News

Senior lawyers have urged judges to learn the meanings of emojis, symbols used in instant messaging applications. The digital images are appearing in more and more criminal, family and employment hearings.

A Syrian asylum-seeker whose challenge to removal to Bulgaria on human rights grounds was dismissed as “clearly unfounded” has successfully appealed against the decision. The Inner House of the Court of Session allowed an appeal by Mohammad Racheed against a Lord Ordi

The High Court has dismissed the European Medicines Agency's claim that Brexit would frustrate the 25-year lease it holds in respect of its London headquarters. Frustration is a doctrine of English law that allows for contracts to be set aside because an unforeseen event renders their obligations fu

Numerous organisations including the Law Society of Scotland have welcomed the child smacking legislation currently under consideration at Holyrood. The Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill would abolish the defence of reasonable chastisement in Scots law.

In the latest development concerning employment status and the rights of those working in the ‘gig economy’, courier giant Hermes has reached agreement with the GMB Union to offer its couriers the option of being classified as ‘self-employed plus’, writes Katie Spearman. &lsq

There are currently vacancies on 17 of the Law Society of Scotland's diverse range of committees, including convener posts.

The UK Supreme Court will rule next week on whether the UK Government acted unlawfully by denying a public inquiry into the 1989 murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane was shot and killed in his home on 12 February 1989 by loyalist paramilitaries. In 2012, then Prime Minister David Ca

Details have been confirmed for the first event in the Tumbling Lassie 2019 fundraising calendar, with a new charity partner lined up to benefit. In its previous three years of raising awareness of modern slavery and people trafficking, the Tumbling Lassie Committee – six members of the Facult

The police are to be given new powers to stop and search anyone suspected of carrying a corrosive substance in public. The move will enable officers to enforce a new offence of carrying corrosives in a public place, part of the Offensive Weapons Bill currently being considered by Parliament.

Human rights experts are set to debate refugee protection at a student-led human rights conference in Aberdeen next month. Lawyers Without Borders Student Division at Aberdeen University will hold its Human Rights Conference 2019 on March 11, examining the question: "Are refugees afforded suffi

Edinburgh Law School is looking for student models to take part in a photo shoot on 6 and 15 March. Models will receive a small gift for their time.

The cat of late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is set to "inherit" some of his $170 million fortune, according to news reports. Lagerfeld, the creative director of French fashion house Chanel and Italian fashion house Fendi, died on Tuesday.

Professional searcher firms owe a duty of care to creditors who have registered an inhibition, the continuing effectiveness of which depends on it being disclosed by the search carried out, the Sheriff Appeal Court has ruled. The court refused an appeal by a firm of searchers, upholding a

A new system of instructing second post-mortem examinations of homicide victims has been put forward by the Faculty of Advocates, in an attempt to ease the grief of bereaved families. Under the suggested scheme, a panel of forensic pathologists would be available to perform defence post-mortems with

The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has published a report today criticising the Draft Law Enforcement and Security (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. These Home Office Regulations are a contingency measure in case of a no-deal Brexit which relate to 24 different securit