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Editors Blog

Cold comfort

Telephone cold calls are the latest business practice to come under the spotlight. Should we ban them?

The way the money goes

How far can Government pursue intelligent savings, rather than just cuts and more cuts?

ARTL: taking a stand

Are solicitors justified in resisting the pressure to automate?

Let the members have their say

Constitution changes need to protect rights

The great constitution turnoff?

Even recent events have not prompted many responses to the consultation

A stitch in time

Could earlier discussions on police interviews not have saved a lot of hassle?

What did you do in the hols? - We talked

Lengthy agenda for Society and Government before bill finalised

Useful exchanges at judicial appointments seminar

Interested audience - but gender balance as before

Committee keeping us guessing

Justice Committee sitting this week leaves key issues unresolved

MSPs going for wider view

First stage 2 debate suggests bill will be permissive

Pro bono needs a conversion of hearts

Proposal for compulsion likely to be counterproductive

Cards on the table

Time to put the ball in the Parliament's court

High noon in Grosvenor Street

Views are polarising again ahead of the AGM

Practising the new politics

Government is about getting your hands dirty

Exercising choice

What does the "no" lobby in the referendum seek to achieve?

Proceed with caution

Final shape of Legal Services Bill still up for negotiation

No choice but to keep trying

SGM vote only shows need to keep searching for solution

Ah, the artist in us

"Is law a creative profession?" posts make good reading

It's good to talk

Result means only way forward on ABS is to find common ground

Hopes and fears on ABS

Is it taking the plunge or jumping off a cliff?

All quiet on the western front?

SGM adjourns for talks: could we see consensus yet?

Decision time approaches

Journal Online's referendum page will be forum for all sides

Independence in context

Some questions to consider in relation to section 92 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Bill

Time to keep feet on the ground

Debate on professional independence has to be based on actuality

Justice wanting

Is there a role for a JUSTICE-type organisation in Scotland?

Fighting their corner

Is the Faculty of Advocates missing the point in its response to the Thomson review?

Rule of law wins in the end

Public interest trumps government relations in Mohamed case

Celebrating five years' FoI

Well attended Parliament event marks information revolution

Waking up to ABS

Journal only trying to carry the debate, as always, despite SLAS comments

Digging the heels in

Is the Faculty's response to Gill just a predictable rearguard action?

Goodwill rules in FoI review

Commissioner's round table reveals differences of emphasis, but commitment to principle

Equal chances

Don't be misled by the judicial appointments figures

Looking for better things

2010 will be a long haul, but let's have a proper debate over how to improve

A darker shade of white

Fond memories of the past don't mean we can recreate them today

Committee starts from first principles

Stage 1 hearings on Legal Services Bill taking nothing for granted

Two into one can't go?

Can the Society continue with its dual role?

Still as controversial

One year on, home reports have still to sell themselves to most Scottish solicitors

What price health?

Will we ever know if setting a minimum price for alcohol would be legal?

Abolishing sin

What is the point of legislation to impose aspirations and targets on government?

Flavour of the month

Everyone seems to be talking pro bono, and we should welcome that

The politics of advice

Advice should be public, and advisers should be given some leeway, on matters of public interest

Raising the level of the playing field

Legal Services Bill could mean extra rules for all

Any fears over free speech?

BNP appearance on "Question Time" is no threat to public order

Confidence in our judges

Judicial Appointments Board report shows the challenge of squaring the circle

Hedging its bets

Government prolonging the wait for action on high hedges

Squaring the circle

Civil courts review is bold attempt to bring improvements

Dying for some guidance

Why should Scotland not have guidelines on assisted suicide too?

Fatal errors

First jail term for careless driving causing death suggests law being applied sensibly

Rights above board

Human rights issues deserve a properly informed debate

Another round

How do we make the new licensng laws work if no one knows what they are?

Bonuses within bounds

Regulation is likely to be more workable than taxation

Compassion with dignity

Justice Secretary gives good account of himself with Lockerbie decision

Megrahi: decision time

Abandoning of appeal opens way for system to show a humane face

Giving up the paper round

Research into lawyers' means of communication should throw up some interesting findings

Assisting assisted suicide

The Purdy appeal decision may help bring reform, but does not require legal change

Access advantage?

Recession pressures could make it more likely that those with the right connections win through

The Parliament: a real difference

In its first 10 years, the Scottish Parliament has made a huge impact on Scots law

Climate change: kicking and screaming

Irrespective of global warming, are the measures in the Climate Change Bill not desirable in themselves?

Devolution: into the next decade

Calman report is material for serous debate

The purpose of prison

Retiring Chief Inspector's report contains some home truths

Tackle prejudice in all its forms

We need to dispel the confusion that two-tier justice is being created by "hate crime" laws

Transparency at work

Society wins the budget vote, but has to promise clearer figures

Heads and hearts

We all like to pay less, but do the arguments for the Flint motion stand up?

Rights across the board

The contrasting human rights issues in the news this week should make us reflect

Regulation, a blessing in disguise

After this week's news, no one should doubt the value of close supervision

Class event

60th anniversary conference lived up to its billing

A week to remember

This coming week sees the climax of the Society's 60th anniversary year

Painting by numbers

Budget picture is not a pretty one, and seems to lack a sense of strategy

The limits of review

Criminal Cases Review Commissions were never intended to turn back the centuries

Up the down escalator

"Access to the professions" research needs to look at all the angles

Legal aid - at a price

Extended civil eligibility is no giveaway

Talking up the market?

How much of a revival in housing can we expect to see?

Fine tuning

Inspectorate's report on fiscal fines answers some but not all questions

Shutting the stable door

Proposed financial services supervision is partial restoration of common sense

Choosing the ground

Any review of solicitor advocates and rights of audience has to be seen to be impartial

Plenty of meat in this one

Criminal Justice and Licensing Bill gives Holyrood something to chew over

Claiming from the needy

How much should the Government be able to reclaim when benefit errors are made?

The price of extended rights

Solicitor advocates right to support call for review

Free speech needs consistency

Why ban Geert Wilders when his film is still being screened?

Judicious language

Sheriff's reported remarks would have been good test for new law

Time to move on

Debate about business models should be "how" rather than "whether"

"Double jeopardy" looks safe for now

Despite the fuss, the ancient principle has plenty of life

Another step forward with the new chief

Lorna Jack appointment should help break down barriers

This paper could have the right mix

Bureaucracy under control in regulation proposals

Time for positive thoughts

Welcome to a year with more to keep us guessing than most

Crunch turns the tables

No recovery until lenders get their act together

Can we legislate to keep people out of jail?

How far can the Scottish Government go beyond what is already the law?

Quiet life at 60

UN Declaration anniversary has been surprisingly low key

Trust thy neighbour

What will be the safeguards against abuse of the relaxed planning regime for domestic alterations?

Not all gloom on the high street

Conference hears of ways to create opportunities in recession

Offers over: the devil we know

Would it be a good thing if home reports saw their demise?

Be reserved with reserved powers

Governments should look beyond strict powers in making devolution work

Smoking out an overreaction

Is it right - and legal - to ban smokers from adopting or fostering young children?

Obama and the rule of law

Will the new President prove more sensitive to human rights and international obligations?

How far CPD?

Education and training consultation will propose how to improve quality

Sauce for the gander?

What is the consumer view of a ban on commercial medical practices?

Surveillance without frontiers?

Phone and email database proposals surely go too far

Votes in it?

Surely no advantage in electing our prosecutors

Off-licence: off limits?

Barring off-licence sales to under-21s: is there a better way?

Welcome

Introducing the Journal editor's blog

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