News

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has opened a consultation on its budget and operating plan for 2020-21, as well as its strategy for 2020-24. The consultation proposes a budget increase of 3.5 per cent to meet the cost of the SLCC discharging its duties against a background of four ye

Jenny Dickson explains what public authorities ought to know about FOI requests, which they are routinely failing to timeously satisfy, if at all. The Scottish Information Commissioner has reported a year-on-year rise in freedom of information (FOI) requests, with an eight per cent increase in reque

A sixth member of the family law team at Balfour and Manson has been accredited as a specialist in the field by the Law Society of Scotland. Jamie Foulis joins colleagues Shona Smith, Linda Walker, Iain Thomson, Kirsten Knight and Anne McTaggart, who have already been recognised for their skill in f

Disabled people working in the legal profession face outmoded practices that hamper their efforts to build successful careers, according to a new study by researchers at Cardiff University. Many of the participants – drawn from across the legal profession – told researchers they hide the

John West, an associate at SKO, talks about developments in family law in recent years, the centrality of EU regulations to the field and the uncertainty posed by Brexit. Watch the video here

A mother and daughter have been awarded compensation after they were left ravaged by bedbugs at an Edinburgh guest house. Ildiko Kolosvary, 53, suffered an allergic reaction to bedbugs during a stay at the now-defunct Regis Guest House in Gilmour Place, Edinburgh.

Trekking for three days in sub-zero conditions may leave many people cold, but Terra Firma’s Robert Sutherland enjoyed a “fantastic experience”.

Murray Beith Murray has announced that its charity partner for 2020 is to be Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), a charity which offers full family support for children with life-shortening conditions. Senior partner Hugh Younger said: “Staff and partners overwhelmingly voted for

A man has been jailed after brazenly smoking a joint while in the dock for alleged possession of cannabis. After delivering a polemic against the criminalisation of the drug, Spencer Boston, 20, pulled out a joint and lit it.

Two men found guilty of child sexual offences on the basis of the principle of “mutual corroboration” who claimed that there were insufficient similarities between the offences to demonstrate a “course of conduct” have had their appeals against their convictions rejected. The

Explaining decisions about their future to children should not become a required part of a judge’s duty, the Faculty of Advocates believes.

Elaine McIlroy details the recommendations for the new post-Brexit single skills-based immigration system. The topic of immigration has been front page news this week across the UK. In Scotland there have been calls for a 'Scottish visa' and devolution of immigration powers. The UK government a

Harper Macleod has recruited Peter McLuckie, formerly legal and compliance director at Baxters Food Group, as a senior associate in its Elgin office. Mr McLuckie, a corporate lawyer with specialist knowledge of the food & drink sector, had a long career as an in-house adviser at the highest leve

Lawyers have expressed dismay about the state of the legal job market in Scotland after a single legal traineeship attracted 120 applications. Glasgow-based firm Dallas McMillan sought a trainee earlier this month to begin in the summer.

There has been little progress in increasing the diversity of the judiciary in England, according to a new report. JUSTICE's latest report follows a similar one published in 2017, which explored the structural barriers faced by women, BAME communities, solicitors and those from lower socio-economic