31.05.06 Twenty two part-time sheriffs appointed

Total now stands at record high of 80

31.05.06 Senior legal figure attacks Executive proposals

Lord McCluskey criticises plans he sees as undermining the judiciary

31.05.06 London catch for Maclay Murray & Spens

Gillian Cordall joins from Lewis Silkin as an IP partner

30.05.06 RICS issues practice on new build valuations

New guidance tackles issue of builders' incentives

30.05.06 New partner for Davidson Chalmers

Bruce Lancaster becomes Edinburgh firm's eighth partner

29.05.06 Law trainee entrants at risk from lecturer action

Lack of Diploma results could prevent traineeships starting

29.05.06 Society commits to action after legal aid vote

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

29.05.06 Burness solicitor to help as Prince's Trust coach

Team programme aims to give disadvantaged young people a better chance

26.05.06 Police to keep DNA samples

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

26.05.06 New Society President takes up office

Murray Beith Murray partner Ruthven Gemmell takes over from Caroline Flanagan

26.05.06 More in-court mediation available

Aberdeen and Glasgow mediation pilots, and website help all launch

25.05.06 Society questions efficiency plans for justice

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

25.05.06 Senior judge calls for divorce changes in Scotland

Periodical allowance limit discriminates against women, says Lord Hope

24.05.06 Simplify rules scrutiny, says committee

MSPs call for simplified system for bringing in secondary legislation

24.05.06 Security review of courts ordered

Reliance claims courts unsafe and a threat to staff and public

24.05.06 Rise in repossessions blamed on equity loans

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

23.05.06 Two promoted at Pagan Osborne

Two assistants elevated to bring partner total to 10

23.05.06 Legal threat to health boards over mental patients

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

23.05.06 Tough stance on knife crime

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

22.05.06 SSP official faces imprisonment

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

22.05.06 Disability Rights Commission launches legal review

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

19.05.06 Legal aid boycott call to Society

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

19.05.06 Police claim on-the-spot antisocial fines success

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

19.05.06 Threat to government's Royal Mail help

Assistance package could breach EU competition laws

19.05.06 MSP tables bill for asbestos victims

Des McNulty aims to address twin problems for sufferers claiming compensation

18.05.06 Case collapses after police spying ruled a trap

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

18.05.06 Lord President's absence leads to delays

Concerns raised about continued sick leave of Lord Hamilton

17.05.06 Committee's fears over homes-for-debt rules

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

17.05.06 Charges against senior fiscal dropped

Depute caught with prostitute escapes court case but resigns

16.05.06 Ombudsman commends better complaints record

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

16.05.06 Ministerial support for asbestos campaigners

Deputy Justice Minister hopes to help families facing compensation choice

16.05.06 Challenge to tougher summary sentencing plans

Law lecturer claims bill about "convenience rather than principle"

16.05.06 Two hires for Morton Fraser

New appointments expand firm's Glasgow operation

15.05.06 £3.9m rise in turnover for Shepherd+ Wedderburn

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

15.05.06 Bonomy delivering benefits, says report

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

15.05.06 McClures celebrate new office and new partners

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

15.05.06 Eleven new solicitor advocates to be introduced

Number brings to total to more than 200 in Scotland

15.05.06 Court of Session goes high tech

New high definition visual equipment gets first use in civil case

12.05.06 Solicitors caught in HMRC information trawl

Savings Directive bites for firms with non-resident clients

12.05.06 MSP escapes prison sentence

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

12.05.06 MSPs condemn House of Lords asbestos ruling

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

11.05.06 "Law of the jungle" warning for district courts

District court clerks should retain JP training role, MSPs told

11.05.06 Lords define proper scope of summary decree

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

10.05.06 Promotion at Paull & Williamsons

Leigh Gould made associate in firm's private client department

10.05.06 Informal route to the job becoming the norm

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

10.05.06 Planning reforms backed by Communities Committee

MSP backing for Planning Bill in stage 1 report

09.05.06 Glasgow law firm in sexual harassment claims

Paralegal alleges solicitor pestered her for sex

09.05.06 Scottish courts for civil appeals, say SNP

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

08.05.06 Solicitors call for legal aid special meeting

Society moved to shun Executive over legal aid rates of pay

08.05.06 House-buying restriction approved for Fife

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

08.05.06 Three new partners for Shepherd+ Wedderburn

Internal promotions for Ewan MacLeod, David Mitchell and Euan McLeod

08.05.06 Almost £10m taken from criminals

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

08.05.06 Global network lawyers gather in Edinburgh

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

05.05.06 OFT threat to push legal reform

Claim that Scots lagging behind rest of UK in promoting competition

05.05.06 Vice chair role for Pagan Osborne man

Martin Paterson appointed to National Association of Estate Agents Scotland

05.05.06 MSP warns against "postcode justice"

Use of diversionary schemes falls sharply in Perth and Kinross

05.05.06 Asbestos claimants face extra hurdle

Lords decision limits defenders' liability to percentage basis

04.05.06 From the Brussels office

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

04.05.06 Investment business: destruction of files

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

04.05.06 Leading vulnerable adults

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

04.05.06 Prisons check privilege abuse

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

04.05.06 Multiple claims

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

04.05.06 Relief for WIP tax

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

04.05.06 Advertising rules in force

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

04.05.06 Email: the future

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

04.05.06 Access to prisons and YOIs

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

04.05.06 Society extends ID card

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

04.05.06 Will relief now underway

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

04.05.06 Trials in absence workable, says sheriff principal

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

04.05.06 MSPs back human rights commission proposal

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

04.05.06 Family Law Act comes into force

Children, cohabitants and divorcing couples all set to benefit

03.05.06 Fines enforcers not needed, say sheriff officers

Claim that officers should take on new role in Justice Bill

03.05.06 Legal services competition group publishes report

Report recommends non-intervention in the legal market

03.05.06 10-year-old won't need to face father in court

Crown Office changes its mind about necessity of child making identification

03.05.06 Blackmail warning from Society chief

Mill claims risk from charging powers of proposed Complaints Commission

03.05.06 Teenagers in Fife test purchase scheme

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

02.05.06 London acquisition for Maclay Murray & Spens

Firm takes majority shareholding in financial services company

02.05.06 Society's watchdog warning over bill

Legal bodies give evidence today on complaints handling bill

02.05.06 Appointments at Young & Partners

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

02.05.06 Morton Fraser senior appointments

New consultant for Glasgow office and two promoted to partner

01.05.06 Progress with female offenders

Scottish initiative for female offenders extended to England

01.05.06 Partner appointments at Dundas & Wilson

Four senior associates promoted as Shaw and Campbell take over

01.05.06 Two catches for Anderson Strathern

Alan Masson and Murray McCall join employment team