31.08.05 Sex offender law reforms promised

Investigations underway into handling of prime suspect in Rory Blackhall murder case

30.08.05 Angiolini to chair workshop at Danish conference

Solicitor General leads workshop on victim witnesses at international prosecutors conference

30.08.05 Joint consultation on extreme porn

Executive joins forces with Home Office to consult about extreme pornogrpahic material

30.08.05 Volunteers for children's panels sought

The Scottish Executive is looking for around 600 people to take part in the children's hearing system

30.08.05 Dispersal power lapses as police claim success

Aberdeen "bouley bashers" seen off under new laws

29.08.05 Police juror did not invalidate verdict

Jury's decision protected by statute where no appearance of bias

29.08.05 Lawyers drop off in a good cause

St Andrews firm plans charity abseil from Forth Rail Bridge

29.08.05 Reforms spur early pleas

Preliminary hearings and sentence discounts resulting in more early guilty pleas

26.08.05 Ministers asked to fast-track appeals process

Council warns against court delays for environmentalists' appeal against M74 extension

26.08.05 Transco fined £15 million

Record fine for gas company over Larkhall explosion after one of Scotland's longest jury trials

26.08.05 Commission's new focus on land registration

Scottish Law Commission publishes second part of its review of registration system

25.08.05 Court ruling on whisky tax hits distillers

Scotch Whisky Association looking into implications of Court of Session tax ruling

25.08.05 CPAG to challenge tax credit clawback

Action Group claims government should write off £1.9 billion overpaid to poor families

25.08.05 Moves to simplify law to help incapable adults

Scottish Executive announces new proposals to streamline the Adults with Incapacity Act

25.08.05 Disability rights promoted after legal changes

Business seminars aimed at promoting the benefits of keeping disabled staff

25.08.05 Labour councillor fined for "Boyo" insult

Lanarkshire councillor fined under new race laws for abusive language to constituent

24.08.05 Andersons promotes health care partnership

Seminar discusses new vehicles for public-private ventures

24.08.05 Mother challenges Justice Minister

Mother of convicted rapist confronts Cathy Jamieson about confusion over rape law

24.08.05 Road haulier seeks bridge tolls refund

Claim of £500,000 refund for lorries crossing the Skye Bridge

23.08.05 Policeman sues council after drugs raid fall

Former Tayside officer suing Perth and Kinross Council after falling on drain in Perth

23.08.05 Sheriff to return to full duties

Justice Department to make no investigation into Sheriff Mitchell's fitness for office despite fiscal complaints

23.08.05 Emma Bell to join Brodies

MacRoberts partner to join Brodies' employment law team

23.08.05 Trainee ball raises £4,000 plus

First Cuthbert Recruitment Trainee Law Ball money will go to the Variety Club of Scotland

22.08.05 No liability for "friendly" football injury

Recruit's bad tackle on his instructor not beyond the reasonable player, says judge

22.08.05 In-court mediation for Glasgow and Aberdeen

Further pilot projects follow growth of Edinburgh scheme

19.08.05 Death certificate protocol

Death certificate verification form to be used in conjunction with protocol described in Vol 47 no 12 (December 2002), at page 16

19.08.05 FSA - mortgage endowment complaints

Financial Sevices Authority has approved proposals to give mortgage endowment policyholders more time to complain if they believe their policy was mis-sold

19.08.05 Fee for preparation of account

An auditor’s or law accountant’s fee for assessing a solicitor’s fee from a file is not chargeable to the party paying without prior agreement

19.08.05 Accreditation in personal injury law

Guidance notes for applicants for the newly announced accredited specialism in personal injury law

19.08.05 Executive consults on homelessness target

Ministerial statement due on abolition of "priority need" test by 2012

19.08.05 BBC report questions Lockerbie evidence

Quashed convictions raise doubts over expert's evidence at Lockerbie trial

19.08.05 Ex-fiscal says make drugs legal

Former fiscal David Hingston says present situation is not working

18.08.05 18-month period for licensing transition

New licensing regime planned to begin in February 2008 with only limited exemptions for existing licensees

18.08.05 Change in care home law "not appropriate"

The Scottish Executive has stated it does not think a change in the law is necessary to protect elderly residents

18.08.05 Killer's action for insurance payout can go ahead

Burning of house while insane is an "accident" under insurance law, says court

18.08.05 Parking fines to be refunded

Sunderland admits traffic wardens cannot ticket for parking in taxi ranks

17.08.05 MacRoberts' new managing partner

Michael Murphy appointed to succeed John Macmillan

17.08.05 Public consultation on fertility laws

New proposals could allow choice of baby's sex and screening for diseases

17.08.05 SCC wants regulation by non-lawyers

Consumer Council says public confidence needs independent body

17.08.05 Call for ban of "common-law marriage" phrase

Legal advice group says too many people believe "common-law" husbands and wives have rights of married couples

