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The high rate of life imprisonment in Scotland is driven by both increased punitiveness and attempts to reduce the risk that serious crime poses to society, according to a new academic paper. More people are serving life sentences in Scotland as a proportion of the national population than in any ot

Licensing expert Stephen McGowan comments on the guidance issued by the Scottish government on mass gatherings. As of Monday 16 March 2020, the Scottish government recommends that all large gatherings or mass events of 500 people or more be cancelled or postponed.

Chartered accountants Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB) and business advisors, has been accepted to join the Law Society of Scotland’s panel of approved accountancy partner firms. As part of the partnership programme, the Law Society seek approved accountants to offer services and advice

This year's Macfadyen Lecture, which was to be delivered by Judge Tim Eicke on Convention caselaw in relation to the environment, has been postponed until November. In a statement, the Scottish Council of Law Reporting said: "We are sorry to say, that in the light of the ever-growing COVID-19 restri

ISIS militants have called on their fellow terrorists to put jihad in Europe on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. While the group previously encouraged supporters to attack European cities, it now cautions them to “stay away from the land of the epidemic”.

A business restructuring consultant who is suing Police Scotland for £2 million for “malicious prosecution” after he was charged with fraud following the sale of Rangers Football Club Plc has had a motion for summary decree in the action dismissed. David Grier, 57, a former employe

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that the UK government discriminated against victims of domestic violence by reducing their housing benefits. Background

Succession planning is never an easy topic for business owners. Passing on an independent or family run business as a going concern will be one of the first priorities when looking to retire or move to a different role within the business, writes Bruce Farquhar. Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) an

Amy Jones, associate at Thorntons Solicitors in Dundee, has received an employment law specialist accreditation from the Law Society of Scotland, meaning two-thirds of Thorntons’ employment law team are now recognised as specialists. Ms Jones advises clients in all areas of employment and disc

Hollywood has a tendency to turn divorce lawyers into compelling villains. Fiona Rasmusen looks into depictions of divorce and reveals an alternative process that could stem misery for Scottish families. Anybody who has watched the recent movie, Marriage Story could be forgiven for being put of

Family hearings at the Court of Appeal will be live-streamed under a joint initiative by the judiciary and UK government to boost transparency in the justice system. A statutory instrument laid in Parliament will pave the way for the project, following the success of a pilot to live-stream civil cas

Two midwives who were denied employment in Sweden because of their refusal to participate in abortions have had their application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) declared inadmissible. Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen, who were represented by Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers, wer

The trial of a former British soldier accused of the attempted murder of a 27-year-old man in 1974 could proceed via Skype because of the coronavirus outbreak. Lawyers for Dennis Hutchings, 79, told Belfast Crown Court on Friday that their client has a chest infection and was advised by doctors to s

The European Young Bar Association's conference that was due to be held in Glasgow next month has been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the hosts have announced. The Scottish Young Lawyers' Association said in a statement: "In light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Europe and glo

Spanish MPs have blocked an investigation into the financial dealings of former king Juan Carlos, who abdicated in summer 2014. Left-wing and nationalist MPs called for a formal investigation after a Swiss newspaper report alleged he had received $100 million from the late Saudi ruler King Abdullah,