News

A review of a consultation on hate crime found no consensus on whether the legislative response to crimes motivated by gender should cover women only, although organisations with expertise in women’s issues believe the focus should be on women only. An analysis of responses to the Scottish gov

TLT has obtained a permanent 3am licence for LIQRS, a late night bar premises in Dumfries town centre. The firm convinced the Nithsdale division of the Dumfries & Galloway licensing board to grant the request as an exception to its own policy which caps trading hours at 2am in the town.

Victoria Kerr examines why businesses should consider enhanced shared parental pay. It has been reported that as one of her last moves before leaving Downing Street, Theresa May will attempt to introduce 12 weeks' paid paternity leave for new fathers. Separately, the English Court of Appeal rec

An action plan to provide "voluntary, safe communication" between victims and those who have harmed them in Scotland has been published. Restorative justice aims to bring together both sides of crime, harm or conflict to help victims move on while seeing perpetrators face the consequences of their a

An employment lawyer has highlighted good mental health practice in the workplace.  Chris Phillips, partner at Thorntons, suggests poor mental health can cost businesses in a variety of ways but can be avoided through greater awareness, better training and effective workplace practice.

Pupils from the Bishop Eden’s Primary School in Inverness had an interesting encounter with Scotland’s most senior judge last week.The children were visiting the new Inverness Justice Centre when they were introduced to a fellow visitor, Lord Carloway, the Lord President.

Axiom Advocates is delighted to welcome Murray Steel and Megan Dewart as the newest members of the stable, both having called to the bar today. Before calling, Mr Steel spent 10 years as a solicitor in private practice. He has a background in accountancy and an LLM in construction law. He called to

Thompsons Solicitors has shown further growth with their announcement of three promotions to associate level. Senior solicitors Kieran Smith, Marina Urie and Natalie Donald have recently taken up their new positions. Mr Smith is based within the firm’s Glasgow office where he works in the lung

A round-up of human rights stories from around the world.

Police found themselves in pursuit of a different kind of suspect recently – a goat. Officers in Oakland in the US state of Maine posted on Facebook that they had responded to a call of a goat chasing after a woman down a street, WMTW8 reports.

Scottish Legal News editor Graham Ogilvy is to give a talk to the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland on the subject of Journalists, Lawyers and the Digital Media. Graham will draw on 40 years’ experience of working as a journalist to discuss the changing media landscape an

The proprietors of a Glasgow flat who discovered that the property was in need of significant repairs following the date of entry, contrary to what the building’s property factor had told them, did not have a right to complain as they lacked title when the events occurred. Dr Brian Lynas and D

The presumption against short sentences has been extended to 12 months, after MSPs voted 83-26 in favour of the change. The Scottish government cliams such sentences often disrupt factors that can help prevent offending, including family relationships, housing, employment and access to healthcare an

The public is being asked to give their views on how to ensure current legal aid provision meets the needs of modern Scotland. Ministers say they want to ensure the system is user-focused, flexible and valued as a public service.

Scotland has made considerable progress in improving the outlook for child and vulnerable witnesses giving evidence in our courts, leading judge Lord Matthews told a conference of legal practitioners from around the world in Nottingham last week. Lord Matthews was a keynote speaker at the third Inte