Planned property tax rates to be reviewed in budget

Deputy first minister and finance secretary John Swinney (pictured) will consider revised residential tax rates for the land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT) – which will replace UK stamp duty land tax from April 2015.

Published 19 January 2015

Crofting Commission appeals to Court of Session over decrofting application

The Crofting Commission last week lodged a request that a special case be stated on a question of law for the opinion of the Court of Session in connection with the Scottish Land Court’s decision of 18 December 2014 in the case of MacGillivray v Crofting Commission.

Published 19 January 2015

Former solicitor general launches new attack on plans to scrap corroboration

Lord McCluskey, the former solicitor general, has launched another attack on the Scottish government’s plans to get rid of corroboration.

Published 19 January 2015

Sheriff rules in favour of SLAB in dispute over solicitor’s fee following accused’s change of plea

A lawyer who is instructed by a person initially represented by a duty solicitor is only entitled to payment of half of the fixed fee where the accused changes their plea to guilty prior to the commencement of the trial or where the client offers a “mixed plea”.

Published 19 January 2015

And finally... 'For gold conjures up a mist about a man, more destructive ... than the fumes of charcoal.'

Two wealthy couples who have spent half a million pounds battling it out in court over a “few feet” of muddy ditch between their properties have been admonished by judges for their “absurd” waste of money.

Published 19 January 2015

Faculty helps students prepare for national mooting competition

A group of students has been prepared for a national mooting competition, courtesy of some expert tuition from the Faculty of Advocates.

Published 19 January 2015

Brodies’ IP team awarded gold ranking in global league table of trademark professionals

Brodies LLP has been awarded a gold ranking in the World Trademark Review’s global list of the 1000 leading trademark professionals.

Published 19 January 2015

Scottish schools ‘could do better’ in engaging with non-resident parents

Families Need Fathers Scotland, a family rights charity, has called on schools to adhere to legislation requiring them to involve both parents in the school life of a child.

Published 19 January 2015

Blog: To ISA or to pension – that is the question

In this blog Norman Dalgleish discusses strategies for saving and the benefits of the new pension rules.

Published 19 January 2015

Lawyers advocate use of Norwegian digital database model for conveyancing

Scotland could benefit from adopting a Norwegian model for certain property transactions, experts have said.

Published 19 January 2015

Lord advocate instructs police to request unredacted version of torture report

Scottish police are to request an uncensored version of a report on CIA torture from US authorities as part of their investigation into the use of Scottish airports for the CIA'a extraordinary rendition programme The Press and Journal reports.

Published 19 January 2015

Pub which lost licence after drug use incidents fails in appeal against revocation

The owners of a pub which had its licence revoked following several incidents of illegal drug use and public disorder have lost an appeal against the decision.

Published 19 January 2015

England: judge says schoolgirl ‘groomed’ teacher in sex case

The attorney general, Jeremy Right QC, is to determine whether a suspended sentence given to a religious studies teacher who had sex with a pupil should be reviewed.

Published 15 January 2015

Faculty member helps to restore Myanmar’s ‘parlous’ legal system as part of UN rule of law mission

Published 15 January 2015

Harper Macleod accredited as a ‘living wage’ employer

Harper Macleod has become one of Scotland’s 100 “living wage employers”, and the first full-service law firm in the country to be accredited.

Published 15 January 2015