News

A judge in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has ruled that jurors who were not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 ought to be excused from jury service after the issue was raised during pre-trial proceedings. The trial took place at the Digby Pines Resort in Nova Scotia, Canada, as the local courthou

A sharp fall in legal aid spending highlights the crisis across the sector. Commenting on the fall in legal aid spending from £130.9 million in 2020 to £99.1m in 2020-21, following publication of the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s annual report, the Law Society of Scotland has said the

Options within a Scottish government consultation on reforming the regulation of Scotland’s legal sector could leave consumers facing higher legal bills, the Law Society of Scotland has said. The society is urging major reforms to the way legal services are regulated, but has cautioned against

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has again supported reform of legal services regulation in its submission to the Scottish government’s consultation on the issue. Neil Stevenson, SLCC chief executive, said: “When the minister responded to the Roberton review’s r

The Scottish government will introduce a new register of land ownership in April 2022 but awareness of its purpose, detail and implications among existing owners of land and property appears to be low. As those failing to comply with the new regulations will face criminal sanctions punishable by a f

Blackadders has posted its accounts for the year to 31 March 2021, with profits of £4.6 million and turnover of £13.1m. Managing partner, Johnston Clark, said: “Our disaster recovery plan which had been carefully prepared was very effective and we were able to maintain client servi

Plans to deliver a new deal for tenants, with stronger rights, greater protections against eviction and access to more affordable housing have been launched. The proposals, which are open to public consultation, aim to deliver a fairer rented sector. They include:

Addleshaw Goddard’s corporate team has reported a busy year-end for deals. Deals across the technology, digital innovation, transport and housebuilding sectors continued to peak – a trend that the firm predicted would accelerate at the end of 2020 – with no signs of activity slowin

A local Saltcoats solicitor has been appointed to the Law Society of Scotland’s governing Council. Following a nomination period, Peter Walsh, of Jas Campbell & Co Ltd, in Saltcoats, was the sole nominee, thereby securing his seat unopposed.

UN talks on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) – or "killer robots" – have failed to reach agreement on banning them in warfare. The sixth review conference of the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), taking place over five days in Geneva, could not reach an ag

A soldier who accepted a marriage proposal while on duty has been arrested. The Nigerian woman, who has not been named, broke the military's code of conduct by "indulging in romance while in uniform", the BBC reports.

The Inner House of the Court of Session has refused a reclaiming motion by the former shareholders in a car dealership challenging a court order declaring that an expert determination was binding on the parties to the share purchase agreement. The reclaimers, Colin and David Grassick and Jane Haig,

The costs of the malicious prosecution scandal have reached almost £40 million, accounts from the Scottish government show. Compensation payments in the millions were made after a number of people involved in the administration and acquisition of Rangers became victims of the Crown Office.

Ken Swinton, author of the Scottish Law Agents’ Society's response to the Scottish government's consultation on the regulation of the legal profession, notes the importance of an independent judiciary, which requires “that there must be an independent legal profession to ensure appr

Gordon Lindhurst has rejoined Westwater Advocates. Mr Lindhurst, who is also qualified as a barrister in England, was appointed an advocate depute ad hoc in 2009 and is a visiting lecturer in British court practice at the University of Bonn.