News

Lawyers across Scotland are withdrawing from legal aid schemes due to their continuing dispute with the Scottish government over fees. Solicitors in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and the Borders are not participating in duty solicitor schemes in a move that should cause widespread delays to court proceedings

Particular complications can arise in claims involving multiple parties, not least when some of those involved wish to reach a settlement but others do not. Three recently issued judgments have highlighted some of the pitfalls to be avoided. In Loretto Housing Association Ltd v Cruden Buildings and

Barrister Amal Clooney has been made a fellow of the WS Society. Ms Clooney, a member of Doughty Street Chambers, expressed her thanks to the trustees “for considering me for this honour alongside distinguished colleagues who I consider mentors and friends”.

It's a new start for the New Year at Scottish Legal News as we welcome you to our new-look newsletter and website. The new, cleaner and sleeker newsletter is designed to improve readability for our 14,000 daily subscribers, particularly those who access the newsletter on phones.

A former council electrician who was exposed to asbestos in the 1980s has been granted permission to proceed with an action for damages against the successor council to his previous employer. It was argued by John Kelman that he was not aware that his condition was sufficiently serious as to justify

Legal aid practitioners suffered an expected decline in earnings in the second year of the pandemic, figures from the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) show.

The Supreme Court has unanimously allowed the appeal in part of a board claiming entitlement to give instructions on behalf of the Central Bank of Venezuela and has dismissed the cross-appeal of a contender board. Lord Lloyd–Jones, with whom Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Hamblen and Lord Leggatt

It has been another difficult year for us all as the threat from the virus ebbs and flows. Against this backdrop, the ideological fault lines in wider society have become clearly visible in the legal profession too: whether in debates about the powers of the executive and judiciary or the presumptio

This obituary is reproduced by kind permission of The Times.

Today we include comments from Stephen's fellow members of Faculty and the wider profession. They attest to his kindness, intelligence and humility as well as the grief and deep well of feeling his death has brought to all who knew him. Advocate Calum Wilson, who devilled with Stephen, said: "I

Dear Editor, The Faculty of Advocates is, understandably, opposed to the suggested independent regulator for legal services in Scotland. I am not and never have been a member of Faculty and so I am independent in the true sense. I am not in the Dean’s pocket, nor is he in mine.

Pre-tax profits at Ledingham Chalmers have risen to £4 million, up from last year’s £3.6m. Turnover in the latest period totalled £12.3m, down from £12.7m the year before.

Celtic Football Club has announced the appointment of Michael Nicholson as chief executive with immediate effect. Mr Nicholson has held the position of acting chief executive since early September. He was formerly Celtic’s director of legal and football affairs and has been with the club

Shoosmiths has been appointed to Taylor Wimpey’s Scottish legal panel. Shoosmiths is the only firm to secure a place on the housebuilder’s legal roster in Scotland, and England and Wales. This follows Taylor Wimpey concluding its latest panel review.

The Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC has ordered a review of how prosecutors deal with reports of sexual offences. She announced the review in an evidence session at the Criminal Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament. The review is in recognition of the profound impact that these crimes have on