Journal Online

News reel

Huge rise in fiscal warning letters

31 Jan 06

Claim that thousands escaping justice as figures more than double in two years

New campaign promised to promote animal rights

31 Jan 06

Executive plans charter for pets, and publicly funded leaflets

Scots lawyer launches disability campaign

31 Jan 06

Olivia Giles promotes message that disabled people can make a valuable contribution

Councils not meeting planning deadlines

31 Jan 06

Thousands of applications delayed beyond two-month time limit for decision

Bigots could be banned from marches

31 Jan 06

First Minister reveals 18-point plan to tackle sectarian troublemakers

Consultation starts on sexual offence reforms

30 Jan 06

Commission seeks views on redefining rape and extending protection

Burness captures Clifford Chance banking lawyer

30 Jan 06

New partners and promotions for leading firm - and one loss

Bishops and Laird & Macintyre merge

30 Jan 06

Glasgow firm Bishops expands residential and private client business through acquisition

Home working good for legal staff, says partner

27 Jan 06

Edinburgh firm enjoys benefits of compulsory "reading days"

Firm plays key role in PFI/PPP projects

27 Jan 06

Biggart Baillie advises on £138m Scottish education projects

New legislation will close loophole

27 Jan 06

Education minister says Bichard bill will strengthen child protection laws

Thousands lose right to claim compensation

27 Jan 06

Court of Appeal overturns judge's ruling on asbestos pleural plaques victims

Tax credit errors "will affect 450,000 Scots"

26 Jan 06

IFS says system overpays because of its reliance on complex and personal criteria

Grampian has worst rate for teen tipple charges

26 Jan 06

Only two licensees prosecuted for supplying alcohol to under-agers

Police investigate Cumming attack grudge motive

26 Jan 06

Work connection suspected in Society's chief accountant attempted murder inquiry

In-court advice service wins three more years

26 Jan 06

Further Executive funding as pilots proclaimed a success after 18 months

Case collapses after citation error

26 Jan 06

Heroin accused freed as citation on missing witness not properly served

Executive turns down Aberdeen begging ban

25 Jan 06

Proposed byelaw rejected on ground that current legal powers sufficient

Firm recruits oil and gas specialist

25 Jan 06

Industry specialist John Southworth to join Shepherd+ Wedderburn this month

Law Society chief stabbed in street

24 Jan 06

Chief Accountant "serious but stable" after knife attack outside his home

New member for Scottish Law Commission

24 Jan 06

Professor George Gretton to take over from Professor Kenneth Reid in May

EU Commission disputes Executive pensions view

24 Jan 06

"Rule of 85" does not break European Union regulations, says official statement

Semple Fraser wins EC contract

24 Jan 06

Firm continues its environmental law work with the Commission

Committee urges tougher knife penalties

24 Jan 06

Justice 2 Committee wants stiffer sentences for knife possession

Commission calls for sentencing reform

23 Jan 06

Sentencing Commission's report seeks greater clarity and a new early release regime

Rise in female reoffending

23 Jan 06

Young women overtake male rates of reoffending for the first time

Child commissioners in joint call to ban smacking

23 Jan 06

Scotland's Commissioner says issue is "unfinished business"

Ledingham Chalmers plans major shake-up

23 Jan 06

Firm plans to focus on regional operations as McGrigors set to take over international work

Lawyer successfully sues Sunday Mail

20 Jan 06

Paper ordered to pay £45,000 in damages for reporting of child abuse case

Chicken worker fails in manual handling case

20 Jan 06

Trussing carcases on production line not protected by Manual Handling Regulations

Clarke to overhaul drugs laws

20 Jan 06

Home Secretary to look at reclassification of ecstasy and date rape drugs

Four new judges appointed

19 Jan 06

Alan Turnbull, Baroness Clark, Neil Brailsford and Roderick Macdonald to join bench

Drug conviction quashed after experts change views

19 Jan 06

Drug traces on banknotes commonplace and not evidence of drug dealing, say scientists

Court of Session to hear first FOI case

19 Jan 06

Executive appeals order to disclose documents over rights of audience in court

Legal advice on pensions was right, says McCabe

19 Jan 06

Finance Minister says Executive had to abolish the "rule of 85"

Third F&HE sector appointment for firm

18 Jan 06

Anderson Strathern appointed as sole legal adviser to Stirling University

Council workers to lose right to retire at 60

18 Jan 06

Executive to continue with plans to scrap "rule of 85" for council employees as legal argument brews over age rules

Lord Hardie explains controversial decision

18 Jan 06

Same standards should apply to Crown as to defence, says judge giving reasons for halting attempted murder case

