News

The Outer House of the Court of Session has refused a petition for judicial review of the decision by the Scottish Ministers to issue a call-in notice in respect of a local authority’s decision to implement a proposal to close a rural primary school. Perth and Kinross Council notified the

An Inverness Sheriff Court commercial case will provide the first opportunity to test the use of virtual court hearings in Scotland’s sheriff courts.  Tuesday’s hearing will enable parties in the case to appear before Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle in a virtual courtroom.

Addleshaw Goddard has announced the promotion of Paul Ewing to partner in its Edinburgh office, bringing the total number of partners in Scotland up to 42. Mr Ewing joined legacy firm HBJ in 2014 and over the past six years has advised clients on a wide range of work across the real estate sector. H

Plans to base school pupils' final exam grades on previous marks could be illegal, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The EHRC said it was "concerned" over the proposals of the Scottish Qualification Authority.

Alison Edmondson looks at the issue of credibility and reliability of witnesses over Zoom. As my recent blogging history reveals I’m currently vexed by the question of whether family cases requiring evidence from witnesses should go ahead remotely. If we don’t have evidentiary heari

Notice periods for student accommodation are to be introduced as part of new emergency coronavirus legislation to be lodged at the Scottish Parliament this week.

Registrations are still open for two more in the series of free webinars which are being hosted by the Citizens’ Rights Project. On Tuesday 12 May, from 1600 – 1730, there will be a webinar on “Specific issues in applying for settled status”. The speaker will be Janey Armstro

Mediators have said they are ready to help resolve the mounting backlog of cases faced by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). As soon as the lockdown began, Edinburgh Sheriff Court Mediation Service and Strathclyde Mediation Clinic started preparing for remote mediation.

The Scottish Arbitration Centre has confirmed that Brandon Malone, chairman of the centre, and Andrew Mackenzie, chief executive of the centre, are to remain in post to deliver ICCA Edinburgh on 1-4 February 2021.  Mr Malone was due to stand down as chairman of the board in June 2020. Mr Macken

Terra Firma is pleased to announce the next in its 2020 Vision series of webinars: 2020 Vision: Bringing Clarity the Lasting Effects of EU Law, will be broadcast on Zoom at 11am on Tuesday, 19 May 2020. Chaired by Michael Howlin QC, this 1 hour webinar will feature three talks covering a r

Most Northern Ireland barristers will be unable to sustain their practice if there is no increase in court business or additional government support by September, a new survey suggests. A survey carried out by The Bar of Northern Ireland in April, with responses from nearly two-thirds (60 per cent)

Two jury trials will resume at the Old Bailey this week as Crown Court cases restart, the Law Gazette reports. The criminal bar has warned, however, that normal service "remains weeks off".

A lawyer who resigned from the Maltese prosecutor's office to take up a position defending the businessman accused of ordering a journalist's murder is facing calls for an investigation. The family of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia have submitted a complaint to the legal regulator after l

A law student whose twin sister caused a car crash by sneezing has successfully sued her for over €100,000. Caitlin Douglas, 21, suffered whiplash-like injuries after her sister Brighid suffered a sudden sneezing fit and veered the car they were travelling in off the road.

May 8th 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day – the end of the Second World War in Europe. During the six long years of conflict, the WS Society kept a scrapbook of news about Writers to the Signet in service at home and abroad. James Hamilton introduces this poignant resource. One mornin