31.12.04 CBE for Gerry Brown

Convener of Law Society of Scotland's Criminal Law Committee honoured in new year list

30.12.04 Council tax discount changes closer

Order laid before Scottish Parliament permitting reduction on discount for second homes

30.12.04 New board members for SLAB

Two voluntary sector advisers join Scottish Legal Aid Board

23.12.04 Judges' concern at police warrant failures

Woman in racial abuse case escapes sentence after year's delay

23.12.04 Sewage sludge fuel ruled a pollutant

Scottish Power stopped from using dried pellets to fire power station

22.12.04 Compensation level for poor legal service raised

Maximum compensation for inadequate professional service by solicitors to rise from £1,000 to £5,000

22.12.04 New prostitution laws to protect teens

Pornography and prostitution laws to be introduced to protect under 18s

22.12.04 Scots law meets its relatives

Scots delegation shares latest ideas at Sri Lanka conference

22.12.04 New planning guidance

New planning guidance for conservation areas published

21.12.04 Year's crimes reach one million mark

Crime survey estimates that one million crimes were committed in Scotland in 2002

20.12.04 Lawyer sues former firm

Solicitor convicted of tax fraud sues former employers for unfair dismissal

20.12.04 New QC appointment procedure

Sir Roy Cameron to provide independent report to Ministers

20.12.04 Lawyer takes top IoD post

Michael Graham of MacRoberts is new Institute of Directors chairman in Glasgow and West of Scotland

17.12.04 New address was wrong for indictment

Appeal court rules police should have left papers at demolition site

17.12.04 Tribunal chairman's "reprehensible" conduct

Sheriff in air-rage case attacked for employment tribunal decision

17.12.04 Reliance contract duties broadened

Reliance takes over "non-core" prisoner escorts in parts of Scotland

16.12.04 Crime of soliciting to be scrapped?

Report proposes new laws to apply equally to prostitutes and clients

16.12.04 Commission seeks views on trustee law

Scottish Law Commission's latest discussion paper seeks to simplify the law

15.12.04 Society seeks Scottish solutions

Scots assert their independence; English welcome Clementi report

15.12.04 Clementi Report proposes greater competition

Report on regulation of legal profession in England and Wales proposes independent regulation and complaints bodies

15.12.04 £460,000 cost of new court

Scotland's share of running costs of new UK supreme court to be lower than expected

14.12.04 Journal Online nominated for award

Journal website shortlisted for Cuthbert Scottish Legal Awards

14.12.04 Total smoking ban has little support

Only 13% of Scots polled support complete ban on smoking in pubs

14.12.04 Chisholm to support third party planning appeals

Communities Minister believed to be backing environmental ahead of business interests

14.12.04 Reliance blunder stops trial

Judge criticises "administration error" of insufficient guards

13.12.04 "Get tough" approach blamed for jails crisis

Report calls for government strategy to cut reliance on prison

13.12.04 Victim service extends again

Support service opens in Dunoon and Rothesay

10.12.04 Review after Carstairs patient capture

There is to be a full review of the rules surrounding unescorted leave at Carstairs

10.12.04 McFadyen takes up new role

Norman McFadyen has taken up dual role as Crown Agent and chief executive of COPFS

10.12.04 Police fail to meet crime targets

Audit Scotland report shows police failing to stem tide of violent crime

09.12.04 The fallen shall not rise again

Fallen action cannot be revived by court dispensing power

08.12.04 New solicitor advocates

Three Edinburgh solicitors have received extended rights of audience

08.12.04 OFT launches property search study

£200m property search sector to come under scrutiny across the UK

08.12.04 Support for further child protection measures

Consultation reveals backing for new internet grooming law

08.12.04 Robbie falls at court hurdles

Robbie the Pict's latest challenges to the Skye Bridge tolls and a speeding charge fail before appeal court

08.12.04 710 knives seized by police

More than 700 knives have been seized in street crime crackdown

08.12.04 Storm over child porn

Charities condemn lawyer's claim that internet access of child pornography is "victimless" crime

07.12.04 Director bound to answer liquidator's questions

Court rejects self-incrimination as bar to questions under oath

07.12.04 Egg thief to do bird

An egg thief is first to be jailed under new Scots wildlife laws

06.12.04 New chairman for Burness

Philip Rodney, the new chairman of Burness,says firm will remain independent

06.12.04 New scheme to treat repeat offenders

Justice Minister to unveil training camp plans for repeat offenders

06.12.04 Next President for Law Society

Caroline Flanagan will be the next President of the Law Society of Scotland

06.12.04 Scots lawyer wins UK award

Stephen Trombala is the UK's assistant of the year

03.12.04 SPS autonomy threatened

Justice Minister to announce tighter controls on prison service

03.12.04 Crime pays for Reliance

Reliance has reported a rise in profits after overcoming 'teething problems'

02.12.04 Good report for Glenochil Prison

Chief inspector praises work to improve conditions

02.12.04 Edinburgh firm honoured for IT project

Brodies LLP highly commended for legal IT

01.12.04 Debt arrangement scheme now in force

Debt repayment programmes aim to assist people with multiple debts manage their payments

01.12.04 Legal aid: paying counsel's fees

Guidance on when the Scottish Legal Aid Board will pay counsel direct and when their fees will be assessed as a solicitor's outlay

01.12.04 Top judge's anger at MSP

Lord Nimmo Smith brands MSP's approach in tobacco case "reprehensible"