Journal Online

News reel

Twenty two part-time sheriffs appointed

31 May 06

Total now stands at record high of 80

Senior legal figure attacks Executive proposals

31 May 06

Lord McCluskey criticises plans he sees as undermining the judiciary

London catch for Maclay Murray & Spens

31 May 06

Gillian Cordall joins from Lewis Silkin as an IP partner

RICS issues practice on new build valuations

30 May 06

New guidance tackles issue of builders' incentives

New partner for Davidson Chalmers

30 May 06

Bruce Lancaster becomes Edinburgh firm's eighth partner

Law trainee entrants at risk from lecturer action

29 May 06

Lack of Diploma results could prevent traineeships starting

Society commits to action after legal aid vote

29 May 06

Council affirms non-co-operation policy but seeks meeting with minister

Burness solicitor to help as Prince's Trust coach

29 May 06

Team programme aims to give disadvantaged young people a better chance

Police to keep DNA samples

26 May 06

MSPs vote for extension of time limits to three and five years

New Society President takes up office

26 May 06

Murray Beith Murray partner Ruthven Gemmell takes over from Caroline Flanagan

More in-court mediation available

26 May 06

Aberdeen and Glasgow mediation pilots, and website help all launch

Society questions efficiency plans for justice

25 May 06

Criminal Proceedings Bill reforms will not speed up cases, warns Society

Senior judge calls for divorce changes in Scotland

25 May 06

Periodical allowance limit discriminates against women, says Lord Hope

Simplify rules scrutiny, says committee

24 May 06

MSPs call for simplified system for bringing in secondary legislation

Security review of courts ordered

24 May 06

Reliance claims courts unsafe and a threat to staff and public

Rise in repossessions blamed on equity loans

24 May 06

Court orders up 34% in 2005 as borrowers use home loans to service debts

Two promoted at Pagan Osborne

23 May 06

Two assistants elevated to bring partner total to 10

Legal threat to health boards over mental patients

23 May 06

Lack of medium security units means patients staying too long at Carstairs

Tough stance on knife crime

23 May 06

Lord Advocate's guidelines to add to measures in police and Public Order Bill

SSP official faces imprisonment

22 May 06

Scottish Socialist Party policy co-ordinator, Alan McCombes, faces contempt accusation

Disability Rights Commission launches legal review

22 May 06

Rules and practices in teaching, nursing and social work come under scrutiny

Legal aid boycott call to Society

19 May 06

No opposition to special meeting resolution to end co-operation with Executive

Police claim on-the-spot antisocial fines success

19 May 06

Chief constable says Tayside pilot "hugely popular" with officers and public

Threat to government's Royal Mail help

19 May 06

Assistance package could breach EU competition laws

MSP tables bill for asbestos victims

19 May 06

Des McNulty aims to address twin problems for sufferers claiming compensation

Case collapses after police spying ruled a trap

18 May 06

Officers wrong to place accused in adjoining cells so they could eavesdrop

Lord President's absence leads to delays

18 May 06

Concerns raised about continued sick leave of Lord Hamilton

Committee's fears over homes-for-debt rules

17 May 06

Enterprise and Culture Committee concerned that Bankruptcy Bill could lead to homelessness

Charges against senior fiscal dropped

17 May 06

Depute caught with prostitute escapes court case but resigns

Ombudsman commends better complaints record

16 May 06

Annual report records increased satisfaction levels and better case handling by Society

Ministerial support for asbestos campaigners

16 May 06

Deputy Justice Minister hopes to help families facing compensation choice

Challenge to tougher summary sentencing plans

16 May 06

Law lecturer claims bill about "convenience rather than principle"

Two hires for Morton Fraser

16 May 06

New appointments expand firm's Glasgow operation

£3.9m rise in turnover for Shepherd+ Wedderburn

15 May 06

Firm announces annual fee income figures, along with conversion to LLP

Bonomy delivering benefits, says report

15 May 06

High Court reforms produce big rise in guilty pleas and fewer adjournments

McClures celebrate new office and new partners

15 May 06

Purpose-built new Edinburgh office and round of promotions for McClure Naismith

Eleven new solicitor advocates to be introduced

15 May 06

Number brings to total to more than 200 in Scotland

Will relief now underway

15 May 06

Reasons for the change of name from Solicitors Will Aid (Scotland)

Society extends ID card

15 May 06

Solicitors' identity cards to remain valid until 31 December each year to avoid problems of expiry before new ones can be issued

Access to prisons and YOIs

15 May 06

Reminder from Serco Home Affairs of search procedures on entering an establishment

Email: the future

15 May 06

Society moves towards using email as the primary means of communication with members

