31.05.05 Client relations rules strengthened

From 1 June every law firm in Scotland must have a dedicated complaints person

31.05.05 Widow loses smoking test case

Landmark McTear judgment holds no fault by tobacco company, or proof of causation

31.05.05 Accused wins rape appeal on misdirection

Judge wrong to say belief in consent required to be reasonable, says appeal court

31.05.05 Finnie guests at environment conference

Anderson Strathern to host, minister to speak at UKELA conference

31.05.05 Findlay under fire

Criticism mounting over ill-judged joke by leading advocate

30.05.05 Lewis crofters seek right to buy

Lewis sees first crofting applications under Land Reform Act

27.05.05 Taxing times for law firm

Shepherd+ Wedderburn boosts tax team with appointment of corporate tax duo

27.05.05 New President for Law Society

Caroline Flanagan is the new President of the Law Society of Scotland

27.05.05 Crackdown on anti-Jewish attacks

Strathclyde police launch campaign to stamp out anti-Semitism

26.05.05 Campbell to leave Dundas & Wilson

Managing Partner joins Royal Bank of Scotland as Director of Legal Services

26.05.05 Inspector's "sadness" at women prisoners

Miserable condition of Cornton Vale inmates has become even worse, says report

25.05.05 Keeping it in the family

Two Scottish-based family business advisory firms have merged

25.05.05 Conference to debate children's issues

Do toy companies care about children? among questions up for discussion

25.05.05 Scottish Power loses second SEPA round

Longannet station caught by waste incineration controls, judge rules

25.05.05 Father fails in Scots legal bid

Scot who refused to deal with English judiciary has failed to have his case passed to Scottish judges

24.05.05 Dickson Minto goes MNP

Dickson Minto WS is first Scots firm to adopt multi-national practice status

24.05.05 Police call for more on-the-spot fines

Lothian Deputy Chief wants national roll-out of instant fine scheme

23.05.05 First FoI ruling upholds complaint

Speed camera authority wrong to refuse information, says Commissioner

23.05.05 Positive start to Bonomy reforms

Executive claims early success for new trial procedures

23.05.05 McClure Naismith turnover up

Fee income up another 10% as seven new associates appointed

23.05.05 Half of prisoners return to jail

Number reoffending within two years "unacceptably high", says Justice Minister

23.05.05 Joke lands lawyer in hot water

Advocate fined for telling racist joke at legal dinner

20.05.05 Sheriff insists on doctors' reasons

Court must have information on which it can reach its own view, in applications dealing with adult incapacity

20.05.05 Calling time on pub crime

Accreditation scheme for licensed premises aims to cut alcohol-related crime

20.05.05 Bail system in crisis, say police chiefs

Conference call to Executive for crackdown on bail offenders

19.05.05 Harpers trainee wins top essay prize

Working time paper lands 5,000 euro EELA award

19.05.05 Two new managers at Balfour & Manson

Property manager and marketing manager join Edinburgh office

19.05.05 Leading legal figure to address UHI

Canadian supreme court judge to give annual lecture at Bute college

19.05.05 Crime lords under fire

"No hiding place for Mr Bigs" says Jamieson

18.05.05 No minimum sentence for drug trafficker

Court has normal discretion where "specific circumstances" exception applies, judge rules

17.05.05 Sheriff grants "novel" incapacity application

Courts must be receptive to novelty, says sheriff making intervention order

17.05.05 Prisons fail inmates, says inspector

Third of Scots prisons failing to manage long term inmates correctly - report

17.05.05 Bishops becomes LLP

Move to LLP status and new appointments at Bishops

16.05.05 New animal cruelty bill

Bill to be introduced to tackle cruelty to pets and farm animals

16.05.05 Winners on the web

Maclay Murray & Spens scoops national award for website

16.05.05 Fiscal spreads his wings

Depute volunteers for charity wing walk despite fear of heights

13.05.05 Attempt to modify guilty plea fails

Appeal court rejects attempt to restrict plea following co-accused's trial

13.05.05 Prison reform call

Call to politicians to cap prison population

13.05.05 Law firm to host IT event

Shepherd and Wedderburn to hold seminar on making maximum use of IT resources

12.05.05 House prior rights raised to £300,000

Spouses' rights on intestacy up from £130,000 to keep pace with property values

12.05.05 Aberdeen firms set up employment seminar

Tribunal chairman among speakers as three employment practices combine talents

12.05.05 Privy Council raises appeal hopes

Decision on Crown disclosure could impact on appeals of notorious criminals

11.05.05 Public debate opens on complaints

Executive publishes consultation options to reform handling of complaints against lawyers

11.05.05 Tagging for 2,000 prisoners a year

Executive reveals extent of controversial plans to release prisoners early

11.05.05 EU threat to enforce working hours

Parliament may vote to end UK's opt-out over maximum working time

10.05.05 New appointments for Aberdeen firm

Paull & Williamsons appoints two new partners

10.05.05 Jandoo suspended from Bar

Advocate convicted of air-rage offences to face disciplinary action

09.05.05 Fears for collapse of tagging scheme

Bail pilot scheme struggling for lack of resources, say lawyers and police

09.05.05 New law to protect emergency workers

Legislation to protect nurses, ambulance workers and others in emergency services comes into force today

09.05.05 Four new partners at S+W

Shepherd+ Wedderburn promotes four in three divisions

06.05.05 Ayrshire fiscal appointment

High Court head is new area procurator fiscal

06.05.05 Commercial team expands at Anderson Strathern

Ian Moffett leaves Dundas & Wilson after 27 years as partner to join rival

05.05.05 Landed securities

Rate of interest for the six months from Martinmas 2004

05.05.05 Impact of dealing with complaints quickly

Client Relations Office case study where a complaint against a firm was held unfounded but inaction on the complaint led to a finding of inadequate professional service

05.05.05 LLPs and the FSA

A firm authorised by the FSA that changes status to LLP requires to re-register

05.05.05 Cashroom chaos: take up references

Advice to check CVs and references of applicants for cashroom positions in light of experiences with certain individuals

05.05.05 CAs survey supports legal reform

Law firms and clients want to relax practising restrictions, says magazine

05.05.05 Contract damages case not time barred

Out-of-time claim for personal injuries does not rule out breach of contract case, says judge

05.05.05 Evasive car owner rightly convicted

Appeal court rejects plea that police should have warned over failure to identify driver

05.05.05 Record haul for Crown

The Crown has recovered £673,000 in civil proceedings through the Proceeds of Crime Act

05.05.05 New Peebles court opens

Converted council chambers now operating as sheriff and district courts

04.05.05 Environmentalist anger at planning move

Leaked document reveals moves to limit public inquiries on major projects

04.05.05 Parole chief attacks reoffending plans

Chairman doubts effectiveness of Executive proposals to cut repeat crime

03.05.05 Companies ignore late payment rules

Average time to pay bills rises despite interest law

03.05.05 Glasgow gets tough on home alterations

Council to take enforcement action against conservation area breaches

02.05.05 Help for parents of brain-injured kids

New legal group formed by national brain injury charities launches tomorrow

02.05.05 Call for tougher sentencing

150 crimes a day are committed by bailed suspects, says police chief

02.05.05 New appointments at McGrigors

New corporate and tax litigation partners for McGrigors