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A growing number of offenders who avoid custodial sentences are instead being given informal community orders. Figures published by the Ministry of Justice show that nearly three quarters of out of court disposals consisted of community resolution orders last year, an increase of 56 per cent on 2015

A prosecutor has resigned after visiting the home of a journalist in Tokyo to play mahjong during Japan's lockdown. Hiromu Kurokawa, 63, head of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, gambled with the reporters, according to weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, in violation of the state-of-emergency m

Wedding venues are potentially breaking the law by exploiting unfair terms and conditions to avoid refunding couples for cancellations due to coronavirus, a new Which? investigation reveals. Many frustrated couples have contacted Which? as they are struggling to get refunds, often worth tens of thou

Parks in the poorer districts of northern and eastern Paris have reopened for visitors during the coronavirus pandemic thanks to a serial lockpicker. A mystery man who goes by the name "Jose" spoke to Le Parisien about his nightly efforts to unlock parks which remain shut despite the easing of the C

Though he studied law at university, Patrick McGuire never really wanted to be a lawyer. Politics was his first love and, while he had enjoyed the intellectual rigour of his studies, he had imagined himself entering the political rather than the legal sphere. Joining personal injury specialist Thomp

A prisoner in HMP Glenochil serving nearly 20 years in custody has been refused permission for judicial review of a decision of the Scottish Ministers not to move him into less secure prison conditions. Lee Brown, who would remain in prison until 2024 without early release, argued that he should hav

Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has made appointments to its banking and real estate teams in Edinburgh. Chris McLauchlan has been appointed as a legal director to lead WBD's banking team in Scotland. Joining from Eversheds Sutherland, he is a senior banking lawyer with over 15 years of experience advis

Morton Fraser has been appointed to deliver a range of legal services to Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA). The contract was awarded through a competitive tender process and will be delivered over the next two years, with two potential one-year extensions.

Stuart McWilliams details the immigration implications for businesses restructuring during the pandemic. The economic consequences we are experiencing because of the coronavirus crisis are clear. Many businesses are closed, while others are trying to reduce costs as they cope with a loss of income.

The results are in for the Law Society of Scotland Council elections, with a number of new members as well as familiar faces elected. The results, announced today, show one new member returned in one of the seats representing Aberdeen, Banff, Peterhead and Stonehaven sheriff court districts, as well

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) has responded to a consultation on developing Scotland’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The response draws on the SLCC’s experience as both a legal sector co-regulator and a public body. In particular, the SLCC has highlighted the n

Via solicitor Iain Smith: "Made a quick dash straight from Edinburgh court to distribute food across the city during what are tough times for many during this pandemic. Unlike Niall Mccluskey, advocate, I didn’t have time to change into more suitable clothes. It was suggested I looked more li

Blackadders' Donna Reynolds details the trials and tribulations of life on lockdown.  Monday: Keeping up appearances

A man who allegedly broke into a museum and took selfies with dinosaur bones has been arrested. Police say the unnamed interloper broke into the Australian Museum in Sydney just after 1am on Sunday 10 May, The Guardian reports.

A man who had an insurance policy in respect of commercial premises in Glasgow had has his appeal against a decision that his insurer was not bound to indemnify him refused. The defender, Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance plc, declined to indemnify Wayne Stephen Gardner Young on t