News

An appeal court ruling in a legal action seeking a court order to force the Prime Minister to write a letter requesting a Brexit extension in the event that no deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU has been put on hold. The Inner House of the Court of Session also decided to conti

Lawyers have sounded a note of caution over making fundamental changes to criminal trials following the publication of a report into jury behaviour and the use of the ‘not proven’ verdict. John Scott QC told Scottish Legal News that the research commissioned by the Scottish government &l

Laura Dunlop QC has been named as the new President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland. Community safety minister Ash Denham appointed Ms Dunlop to take on the role following a recruitment exercise carried out by the Scottish government.

The UK government is being taken to court over its refusal to hold a fully independent, judge-led inquiry into British involvement in rendition and torture. The legal action is being brought by human rights NGO Reprieve, David Davis MP and Dan Jarvis MP.

Scottish Legal News yesterday reached 13,005 subscribers to its daily newsletter, underlining its primacy as the leading daily news service for Scotland’s dynamic and fast-changing legal community. Since its launch in June 2008, Scottish Legal News has grown to become a par

Advocate Simon Crabb was invited by the Malawi-based Church and Society Programme and the Church of Scotland World Mission to participate in human rights and peace-building activities with colleagues in Malawi.

The Supreme Court is hosting a special open day this month to mark its tenth anniversary. The court has featured regularly in the news in recent months, and this is a unique opportunity for members of the public to come and explore the UK’s highest court in person, learn about what goes on beh

Brodies LLP has achieved a top 30 ranking in the latest Social Mobility Employer Index. Moving up 25 places to 28 from 53 last year, Brodies is the only independent Scottish law firm to be included in this year’s Index, which recognises UK employers who have taken the most action to improve so

Shepherd and Wedderburn was last night named Diversity Star Performer in the 250-1,000 employees category at The Herald & GenAnalytics Diversity Awards 2019. Now in their fourth year, the awards recognise companies, organisations and individuals, “demonstrating a strong commitment and trac

A new scheme for the legal community has been launched on World Mental Health Day.

They may not resemble UK Supreme Court head Lady Hale, or the veteran US Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but it's hoped that a new career-themed range of Judge Barbie dolls will encourage more women to take up the law. Toymaker Mattel said the doll, available in a variety of skin tones a

A man found guilty of sexually assaulting his niece and nephew but who claimed that the doctrine of “mutual corroboration” could not apply to the two offences has had an appeal against his conviction dismissed. The appellant argued that the first charge, which involved touching and massa

The Inner House of the Court of Session has delayed a decision on signing a letter seeking an extension to Article 50 if Prime Minister Boris Johnson refuses to do so. Petitioners Dale Vince OBE, Joanna Cherry QC MP and Jolyon Maugham QC had asked judges to enforce legislation passed by MPs aimed at

Major research into how juries reach decisions and how they are influenced by factors including the size of the jury, the number of verdicts available and the type of majority required has been published. The UK's largest ever mock jury study was commissioned by the Scottish government to inform the

Anderson Strathern has struck a deal which will see specialist law practice Hardy Macphail merge its operations with the Scottish legal firm's Glasgow office. Glasgow-based Hardy Macphail has a headcount of 10, including three partners, and has a mix of SME and private clients and specialises in lit