News

Beavers are now a protected species in Scotland. From today, shooting beavers will only be allowed under licence, which will be managed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). All licenses will be issued in accordance with the law on European Protected Species.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have questioned Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf about a report from the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), in which the union described some buildings in the police estate as being “unfit for human habitation”. The report found a number of problems, incl

Looking at the mobile phone data of rape complainants is "common sense", essential for a fair trial and does not alter the existing statutory regime, lawyers have said. Jerry Hayes, a former Conservative MP and barrister, said the rules were clear and that “the police are not entitled to trawl

The Council of the EU this month gave final approval to the Copyright Directive – a highly controversial piece of legislation aimed at striking a fair balance between the profits made by internet platforms and the creatives whose content they make accessible to users. Although the rules are se

The frontrunner for next president of the European Commission has called for financial penalties for EU member states which fail to protect the rule of law. German politician Manfred Weber is the Spitzenkandidat (lead candidate) of the European People's Party (EPP), currently projected to be th

A judge who survived cancer has recused himself from a case in which an insurer refused to pay for a cancer sufferer's proton radiation therapy, branding the decision as "immoral and barbaric". United States District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017, will not

A wanted man who corrected the spelling of his own name in a police appeal on Facebook has been jailed. Micah Thompson, 31, left a comment on the South Yorkshire Police page after they appealed for information about the whereabouts of "Micha" Thompson.

A disgruntled litigant whose complaints against a Scots lawyer and a law firm were rejected as time-barred has had an appeal against the decision dismissed. A judge in the Inner House of the Court of Session held that the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), in exercise of its “gatekee

The Scottish government has announced the establishment of a new forum to consider whether the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to higher than 12. The Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, seeks to raise the age at which a child in Sco

Controversial police requests to access the mobile phones of rape and sexual assault complainants in England and Wales could face the same legal difficulties as Police Scotland's shelved "cyber kiosks", a civil liberties expert has warned. Dr Nick McKerrell, lecturer in law at Glasgow Caledonian Uni

Three victims of child abuse have secured a historic £1 million damages payout from the Church of Scotland after launching a civil case on the basis of vicarious liability. Kim Leslie, partner at Digby Brown, took proceedings against the church on behalf of three siblings who were abused at Lo

Scotland's two privately-run prisons cost the taxpayer a total of £44 million in 2017/18, new figures reveal. The £30.1 million spend on HMP Addiewell represents a record high, an above-inflation increase from £24.6 million in 2010/11.

English and Welsh solicitors are continuing to join the Irish roll of solicitors in significant numbers nearly three years on from the Brexit vote, new figures reveal. A total of 2,772 solicitors from England and Wales have been admitted to the Irish roll, according to the latest Law Society of Irel

Law firm TLT, with offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, has announced a new partnership with asset management and fact-finding experts to provide a resolution for interest-only mortgage product lenders. The new partnership, with Spicerhaart Corporate Sales and Excel, is aimed at assisting interest-only

Property market activity in Edinburgh is at its highest level since the credit crunch and shows no sign of slowing down because of Brexit, according to Warners Solicitors & Estate Agents. Between January and March, Warners recorded over 250 property sales – an annual increase of over 40 pe