Row over plan to ban Scots MPs from English bills

18 Jan 06

Conservative Lord Baker's bill attacked by other parties

Shetland MSP's concern over access to legal aid

18 Jan 06

Minister orders Scottish Legal Aid Board to monitor situation after enquiries go to Aberdeen

VisitScotland may be risking EU sanctions

17 Jan 06

Illegal state aid claim over website charges

Council fails to pursue benefit fraud

17 Jan 06

Benefit Fraud Inspectorate criticises lack of action by Falkirk Council

Week-long home visits for prisoners

17 Jan 06

SPS hopes scheme will reduce compensation claims for slopping out

Two new faces at Semple Fraser

17 Jan 06

Patrick Slater and Keith Simpson join commercial property team

New senior associate for Brodies

17 Jan 06

Douglas Mathie joins from Dundas & Wilson

CSA mistakes cost £10 million

16 Jan 06

New figures reveal extent of compensation paid out to parents

McClure Naismith sheds its skin

16 Jan 06

Growing firm plans to relocate in both Edinburgh and London

Endowment complaints - finding what happened

16 Jan 06

How insurance companies can help with information needed to deal with complaints about endowment policies

Vulnerable witnesses' commissioner hitch

16 Jan 06

How a lacuna in the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 is affecting the introduction of taking the evidence of child witnesses by commissioner

Brown softens tax blow

16 Jan 06

The additional tax burden following the changes to assessing work in progress can be spread over three years

More from the Brussels office

16 Jan 06

Summary of EU developments on working time; money laundering; cross-border payment orders

Scottish sex offender checks to be tightened

13 Jan 06

Moves to strengthen disclosure system in wake of English controversy

Ministers' concern at trial failure

13 Jan 06

Condemnation of Lord Hardie's cancellation of attempted murder trial

Cautious welcome for golf equality law

13 Jan 06

Clubs warn EU rules could have unintended consequences

Suicidal woman not likely to drive

12 Jan 06

Appeal court clears depressed mother of drink charge

Lawyers call for Commissioner to have more powers

12 Jan 06

Society and Faculty want extended litigation rights for human rights tsar

Attempted murder case dropped over Crown failure

12 Jan 06

Lord Hardie accuses Crown Office of "dereliction of duty" over absent accused

Anderson Strathern boosts constructon team

11 Jan 06

Keith Bishops joins from DLA Piper to head team

More changes for Cupar courts

11 Jan 06

District Court now run from Kirkcaldy, though sittings unchanged

European Court favours passengers' compensation

11 Jan 06

Low-cost airlines fail to establish new EU rules unfair and too expensive

Team switch for licensing group

10 Jan 06

D&W licensing division transferring to Lindsays

Councils stepping up ASBO use

10 Jan 06

60% rise in orders as councils gear up to tackle disorder

FIFA's Scot retires from day job

10 Jan 06

Brechin's David Will leaves family firm

Pre-Budget concession "unfair"

9 Jan 06

Early adopters of new rules on income recognition feel penalised

Rape action figures show wide discrepancies

9 Jan 06

Percentage of cases passed to fiscal varies widely between police forces

Council liable to painter jabbed by syringe

6 Jan 06

Decorator was undertaking "construction" work when injured by abandoned needle

Ex-pupil takes Crown Office to court

6 Jan 06

Man claims negligence in decision not to prosecute a fourth man in abuse case

Court case fails to prevent Tory takeover

6 Jan 06

Labour group fails to prevent South Ayrshire Council meeting to replace provost

Interpreters' fee costs soar in Scots courts

6 Jan 06

Sharp rise in foreign national and asylum seeker accused leads to extra spend

Holyrood tender litigation settles

5 Jan 06

Unsuccessful bidders McAlpines agree out-of-court resolution with SPCB

Parties in court fight for council

5 Jan 06

Labour v Conservatives in interdict move to prevent removal of South Ayrshire provost

Women still face long wait for equality

5 Jan 06

EOC's annual survey shows few women in country's top jobs

Fiscal was not shown Skye Bridge toll licence

4 Jan 06

Fiscal who prosecuted toll protestors admits unhappiness at Government secrecy

New district procurator fiscal for Stranraer

4 Jan 06

Kenneth Grieve moves from Greenock to take up post

CSA tagging idea gains momentum

4 Jan 06

Government considers tagging absent fathers as part of CSA overhaul

Green laws should be simpler, says pressure group

2 Jan 06

UK Environmental Law Association calls for better, not less regulation in 2006