Coronavirus

If anything positive can be taken from the coronavirus pandemic it is that, almost overnight, accommodation was found for large numbers of Scotland’s street-homeless population. As soon as the lockdown was announced charities and local authorities mobilised, hotel rooms were acquired and rough

Douglas Mill looks at the handling of the current crisis and its likely outcomes for the profession. I'll save you googling it. It was Daniel Defoe in 1772 writing about London in 1665. And here's another quote for you: "The people did not flee the city. Some shut themselves inside their homes, thin

Karyn McCluskey explains why the status quo on prison numbers cannot continue. The words you use matter. To give a random example, If I tell you to "stay alert" you might be a bit confused as to what you’re being asked to do. You might not necessarily assume I mean “stay at home as much

Alan McIntosh explains why it is "vital" that the amendments proposed by Jackie Baillie MSP to the latest coronavirus bill are implemented. The role of the Scottish government in this crisis is to protect its citizens, and as we move through this COVID-19 crisis and diverge from the rest of the

Sixty-six per cent of women in the legal profession say the coronavirus crisis is having an impact on their mental health, with over a third experiencing a drop in income and 67 per cent reporting that the organisation they work for has furloughed staff. The drop in income did not appear to result i

The Crown Office is setting up a dedicated unit to examine COVID-19 deaths, the Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, has announced. Mr Wolffe said the unit's findings would help determine if fatal accident inquires should be held and that this included, but was not limited to, "care home workers, frontli

A lawyer in Scotland's first virtual Sheriff Court hearing has praised the process and suggested areas where it can improve. Craig Watt, a solicitor advocate at Brodies, said on Twitter that he was "very proud" to have appeared in the hearing, over which Sheriff Principal Pyle presided.

Emergency measures that aim to protect people facing financial hardship and allow public services to operate effectively have been introduced at Holyrood in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Key elements of the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Bill include a proposed additional £19.2 million

An Inverness Sheriff Court commercial case will provide the first opportunity to test the use of virtual court hearings in Scotland’s sheriff courts.  Tuesday’s hearing will enable parties in the case to appear before Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle in a virtual courtroom.

Plans to base school pupils' final exam grades on previous marks could be illegal, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The EHRC said it was "concerned" over the proposals of the Scottish Qualification Authority.

Two jury trials will resume at the Old Bailey this week as Crown Court cases restart, the Law Gazette reports. The criminal bar has warned, however, that normal service "remains weeks off".

Lawyers have expressed mixed views over the safety of the UK government's new coronavirus contact tracing app. Ross McKenzie, partner at Addleshaw Goddard who specialises in data protection compliance, said the public should have confidence in data protection laws and that they should not become a b

The Scottish Law Agents Society (SLAS) has condemned the spending plans of the SLCC, which has laid its final budget for 2020/21 before the Scottish Parliament. It increases by 3.5 per cent the general levy which must be paid by every practising solicitor.

The Bar of Ireland has pushed back against reports that it is considering proposals to expand the use of non-jury trials during the COVID-19 crisis. A report in The Irish Times, citing an anonymous barrister said to be involved in the process, said the Bar Council is currently "researching the idea"

Regulations to allow a limited number of short-term prisoners nearing the end of their time in custody to be released early have been laid in Parliament to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme is limited to those sentenced to 18 months or less and who on 4 May have 90 days or less left t