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The closing date for the Faculty of Advocates’ scholarship programmes for 2023 is the end of April, so anyone keen to access funding to support them while devilling must apply soon. In addition to providing financial assistance, the scholarships are also aimed at promoting and encouraging dive

New approaches to protecting and restoring nature are the theme of recent publications by NatureScot and the (UK government) Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs, writes Neil Collar. The availability and shortcomings of legal tools are key factors in achieving those objectives.

A family's new puppy has turned into a profitable investment after digging up valuable gold coins on his first walk. Ollie, a young lagotto romagnolo, well known as truffle hunters, dug up 15 sovereign coins valued at £5,943.96 when taken for a walk near Blackpool in northern England, The Time

Solicitor Aamer Anwar has claimed the Spanish government used Israeli spy software to hack his phone. Mr Anwar acted for Clara Ponsatí, who was was charged in Spain with sedition for her role in Catalonia's independence referendum in 2017, in an extradition case that was later dropped.

Following the upcoming retirements of Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen and Sheriff Principal Duncan Murray, the Lord President has appointed Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis as president of the Sheriff Appeal Court and Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull as vice-president. The appointments are effective

Gateley, which in 2015 became the first law firm to be listed on the stock market, has bought a firm of chartered surveyors in a £20 million deal. The firm has acquired Smithers Purslow, which has a presence in Scotland. It is described as a “multi-disciplinary chartered surveying practi

Pinsent Masons has significantly increased its rewards package for entry-level lawyers by boosting starting salaries by £16,000. Newly qualified (NQ) lawyers offered positions in the firm’s three Scottish offices will receive salaries of £61,000 – a 35.5 per cent increase on

Duncan Love has been elected as president of the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. At the society’s annual general meeting Ken MacDonald, a partner at Brodies, passed the presidency on to Mr Love, who is a partner at James & George Collie. Martin Sinclair of Mackinnons and Neil Smith of Bu

England should follow in the footsteps of Scotland and Wales and ban smacking, the children's commissioner has said. Dame Rachel de Souza said she was supportive of changing the law and was "against violence of any kind against children".

Businesses with a UK turnover of less than £10 million will be removed from the scope of the UK's merger control regime, the government has announced. Under the "small merger safe harbour", mergers will be exempted from review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) where each party's U

Shared Parenting Scotland has responded to a petition lodged with the Scottish Parliament Citizen Participation and Petitions Committee calling for full legal aid to be provided to all parents fighting for access to their children. The response is reproduced below. Setting aside our view that it is

An Iraqi Kurd who claimed he would be at risk of an honour killing by his wife’s family if he was returned to Iraq has had an appeal against a Lord Ordinary’s decision not to accept his petition for judicial review refused by the Inner House of the Court of Session. Mariwan Hassan argued

An employee has been awarded $450,000 in damages after his employer organised an unwanted surprise birthday party for him. Kentucky man Kevin Berling was fired over his response to the party, which was standard for employees but which he had explicitly told managers he did not want, WKRC-TV reports.

Irwin Mitchell, which has an office in Glasgow, is to give staff an extra £900 this month to help with the sharp rise in the cost of food and fuel. The payment will be given to all non-partners and is separate from pay reviews and bonus calculations.

Motorists will be allowed to watch TV in self-driving cars under proposed changes to the Highway Code in Great Britain – but using their mobile phones on the road will remain illegal. The UK government said the planned changes to the Highway Code, which follow a public consultation, will allow