Missouri Senate to challenge one another to a duel. Senator Nick Schroer's proposed amendment was posted on X by Missouri Senate Democrats.

A number of recent investigations by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service into the sudden and unexpected deaths of babies has prompted Solicitor General Ruth Charteris KC to urge families to follow the advice available on safer sleeping. In the last year COPFS received reports of 74 deaths

Regulations to protect tenants concerned about rent increases following the ending of the emergency rent cap have been laid in the Scottish Parliament. From 1 April onwards, subject to parliamentary approval, the process for rent adjudication will temporarily be modified for one year.

Two senior figures in the Scottish business community have taken on non-executive roles at a subsidiary of the charity Lar Housing Trust. Ed Monaghan, former CEO at housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel, and Andrew Cowan, managing partner at solicitors TC Young, have been appointed to the board of La

Clyde & Co welcomed more than 240 clients and colleagues to its annual Burns Supper last night to commemorate the national poet of Scotland.

Legislation which aims to enhance Scotland’s democratic processes has been published. The Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill includes provisions to encourage the piloting of electoral innovations such as digital polling cards and provides powers for elections to be rescheduled

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world. Israel Hamas war: UN say women and children main victims of conflict as IDF hit Damascus

The Scottish Solicitors Bar Association (SSBA) has accepted an invitation by the Criminal Justice Committee to give oral evidence on the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill after having been initially snubbed. Simon Brown, vice-president of the SSBA, will appear before the committe

Addleshaw Goddard has recruited Steven McAllister as a partner in its real estate team in Scotland. Mr McAllister, who joins the firm from Davidson Chalmers Stewart, specialises on real estate matters within the energy & utilities sector with wide experience in all renewable technologies, includ