16.08.05 Lord Eassie reappointed as law reformer

Senior judge continues role as Chairman of Scottish Law Commission

16.08.05 Children's advocacy for Glasgow abuse court

Executive funds specialist support for young witnesses of domestic abuse

16.08.05 New partners for law firm

Henderson Boyd Jackson announces two new partners

16.08.05 Estate agents' committee member appointed

Martin Paterson has been appointed as a committee member to the National Association of Estate Agents Scotland

15.08.05 Closer supervision pilot for offenders

New scheme proposes more monitoring of paedophiles and violent offenders

15.08.05 New model for reforming complaints handling

Law Society of Scotland publishes its response to the Scottish Executive's consultation paper

15.08.05 Councils could face inequality bill

Failure to implement equal pay agreements could lead to tens of thousands claiming compensation

15.08.05 Peer's rebuke to ministers

Liberal Democrat peer criticises threats to force judges to deport extremists

12.08.05 Council pursues land reform for seabed

Highland Council seeks possibility of community ownership beyond foreshore

12.08.05 Society insists on proper instructions

Offers should not require confirmation of terms by own clients

11.08.05 Society's urgent advice on SDLT

Solicitors faced with more obstacles by Revenue authorities

11.08.05 Tagging powers not being used

Intensive monitoring and support orders aimed at persistent youth offenders have only been used four times

11.08.05 Jamieson argues for London airgun decision

Justice Minister believes legislation for airgun control would be better coming from Westminster

11.08.05 Fife councillor wins case to get days off

Tribunal agrees employer allowed insufficient time off for public duties

10.08.05 Summit protesters charges dropped

Cases "not called" at Falkirk Sheriff Court

10.08.05 Editor faces race charge

Peterhead-based newspaper owner charged over article attacking plans for refugee centre

09.08.05 Council falls foul of natural justice

Exclusion zone condition on street trader's licence vitiated by councillors attending school board

09.08.05 Tayside pioneering reform work praised

Cathy Jamieson commends piloting efforts of criminal justice agencies in Tayside and Dundee

09.08.05 Fundraisers hope to top £20,000

Great Wilderness Challenge for legal team

08.08.05 Judge strikes down golf club expulsions

Objection to planning proposal in which club had interest not a breach of club rules

08.08.05 Selection panel seeks new Lord President

First Minister's panel sets out procedure for appointing Lord Cullen's successor

08.08.05 Call for Ombudsman to be replaced

SCOLAG seeks stronger review process in reforms to complaints handling system

05.08.05 Accreditation in public procurement offered

New specialist accreditation available in public procurement law; and a note of further pending changes

05.08.05 Society adopts staff protection policy

The Society's policy designed to protect staff from unacceptable behaviour on the part of service users

05.08.05 CRO case study: requests for solicitors' files

Points to bear in mind when the Society requests a client file for the purpose of investigating a complaint

05.08.05 Ombudsman sees signs for hope

This year's annual report of the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman recognises that the new complaints handling system is producing improvements

05.08.05 Green belt policy to be revised

Draft Scottish Planning Policy proposes enhanced role for green belts

05.08.05 Divorced husband stops wife's sequestration bid

Late interdict granted to permit challenge to divorce decree

05.08.05 Clerk walks out of court

Clerk leaves court after war of words with solicitor

05.08.05 Victims' eyes on slopping out compensation

Civil actions against criminals could follow human rights payments

04.08.05 Public divided on financial support

Social attitudes survey reveals doubts over support obligations when childless couples separate

04.08.05 Parking ticket appeals regularly succeed

Newspaper survey reveals almost half of Appeals Service decisions favour motorist

04.08.05 Council worker's test case succeeds

Employment tribunal finds against Glasgow Council in case affecting 600

03.08.05 Fire safety laws upgraded

First major reform in over 35 years comes into force

03.08.05 Parking killer's sentence to be appealed

Crown appeals against community service and probation order as unduly lenient

03.08.05 Lord Morison dies of cancer

Death of retired judge who criticised dependence on temporary appointments

02.08.05 "Slopping out" provision now £44m

Prison Service marks up set-aside for compensation cases

02.08.05 "Stalking" messages sent to solicitors

Sentence deferred on Hamilton man who sent threats after claim failed

01.08.05 Councillor condemns fiscal's decision

Education chair unhappy at dropping of charges over teacher's affair with pupil

01.08.05 Client communication rules in force today

Solicitors now required to issue written letters of engagement for nearly all transactions