Advertising rules in force

15 May 06

Solicitors (Scotland) (Advertising and Promotion) Practice Rules 2006 come into force on 1 June 2006

Relief for WIP tax

15 May 06

The spreading relief now available to reduce the impact of the extra tax charge on work in progress resulting from the introduction of UITF 40

Multiple claims

15 May 06

Appeal for information on bringing equal pay claims against public bodies after the six-month statutory time limit

Prisons check privilege abuse

15 May 06

Safeguards against abuse by prisoners of the arrangements for handling privileged correspondence

Investment business: destruction of files

15 May 06

Practice note with revised policy on retaining files in relation to endowment business

From the Brussels office

15 May 06

Updates on draft services directive; motor insurance; transfer of prisoners; working time; limitation periods

Court of Session goes high tech

15 May 06

New high definition visual equipment gets first use in civil case

Solicitors caught in HMRC information trawl

12 May 06

Savings Directive bites for firms with non-resident clients

MSP escapes prison sentence

12 May 06

No jail for SSP's Rosie Kane after fine payment refusal

MSPs condemn House of Lords asbestos ruling

12 May 06

Decision to cut compensation goes against natural justice, says 32-strong group

"Law of the jungle" warning for district courts

11 May 06

District court clerks should retain JP training role, MSPs told

Lords define proper scope of summary decree

11 May 06

Judge has to be satisfied that defence bound to fail before granting motion

Promotion at Paull & Williamsons

10 May 06

Leigh Gould made associate in firm's private client department

Informal route to the job becoming the norm

10 May 06

Employers said to be leaving themselves open to claims by not asking for CVs

Planning reforms backed by Communities Committee

10 May 06

MSP backing for Planning Bill in stage 1 report

Glasgow law firm in sexual harassment claims

9 May 06

Paralegal alleges solicitor pestered her for sex

Scottish courts for civil appeals, say SNP

9 May 06

Fresh call for end to House of Lords appeals follows asbestos ruling

Solicitors call for legal aid special meeting

8 May 06

Society moved to shun Executive over legal aid rates of pay

House-buying restriction approved for Fife

8 May 06

Ministers accept five-year suspension of right to buy in designated areas

Three new partners for Shepherd+ Wedderburn

8 May 06

Internal promotions for Ewan MacLeod, David Mitchell and Euan McLeod

Almost £10m taken from criminals

8 May 06

Crime doesn't pay thanks to Proceeds of Crime Act, says Lord Advocate

Global network lawyers gather in Edinburgh

8 May 06

Maclay Murray & Spens to host Lex Mundi's first Scottish event

OFT threat to push legal reform

5 May 06

Claim that Scots lagging behind rest of UK in promoting competition

Vice chair role for Pagan Osborne man

5 May 06

Martin Paterson appointed to National Association of Estate Agents Scotland

MSP warns against "postcode justice"

5 May 06

Use of diversionary schemes falls sharply in Perth and Kinross

Asbestos claimants face extra hurdle

5 May 06

Lords decision limits defenders' liability to percentage basis

Leading vulnerable adults

4 May 06

Reminder that protection for adult vulnerable witnesses is now in force in criminal and children's hearing cases; information booklets have been published

Trials in absence workable, says sheriff principal

4 May 06

Report author tells MSPs summary cases could still go ahead if accused stays away

MSPs back human rights commission proposal

4 May 06

"Yes" stage 1 vote for first ministerial bill not to win committee backing

Family Law Act comes into force

4 May 06

Children, cohabitants and divorcing couples all set to benefit

Fines enforcers not needed, say sheriff officers

3 May 06

Claim that officers should take on new role in Justice Bill

Legal services competition group publishes report

3 May 06

Report recommends non-intervention in the legal market

10-year-old won't need to face father in court

3 May 06

Crown Office changes its mind about necessity of child making identification

Blackmail warning from Society chief

3 May 06

Mill claims risk from charging powers of proposed Complaints Commission

Teenagers in Fife test purchase scheme

3 May 06

Police will use 16 and 17-year-olds to check whether off-licences are law abiding

London acquisition for Maclay Murray & Spens

2 May 06

Firm takes majority shareholding in financial services company

Society's watchdog warning over bill

2 May 06

Legal bodies give evidence today on complaints handling bill

Appointments at Young & Partners

2 May 06

Announcement coincides with start of building work for firm's new office

Morton Fraser senior appointments

2 May 06

New consultant for Glasgow office and two promoted to partner

Progress with female offenders

1 May 06

Scottish initiative for female offenders extended to England

Partner appointments at Dundas & Wilson

1 May 06

Four senior associates promoted as Shaw and Campbell take over

Two catches for Anderson Strathern

1 May 06

Alan Masson and Murray McCall join employment team