News

A man who perpetrated a massive psychic mass-mailing fraud scheme which stole more than $175 million from over 1.3 million victims has been jailed for 10 years. Over two decades, Patrice Runner, 57, sent millions of letters purporting to be individualised, personal communications from well-known so-

The juryless trials pilot would not take place until late 2028, Justice Secretary Angela Constance has said. Ms Constance said she would listen to the concerns of the legal profession and MSPs about the proposals contained in the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Property portal ESPC has announced the return of its accreditation course for solicitor estate agents, following on from a successful first year in 2023. Created and run in conjunction with the Law Society of Scotland and Edinburgh Conveyancers Forum, the SPC Property Practice certification is a uni

The UK's lack of legislation protecting striking workers from disciplinary sanctions short of dismissal is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled. Trade union UNISON brought the case on behalf of care worker Fiona Mercer, who was suspended by em

Ann Stewart has been appointed to the Scottish Law Commission. Ms Stewart, a solicitor and professional support lawyer specialising in commercial property, is a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Property Law Committee and Property and Land Law Reform Committee.

Fatal motorcycle accidents have skyrocketed in a US state since it repealed a mandatory helmet law. Since Missouri scrapped a law requiring motorcyclists to wear a helmet in 2020, fatalities have increased by 47 per cent, Kansas City Public Radio reports.

Experts from the University of Exeter, Estonia, Japan, and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence have joined forces to address the global challenge of clarifying international law in cyberspace. As cyber operations continue to shape global security, the economy and politics the nee

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC has accepted a report into how domestic abuse is prosecuted, which has emphasised that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service must speed up the work it is doing to improve the service it gives to victims. The report assessed the work of COPFS in the management a

A man whose dog had to be put down after he abandoned it and left it inside a crate for several days has been imprisoned for six months and banned from owning or looking after animals for 10 years. Daryl Torrance, 34, of Mauchline, was sentenced at Ayr Sheriff Court after admitting a charge of anima

A charity has called for the adoption of coroners' courts in Scotland, claiming the Crown Office is failing to do its job. Faces and Voices of Recovery (Favor UK) wants Scotland to adopt the inquests system used elsewhere in the UK, in which a coroner examines the circumstances around sudden deaths.

The wrong couple were divorced after solicitors made a computer error. "Mr and Mrs Williams" were married for 21 years until separating in 2023. But they had not yet sought a divorce.

The Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland has appointed former Police Scotland detective superintendent Alex Dowall to a pivotal position. During his 30-year career, he has specialised in investigating organised crime and was the national lead for crimes of kidnap and extortion.

Balfour and Manson has promoted two of its senior associate solicitors from its property and private client teams in Aberdeen to partner, effective from 1 April 2024. The two new partners are Amy McKay and Greg Lawson.

Burness Paull has been named “Scotland IP Disputes Firm of the Year” for the fifth year in a row at the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2024. The disputes team is the busiest in the country, having acted in over half of all actions raised in the Scottish Intellectual Property Court in recent yea

Watermans is gearing itself up for a charity skydive next month in aid of Cash For Kids. Managing director Scott Whyte is leading a group of 22 volunteers who will jump out of a plane 10,000 ft above the Fife countryside on 2 May.