News

Holyrood’s Justice Committee is to hold its first evidence session on a Scottish government proposal to extend the presumption against short sentences from three months or less to twelve months or less. Although courts would retain the power to sentence as they see fit, the legislation would m

Aberdeen firm James & George Collie LLP (incorporating Kinnear & Falconer, Stonehaven) has announced the promotion of Steven Allan to associate. Mr Allan joined the firm in February 2017 having previously worked for a number of other established local firms and has significant experience in

Nicola Edgar looks at English proposals to overhaul the medical negligence regime. Sir Rupert Jackson, a former Court of Appeal Judge whose views have previously formed the basis of government policy, has set out radical proposals for overhauling the medical negligence law and procedures for handlin

Applications are being sought by the Faculty of Advocates for lay members to serve on its Complaints Committee and Disciplinary Tribunal. Lay members make up at least 50 per cent of both the committee and the tribunal, and the Faculty is keen to increase its pool of lay members, particularly from mi

The Airdrie Justice of the Peace Court will open for business at its new premises on 10 June 2019. The court has relocated from the current premises in Coatbridge, following a public consultation last year. The new court will be located directly opposite the existing Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Shepherd and Wedderburn has appointed Yvonne Brady to the new role of head of diversity, development and inclusion. Ms Brady, a senior partner, is responsible for all of Shepherd and Wedderburn’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, and maximising their impact for the benefit of colleagues and

Women in the Law UK, a professional development and support organisation for female lawyers, will hold its first event in Glasgow this month. Entitled “Jobs for the girls: how to progress in your career with confidence”, the event will take place at the offices of Harper Macleod LLP in t

Banking giant JP Morgan has settled a class action lawsuit over its parental leave policy by agreeing to pay affected employees $5m (£3.9m). Derek Rotondo said the bank refused him parental leave benefit normally available to all employees who are "primary caregivers".

A judge in Turkey who criticised a female lawyer over the length of her skirt has been suspended, The Independent reports. Mehmet Yoylu complained that lawyer Tugce Cetin’s skirt was higher than the regulated 15cm above the knees and wanted to refer her to the bar association.

Welcome to the first of our monthly round-ups where we will review activity from the last four weeks in Scotland's dynamic commercial property sector. For sponsor or advertising opportunities contact Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email jeff@scottishnews.com. KanAm Grund Group has concluded

A lawyer who had already been suspended for stealing wine has been disbarred after preying on a client during her divorce. Rodger W. Moore was suspended in 2015 for stealing three bottles of wine and olive oil in an incident in 2012.

A man found guilty of murder who claimed that the trial judge’s decision to refuse to allow part of a 999 call to be played in court, during which recording a voice could be heard saying words to the effect that one of his co-accused “did it”, has had an appeal against his convicti

Greater oversight of how the police take, store, use and dispose of data such as fingerprints, DNA samples and facial images, will be created under proposals published at Holyrood. The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Bill aims to help improve how biometric data is handled by police, ensuring it is

John Mulholland has become the new president of the Law Society of Scotland after taking over from Alison Atack at today's meeting of the Law Society of Scotland's decision-making Council, while Perth-based solicitor, Amanda Millar, became the new vice president. Mr Mulholland said: “It’

New figures published today by the Home Office show that only 31,400 EU citizens have applied for settled status in Scotland, out of about 200,000 EU citizens resident north of the border. Across the UK, fewer than 300,000 EU citizens – under 10 per cent of those believed to be currently resid