Journal Online

News reel

Judge to look at rape appeal refusal

30 Sep 05

Legal first sees examination of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission ruling

Law change for primary teachers

30 Sep 05

Repeal of Schools Scotland Code allows both primary and secondary teachers to swap

Expert questions Operation Ore success

30 Sep 05

Computer expert says operation was a witch hunt

MEP inquiry delayed because of divorce

30 Sep 05

Reports will not be ready as key documents are tied up in divorce proceedings

Regiment fight goes to higher court

30 Sep 05

Sheriff rules court not competent to hear veterans' legal challenge

Parents to get more power in schools

30 Sep 05

New bill will give parents greater say in children's education

St Andrews Day holiday moves a step closer

29 Sep 05

Enterprise and Culture Committee report strongly supports proposed bank holiday

Scotland joins European law academy

29 Sep 05

Move hailed as recognition of Scotland's distinct legal system

Man jailed for reckless walking

29 Sep 05

Drunken pedestrian believed to be first person ever imprisoned for such this offence

Bailed rape suspects figure doubles

29 Sep 05

272 bailed rape suspects in 2004 compared to 134 in 1999

Dunblane papers to be made public

29 Sep 05

Lord Advocate lifts 100-year closure order on some of the Cullen inquiry papers

MSPs back amendment to licensing bill

28 Sep 05

Committee agrees to no alcohol sales in off-licences between 11am and 8pm

First Scots Law Recruitment Fair

28 Sep 05

Fair takes place at Edinburgh University this afternoon

Crown relaxes stance on child enforcers

27 Sep 05

Children to be used to detect alcohol sales to under-18s

New appointments for Harper Macleod

27 Sep 05

Fraser Hardie joins as commercial property partner

Domestic abuse cases rise

27 Sep 05

Scottish Executive figures reveal 10 per cent increase in a year

Scotland to host EU criminal justice meeting

27 Sep 05

Big name speakers to debate streamlining of evidence gathering and other key issues

Executive announces bail reforms

26 Sep 05

Package to include tougher rules for bail and stiffer penalties for breach

Speculation over law firms merger

26 Sep 05

No comment from Bishops and Brodies on merger rumours

One fifth of G8 cases dropped

26 Sep 05

Crown Office confirms 59 out of 299 cases now marked "no further proceedings"

New sheriffs principal appointed

23 Sep 05

New faces announced for Glasgow and Strathkelvin, and South Strathclyde Dumfries and Galloway

Regiment mounts legal challenge to merger

23 Sep 05

KOSB veterans use Scots Act to challenge proposed merger in court

Birds of prey still at risk

23 Sep 05

Illegal killing of birds continues despite new laws, says RSPB

Bail crimes triple since 1999

23 Sep 05

Offending on bail rose threefold in five years, figures show

Judicial appointments report published

22 Sep 05

Judicial Appointments Board annual report looks for more applications for senior posts

McConnell criticises Whitehall over asylum cases

22 Sep 05

First Minister condemns use of handcuffs in asylum family cases

MSPs urged to increase child contact protection

22 Sep 05

Scottish Women's Aid calls for restriction on contact orders in favour of abusive parents

Maclays' Walker to chair Lex Mundi

22 Sep 05

Maclay Murray & Spens chairman to lead global network

Most police wasting time in court, says survey

21 Sep 05

Only 5% of Glasgow traffic police cited are called to give evidence

Homestake help for first time buyers

21 Sep 05

Housing associations to support low income purchasers through Executive scheme

Better protection for tenancy deposits

20 Sep 05

Executive proposes scheme to ensure proper refunds

New office for Anderson Strathern

20 Sep 05

Glasgow address for Edinburgh law firm

Improvements for Edinburgh courts

20 Sep 05

Scottish Court Service announces £1.65 million renovation plan

Lawyer questions force's use of agency doctors

20 Sep 05

Prosecutor concerned over use of agency doctors as police surgeons in rape cases

14-year-old first child to receive ASBO

20 Sep 05

Paisley Sheriff Court bans teenager from entering certain areas of Renfrewshire

Advocates threaten strike over legal aid

20 Sep 05

Criminal bar considers action against new legal aid fees

Hope for stamp duty improvements

19 Sep 05

New online facility better but still room for improvement

Multinational status for Semple Fraser

19 Sep 05

Firms sees new status as a way to achieve plans for expansion

Dumbarton Sheriff Court to be upgraded

19 Sep 05

Scottish Court Service announces £10 million improvement plan

More G8 cases dropped

19 Sep 05

Police tactics questioned after prosecutors drop cases against protesters

Criminal Code of Conduct extended

19 Sep 05

Amendment to code extends definition of "sensitive material" to include a recording of a statement by a vulnerable witness

CRO case study

19 Sep 05

Client Communication Practice Rules should reduce the number of complaints caused by ineffective communication

