Journal Online

News reel

Sex offender law reforms promised

31 Aug 05

Investigations underway into handling of prime suspect in Rory Blackhall murder case

Angiolini to chair workshop at Danish conference

30 Aug 05

Solicitor General leads workshop on victim witnesses at international prosecutors conference

Joint consultation on extreme porn

30 Aug 05

Executive joins forces with Home Office to consult about extreme pornogrpahic material

Volunteers for children's panels sought

30 Aug 05

The Scottish Executive is looking for around 600 people to take part in the children's hearing system

Dispersal power lapses as police claim success

30 Aug 05

Aberdeen "bouley bashers" seen off under new laws

Police juror did not invalidate verdict

29 Aug 05

Jury's decision protected by statute where no appearance of bias

Lawyers drop off in a good cause

29 Aug 05

St Andrews firm plans charity abseil from Forth Rail Bridge

Reforms spur early pleas

29 Aug 05

Preliminary hearings and sentence discounts resulting in more early guilty pleas

Ministers asked to fast-track appeals process

26 Aug 05

Council warns against court delays for environmentalists' appeal against M74 extension

Transco fined £15 million

26 Aug 05

Record fine for gas company over Larkhall explosion after one of Scotland's longest jury trials

Commission's new focus on land registration

26 Aug 05

Scottish Law Commission publishes second part of its review of registration system

Court ruling on whisky tax hits distillers

25 Aug 05

Scotch Whisky Association looking into implications of Court of Session tax ruling

CPAG to challenge tax credit clawback

25 Aug 05

Action Group claims government should write off £1.9 billion overpaid to poor families

Moves to simplify law to help incapable adults

25 Aug 05

Scottish Executive announces new proposals to streamline the Adults with Incapacity Act

Disability rights promoted after legal changes

25 Aug 05

Business seminars aimed at promoting the benefits of keeping disabled staff

Labour councillor fined for "Boyo" insult

25 Aug 05

Lanarkshire councillor fined under new race laws for abusive language to constituent

Andersons promotes health care partnership

24 Aug 05

Seminar discusses new vehicles for public-private ventures

Mother challenges Justice Minister

24 Aug 05

Mother of convicted rapist confronts Cathy Jamieson about confusion over rape law

Road haulier seeks bridge tolls refund

24 Aug 05

Claim of £500,000 refund for lorries crossing the Skye Bridge

Policeman sues council after drugs raid fall

23 Aug 05

Former Tayside officer suing Perth and Kinross Council after falling on drain in Perth

Sheriff to return to full duties

23 Aug 05

Justice Department to make no investigation into Sheriff Mitchell's fitness for office despite fiscal complaints

Emma Bell to join Brodies

23 Aug 05

MacRoberts partner to join Brodies' employment law team

Trainee ball raises £4,000 plus

23 Aug 05

First Cuthbert Recruitment Trainee Law Ball money will go to the Variety Club of Scotland

No liability for "friendly" football injury

22 Aug 05

Recruit's bad tackle on his instructor not beyond the reasonable player, says judge

In-court mediation for Glasgow and Aberdeen

22 Aug 05

Further pilot projects follow growth of Edinburgh scheme

Executive consults on homelessness target

19 Aug 05

Ministerial statement due on abolition of "priority need" test by 2012

BBC report questions Lockerbie evidence

19 Aug 05

Quashed convictions raise doubts over expert's evidence at Lockerbie trial

Ex-fiscal says make drugs legal

19 Aug 05

Former fiscal David Hingston says present situation is not working

18-month period for licensing transition

18 Aug 05

New licensing regime planned to begin in February 2008 with only limited exemptions for existing licensees

Change in care home law "not appropriate"

18 Aug 05

The Scottish Executive has stated it does not think a change in the law is necessary to protect elderly residents

Killer's action for insurance payout can go ahead

18 Aug 05

Burning of house while insane is an "accident" under insurance law, says court

Parking fines to be refunded

18 Aug 05

Sunderland admits traffic wardens cannot ticket for parking in taxi ranks

MacRoberts' new managing partner

17 Aug 05

Michael Murphy appointed to succeed John Macmillan

Public consultation on fertility laws

17 Aug 05

New proposals could allow choice of baby's sex and screening for diseases

SCC wants regulation by non-lawyers

17 Aug 05

Consumer Council says public confidence needs independent body

Call for ban of "common-law marriage" phrase

17 Aug 05

Legal advice group says too many people believe "common-law" husbands and wives have rights of married couples

