Opinion

Aberdein Considine trainee Sophie Reid gives us the scoop on what no one tells you about being a trainee. See part one of her series here. You’ll be trusted very early on and will give legal advice. Of course, the advice will have been reviewed by a qualified solicitor, but you’re the on

Writing in Scottish Legal News today, Colombian researcher Rodrigo Rogelis discusses a 2016 ruling that confers legal rights on the Atrato River, which flows through the northwest of Colombia. The decades-long civil conflict there continues to leave deep scars on people and the natural environm

The new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 (DMCCA) is due to come into force in April 2025, and with it a complete overhaul of how consumer protection is enforced in the UK, write Melanie Martin, Laura Whyatt and Tom Hanson. Under the new regime, direct enforcement powers will be han

Aberdein Considine trainee Sophie Reid gives us a taste of life as a trainee in four parts this week. As I sit down, morning coffee (vanilla, of course!) in hand, one of the solicitors in the team taps me on the shoulder. She tells me to grab my jacket, and laptop (with a notepad as back-up). She le

The ‘new’ Electronic Communications Code came into force at the end of 2017. It is a schedule to the Communications Act 2003. It governs telecoms masts and other ‘electronic communications apparatus’; specifically, relations between their operators and the owners or tenants o

Vice-Dean of Faculty, Tony Lenehan KC, responds to the latest endorsement by the Lord Justice Clerk, Lady Dorrian, of her plan for a pilot of juryless trials and points out that – experimental or not – the casualties will be real. I read with dismay the article in Saturday’s T

David J Black traces the highs and lows of the Edinburgh Festivals in the second part of his prolonged lament on their decline. Read the first here. The chemistry between the official Festival and the Fringe was, at times, diplomatically awkward, yet the relationship had benefits for both. With bril

Businesses across sectors have been advised to review their approach to dynamic pricing after the practice drew scrutiny in the context of Oasis’ reunion tour, writes Angelique Bret. A UK and Ireland tour next summer will mark the first time the band’s two most prominent members, br

Changes in lending practices have seen RSLs move away from their traditionally cautious approach to managing interest rate fluctuations to explore more complex options, writes Derek Hogg. Scottish registered social landlords (RSLs) can be a cautious breed. Indeed, when it comes to exposure

Putting aside the well worn fact that remembrance of things past can be delusional and misleading – madeleine cake dipped in tea, long hot summers on the beach when one was ten, definitely more butterflies and, for sure, much more succulent strawberries, first kiss etc. etc. - we should interr

Sarah Cooper outlines changes that landlords and tenants should expect in the Housing (Scotland) Bill. It has been a busy year on the housing front in Scotland. In early Spring, we saw the temporary measures protecting tenants from rent increases and evictions relating to the Cost-of-Living cri

Rachel Munro is a senior associate in the real estate team at Shoosmiths in Scotland. She is shortlisted for the Rising Star, Residential category in the Inspiring Women in Property Awards 2024 and for the Real Estate Rising Star of the Year category at the Legal 500 Scotland Awards. Here, she offer

Willie Park reflects on the value of some key legislation. On 1 October it will be 50 years since the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 came into force and it continues to provide a globally-recognised framework for managing health and safety risk – even as that risk evolves with the oper

Benjamin Bestgen pours forth on law and wine. It is fair to say that the British enjoy wine. Not only is the UK the fifth largest wine consumer globally. It is also the home of internationally acclaimed wine education and industry organisations like the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and the Insti

William McParland highlights a recent employment case which shines light on risky workplace practices. Indirect discrimination, in the employment context, is an interesting concept. It is, by its very nature, often hidden in employer practices and behaviours – referred to in section 19 Equalit