Legislation to introduce an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation for deceased donors will come into force in Autumn 2020. The new law will add to the package of measures already in place which have led to significant increases in donation and transplantation over the last decade.
News
New legislation aims to tackle the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), also known as confidentiality clauses, in the workplace – including those being used to cover up sexual harassment, racial discrimination and assault. NDAs can be used by businesses for a number of legitimate reason
Community land buying powers have not been used since they were brought in a year ago, prompting claims the law is not “fit for purpose”. The Scottish government confirmed to The Press and Journal that there have been no applications by groups seeking to avail themselves of the law.
A key Westminster committee has called for a 10-year "qualified statute of limitations" to protect former and serving soldiers from investigation and prosecution for alleged offences, including alleged murders of civilians in Northern Ireland. In a report published today, the defence select committe
Aberdein Considine has appointed Karen Harvie to the position of senior associate following a significant period of growth. Ms Harvie brings over 30 years’ experience in a range of legal fields, but with a particular focus on employment law. She will be based at the firm’s flagship Multr
The law on civil partnerships, north and south of the border, is set to change, writes Jennifer Liddell. This year, in response to a Supreme Court ruling, Parliament passed the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019. Section 2 of that act requires the Secretary of State
Legal regulators from around the world will be coming to Edinburgh in September to debate a wide range of regulatory topics with global relevance. The event is held in a new city each year, with recent hosts including the Hague, Singapore, Washington DC and Toronto. This year the Law Society of Scot
A third of police files prepared for prosecutors in England and Wales are being returned because of significant mistakes, often leading to delays in the court process, new figures reveal. According to Crown Prosecution Service figures released to The Times, 33 per cent of files submitted to prosecut
A farmer has been fined more than £2,000 for damage to an ancient earthwork which he tried and failed to blame on his sheep. Richard Pugh, 35, admitted that he damaged Offa's Dyke, which follows the ancient border between England and Wales, with his farm equipment.
A man found guilty of rape and sexual assault who claimed that the two offences were too dissimilar for the doctrine of “mutual corroboration” to apply has had an appeal against his conviction rejected. The Appeal Court of the High Court of Justiciary ruled that the circumstanc
The UK government has refused to hold an inquiry into British involvement in rendition and torture, while presenting updated Whitehall guidance – the so-called ‘torture policy’ – that fails to expressly prohibit ministers authorising action carrying a real risk of torture, hu
The Scottish Land Commission has launched a new survey seeking views of communities across Scotland about community engagement in decisions relating to land. The commission said it is supporting communities, landowners and land managers to work together to make better – and fairer – deci
BTO Solicitors LLP has announced the appointment of Will Cole as a partner in its commercial litigation team in Edinburgh. A highly regarded litigator, Mr Cole specialises in assisting individuals, companies and public and third sector organisations with sensitive, business-critical matters.
A Robert Gordon University law graduate who first joined Ledingham Chalmers as a legal secretary 27 years ago with the corporate team will walk through the firm’s doors next year as a trainee solicitor. Wendy Harris originally joined the full-service firm in 1992 and has been a paralegal with
Ben Wilson details Scotland's legislative efforts to tame its carbon emissions amid a growing sense of urgency over climate change. While good progress has been made on improving the Climate Change Bill, especially on the target to reach net-zero by 2045, more still needs to be done to fully enshrin