Lord Eassie reappointed as law reformer

16 Aug 05

Senior judge continues role as Chairman of Scottish Law Commission

Children's advocacy for Glasgow abuse court

16 Aug 05

Executive funds specialist support for young witnesses of domestic abuse

New partners for law firm

16 Aug 05

Henderson Boyd Jackson announces two new partners

Estate agents' committee member appointed

16 Aug 05

Martin Paterson has been appointed as a committee member to the National Association of Estate Agents Scotland

Closer supervision pilot for offenders

15 Aug 05

New scheme proposes more monitoring of paedophiles and violent offenders

New model for reforming complaints handling

15 Aug 05

Law Society of Scotland publishes its response to the Scottish Executive's consultation paper

Councils could face inequality bill

15 Aug 05

Failure to implement equal pay agreements could lead to tens of thousands claiming compensation

Peer's rebuke to ministers

15 Aug 05

Liberal Democrat peer criticises threats to force judges to deport extremists

Ombudsman sees signs for hope

15 Aug 05

This year's annual report of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman recognises that the new complaints handling system is producing improvements

CRO case study: requests for solicitors' files

15 Aug 05

Points to bear in mind when the Society requests a client file for the purpose of investigating a complaint

Society adopts staff protection policy

15 Aug 05

The Society's policy designed to protect staff from unacceptable behaviour on the part of service users

Accreditation in public procurement offered

15 Aug 05

New specialist accreditation available in public procurement law; and a note of further pending changes

Council pursues land reform for seabed

12 Aug 05

Highland Council seeks possibility of community ownership beyond foreshore

Society insists on proper instructions

12 Aug 05

Offers should not require confirmation of terms by own clients

Society's urgent advice on SDLT

11 Aug 05

Solicitors faced with more obstacles by Revenue authorities

Tagging powers not being used

11 Aug 05

Intensive monitoring and support orders aimed at persistent youth offenders have only been used four times

Jamieson argues for London airgun decision

11 Aug 05

Justice Minister believes legislation for airgun control would be better coming from Westminster

Fife councillor wins case to get days off

11 Aug 05

Tribunal agrees employer allowed insufficient time off for public duties

Summit protesters charges dropped

10 Aug 05

Cases "not called" at Falkirk Sheriff Court

Editor faces race charge

10 Aug 05

Peterhead-based newspaper owner charged over article attacking plans for refugee centre

Council falls foul of natural justice

9 Aug 05

Exclusion zone condition on street trader's licence vitiated by councillors attending school board

Tayside pioneering reform work praised

9 Aug 05

Cathy Jamieson commends piloting efforts of criminal justice agencies in Tayside and Dundee

Fundraisers hope to top £20,000

9 Aug 05

Great Wilderness Challenge for legal team

Judge strikes down golf club expulsions

8 Aug 05

Objection to planning proposal in which club had interest not a breach of club rules

Selection panel seeks new Lord President

8 Aug 05

First Minister's panel sets out procedure for appointing Lord Cullen's successor

Call for Ombudsman to be replaced

8 Aug 05

SCOLAG seeks stronger review process in reforms to complaints handling system

Green belt policy to be revised

5 Aug 05

Draft Scottish Planning Policy proposes enhanced role for green belts

Divorced husband stops wife's sequestration bid

5 Aug 05

Late interdict granted to permit challenge to divorce decree

Clerk walks out of court

5 Aug 05

Clerk leaves court after war of words with solicitor

Victims' eyes on slopping out compensation

5 Aug 05

Civil actions against criminals could follow human rights payments

Public divided on financial support

4 Aug 05

Social attitudes survey reveals doubts over support obligations when childless couples separate

Parking ticket appeals regularly succeed

4 Aug 05

Newspaper survey reveals almost half of Appeals Service decisions favour motorist

Council worker's test case succeeds

4 Aug 05

Employment tribunal finds against Glasgow Council in case affecting 600

Fire safety laws upgraded

3 Aug 05

First major reform in over 35 years comes into force

Parking killer's sentence to be appealed

3 Aug 05

Crown appeals against community service and probation order as unduly lenient

Lord Morison dies of cancer

3 Aug 05

Death of retired judge who criticised dependence on temporary appointments

"Slopping out" provision now £44m

2 Aug 05

Prison Service marks up set-aside for compensation cases

"Stalking" messages sent to solicitors

2 Aug 05

Sentence deferred on Hamilton man who sent threats after claim failed

Councillor condemns fiscal's decision

1 Aug 05

Education chair unhappy at dropping of charges over teacher's affair with pupil

Client communication rules in force today

1 Aug 05

Solicitors now required to issue written letters of engagement for nearly all transactions