"Prince Harry" auctioned for charity

16 Sep 05

Highland bull steer drives the fundraising at legal-sponsored charity ball

Draft letter reveals Clarke's terrorism doubts

16 Sep 05

Released draft letter reveals doubts over Terrorism Bill detention powers

Call to avert "right to buy" time bomb

16 Sep 05

Housing federation wants Executive to scrap right to buy policy

Family Law Bill passes first stage

15 Sep 05

Reforms include speeding up of divorce and more rights for unmarried couples

Everest trip for north-east lawyer

15 Sep 05

Aberdeen lawyer begins Everest climb this weekend for charity

Antisocial flat owner barred from property

15 Sep 05

History of trouble results in closure of first domestic premises in Glasgow

Government moves to resolve offshore dispute

15 Sep 05

Minister threatens to amend Working Time Regulations to ensure paid holidays

Crown Office drops news sheet race charges

15 Sep 05

"North East Weekly" editor not to be prosecuted over immigration article

ScottishPower challenges grid charges

14 Sep 05

High Court action claims unfair charges for use of National Grid

Reliance "to lose tagging contract"

14 Sep 05

Private security firm reported to be losing contract for electronic monitoring from April 2006

In-law marriage ban ruled illegal

14 Sep 05

Britain's ban on in-law marriages successfully challenged at European Court

Society pursues truth about negligence claims

13 Sep 05

Law Society of Scotland compiles details of firms handling negligence cases against other lawyers

Race law interpretation called into account

13 Sep 05

Lawyers question broad interpretation of racially-aggravated offences

New proposals for MSPs' disclosure of interests

13 Sep 05

Proposed new rules relate to MSPs' financial and non-financial interests

Lord McCluskey in call to legalise heroin

13 Sep 05

Retired judge claims that current drug policy not working

DLA Piper new appointments

12 Sep 05

Barry McKeown and Callum Sinclair secured from rival firms

New chair for Parole Board

12 Sep 05

Professor Alexander Cameron appointed as chair from 2006 until 2012

MSPs to consider paedophile law

9 Sep 05

Scottish Executive to look into changing law on information released on sex offenders

MacRoberts partner wins "Emerging Dealmaker" award

9 Sep 05

Robert Burns takes accolade at Scottish Deals & Dealmakers Awards

Figures suggest lottery of sheriff sentences

9 Sep 05

Wide variations in average punishments in different courts

Tribunal raises the discrimination bar

9 Sep 05

"Too tall" air traffic trainee loses unfair dismissal claim

Transco not to appeal £15m fine

9 Sep 05

Gas supplier accepts High Court conviction and record fine for fatal explosion

Conference marks 10 years of Children Act

9 Sep 05

Parliament's new programme may mean Act requires overhaul, says organiser

No need to tax undefended account, court holds

8 Sep 05

Sheriff principal decides that 1992 rules ended any rule requiring taxation

No change in shoot-to-kill policy, says Boyd

8 Sep 05

Lord Advocate insists firearms use is operational matter for chief constables

Executive secures action on airguns

8 Sep 05

Home Office set to announce licensing of sales

Legal system faces shakeup in Executive programme

7 Sep 05

Major bills promised to change the way the profession operates

Executive recommits to single survey

7 Sep 05

Mandatory system to go ahead despite criticisms of pilot scheme

Revenue admits interest power blunder

6 Sep 05

Interest on SDLT late payments to be refunded due to lack of power to charge

Holyrood making bad law, says ex-MSP

6 Sep 05

Solicitor claims lack of revising mechanism leading to poor quality legislation

Lawyers sponsor RICS seminars

6 Sep 05

Anderson Strathern supports CPD programme for third year

Bell & Scott relaunches in commercial property

5 Sep 05

Edinburgh firm claims to be Scotland's first working solely in the field

Scotland may criminalise forced marriage

5 Sep 05

Executive consults on whether to make specific offence

McClure boosts banking team with magic circle hire

5 Sep 05

McClure Naismith signs up Linklaters finance partner

D&W adds to London office

5 Sep 05

Hammonds private equity partner becomes fourth lateral hire in a year

Sex offenders not being assessed

2 Sep 05

Call for automatic risk assessments as figures show that many escape with fine

Fine for toy bike rider

2 Sep 05

"Mini-moto" rider fined for driving while disqualified after appeal court ruling

Glasgow takes tough line on injury claims

2 Sep 05

City Council rejecting 80 per cent of compensation claims in drive to uncover cheats

MacLeary succeeds Elliot in Tribunals post

2 Sep 05

Former Lands Tribunal member is new chairman of Scottish Committee

Sheriff criticises delay in sentence reports

1 Sep 05

Bail for sex offender in breach of probation as background reports not delivered

New Area Procurator Fiscal for Grampian

1 Sep 05

Morag McLaughlin appointed Area PF from 1 September