News

A man who was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice has had the punishment part of the sentence reduced following an appeal. David Collins, who was previously jailed for five years after being convicted of the culpable homicide

The three per cent increase in legal aid fees has not improved low morale among criminal lawyers, the president of the Edinburgh Bar Association (EBA) has said. In an interview with The Herald, solicitor and EBA president Julia McPartlin said "morale is not great and hasn't been great for a while" a

The Employment Appeal Tribunal in Edinburgh will today hear a landmark case on the rights of foster care workers. Glasgow City Council is appealing a 2017 tribunal decision that granted foster care workers Jimmy and Christine Johnston rights including sick pay, holiday pay, a guaranteed minimum wage

More than 6,000 people were detained in Scotland under the Mental Health Act 2003 last year, the highest figure since the legislation came into force. The data, published in a new report from the Mental Welfare Commission, also shows rising figures for young people aged under 25 being given com

The SNP has called on the UK government to take up the recommendation of a key Westminster committee and hold a consultation on the decriminalisation of drug possession for personal use. In a new report, the health and social care committee said a health-focused and harm reduction approach would ben

It is "unrealistic to expect complete doctrinal coherence" from judges, the president of the UK Supreme Court, Lady Hale, has said. In a speech delivered on Friday, the top judge said there is "a great deal of pragmatism" in public law and that pragmatic considerations are even "creeping into our ap

A "tough stance" from judges after the Daily Mail's infamous "enemies of the people" front page dissuaded the British press from further public attacks on the bench, the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales has said. Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd told The Brief that the papers had backed down af

Brodies LLP has launched a new mobile app to provide information about health and safety obligations for businesses and guidance to help deal with health and safety incidents. The app, Health & Safety by Brodies, features easy-to-use checklists, legal updates and handy guides to support users in

A fundraising charity quiz evening hosted by Balfour+Manson has raised over £3,000 for an inspirational children's charity. More than 120 guests attended the quiz in aid of Children 1st, Scotland's national children's charity, at The Ghillie Dhu in Edinburgh.

Banks in Turkmenistan have been ordered by presidential decree to fund a patriotic dog breeding programme. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has told eight national banks that they must assist in his project to improve the pedigree of the Alabay dog breed, recognised as part of the national herita

An immigrant whose application for discretionary leave to remain was refused on the basis that he had acquired three criminal convictions while in the UK and because his application was lodged after the expiry of his existing leave has failed in a legal challenge against the decision. The petitioner

Removing the not proven verdict from Scots law as it stands will increase the likelihood of miscarriages of justice, an academic has warned. Speaking to Scottish Legal News, David Lorimer, a PhD candidate at Aberdeen University who applies a quantitatively analytical approach to criminal law, said t

The Scottish government will recommend that MSPs refuse legislative consent for the Brexit bill, ministers confirmed today. A Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) lodged by Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell raises concerns over the content of the bill, its implementation and the lac

Glasgow firm Macdonald Henderson recently advised East Kilbride-based pharmaceutical wholesaler Target Healthcare Group on a seven-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The firm is using the funding package, led by HSBC relationship director Grant Bett, to boost its domestic and international busines

International legal business DWF has advised cloud-based software business CloudCall Group plc on its latest £12 million fundraise. The company secured the funding via conditional placing of shares and additional open offer to existing shareholders to raise a further £500,000.