31.01.08 Bill aims to strengthen judicial independence

Judiciary and Courts Bill gives Lord President overall responsibility for courts

31.01.08 First awards under Signet Accreditation scheme

Six solicitors pass first assessment panels

31.01.08 Expansion of Glasgow operation for Lindsays

Firm to acquire Kidstons from April

31.01.08 Single survey in time for Christmas

Home reports to be compulsory from 1 December

30.01.08 Armstrong elected Vice Dean

Election completes reshuffle of Faculty of Advocates office bearers

30.01.08 Paralegal qualifications launched

SQA partners Association to launch HNDs, HNCs and specialised awards

30.01.08 Turnaround Project aims to cut male reoffending

£3 million funding for west of Scotland-based initiative

30.01.08 Government proposes 80% cut in carbon emissions

Ministers set out proposals in draft Climate Change Bill

29.01.08 Commissions want rid of out-of-date laws

Law Commissions in drive to modernise the statute book

29.01.08 New laws will tackle the "Mr Bigs" of crime

Scottish Government proposals to target directing or being involved with organised crime

28.01.08 Kevin Dunion reappointed as information tsar

Four year extension to Scottish Information Commissioner role

28.01.08 Government tackles interest law change

Consultation on proposals in light of Scottish Law Commission report

28.01.08 Legal threat to M74 extension

Green complaint to EU over anti-competitive practices in tendering process

28.01.08 Law firm sponsors police training

Digby Brown work with road safety charity to help police support road crash victims

25.01.08 Society's chief executive to step down

Douglas Mill to leave in October of this year

25.01.08 Top fiscal takes on new role

Catherine Dyer becomes Chief of Strategic Delivery in Crown Office

25.01.08 Additional funding for supervised bail

Move aimed at cutting Scotland's "unacceptably high" remand population

25.01.08 Building work begins at Greenock Sheriff Court

£750,000 refurbishment will improve facilities

24.01.08 Police complaints need to be handled differently

Inspectorate finds discrepancies in dealing with complaints against police

24.01.08 Debating competition enters second phase

Society's schools tournament features contentious immigration motion

24.01.08 Human Rights Court struggles with backlog

Annual survey reveals nearly 80,000 cases pending

24.01.08 No change in status for Scottish banknotes

Scottish Secretary turns down move for legal tender status

24.01.08 Former prosecutor joins Burness

Diane Turner appointed associate in move from DLA Piper

23.01.08 Equality webcast marks step forward for Society

Training first timed to go with new equality and diversity committee

23.01.08 Sheriff allows naming of young offender

"Part of punishment" to waive rule for 15-year-old guilty of vicious attack

22.01.08 McGrigors elects new managing partner

Richard Masters to take over from Colin Gray

22.01.08 Tods Murray launches summer school

Eight-week programme offers placements and guaranteed trainee interview

21.01.08 Advocates launch on terra firma

New chambers aims to focus on property, planning and public law issues

21.01.08 Call for more domestic abuse courts rejected

Chief Constable's plea ruled "impractical" by Scottish Government

18.01.08 Children's hearings to get single national body

Reporter system to combine with administration and training of children's panel members

18.01.08 ELPG regroups as fivesome

Hunters and Maclachlan & Mackenzie leave to pursue different business strategies

18.01.08 QC to teach MSPs how to ask questions

John Sturrock hired to give MSPs lessons in obtaining best information

18.01.08 Ministers publish plans for public sector scrutiny

Government responds to Crerar Review recommendations

17.01.08 Future of legal services: views deadline closes in

Law Society of Scotland's consultation closes on 31 January

17.01.08 Client group first for law firm

Burness's new advisory group aimed at giving firm a deeper understanding of client needs

17.01.08 Gun law summit planned for Scotland

Invitation to Home Secretary to take part in joint summit on new controls

17.01.08 Halt on youth courts expansion

Review of plans as part of evaluation of summary criminal justice system

16.01.08 Tagging figures wrong, says government

Compiling error led to mistaken report of increase in breaches

16.01.08 "Doggy asbos" proposed for dangerous dogs

Alex Neil MSP wants to tighten up existing legislation

15.01.08 Charity calls for for child witness intermediaries

System would make court process less frightening, says Justice for Children

15.01.08 Government backs anti-hate crime proposals

Legislation would extend statutory aggravations where a crime is motivated by hostility

15.01.08 Sheriff threatens fiscal with contempt of court

Papers being delayed in custody cases at Aberdeen Sheriff Court

14.01.08 Society withdraws from counsel's fees scheme

Solicitors now able to conduct own negotiations with advocates over payment of fees

14.01.08 Associate hire for Gillespie Macandrew

Heather McCracken joins commercial property team

14.01.08 Health Secretary support for presumed consent

Organs for transplantation should be taken from patients, says Sturgeon

14.01.08 Tobacco licensing on the cards

Tightening up of legislation proposed to make it harder to sell to those under 18

14.01.08 Govan honours Lord Advocate

Elish Angiolini praised for work done to raise Govan's profile

11.01.08 New court limits come in on Monday

Small claim, summary cause and privative jurisdiction thresholds all rise

11.01.08 Gun law debate continues with Home Office plans

Proposal to ban deactivated firearms announced

11.01.08 Elections to take place on different dates

MSPs vote for de-coupling of elections, following criticism of last year's polls

11.01.08 Biggart Baillie appointment and promotions

Anne Skelly joins firm as HR director as three new associates named

10.01.08 From the Brussels office

Briefings on the office head; the Charter of Fundamental Rights; and the negotiations on new rules for agency workers and working time

10.01.08 Specialist accreditation for private client tax

The Society has recently approved a new specialist accreditation, for private client tax practitioners

10.01.08 Society's gambit

Law Society of Scotland supports schools chess tournament

10.01.08 SLCC chair and board announced

Ombudsman takes the helm at new complaints handling body

10.01.08 Judges clarify backdating rules

Date of initial remand, not full committal, is starting point

10.01.08 Terror laws require consultation

Adoption of EU counter-terrorism strategies needs Scottish Government input, say MPs

10.01.08 Chairman elected for Faculty Services Ltd

Alan Summers takes charge of advocates' business support organisation

09.01.08 Sheriff unable to impose ban on rapist

Rape crisis organisation calls for situation to be addressed

08.01.08 Council tax freeze called into question

Legality of SNP Government policy under scrutiny

08.01.08 Richey heading for UK today

Death Row Scot finally freed yesterday after 20 years

07.01.08 Glasgow firm welcomes new partner

Pamela Niven joins Bird Semple from Biggart Baillie

07.01.08 Government seeks views on planning policy

Draft aimed at freeing up more land supply for housing

07.01.08 Government drops plans for divorce access scheme

No suitable candidate found to take up running of pilot scheme

07.01.08 Three new partners for McClure Naismith

Internal promotions in litigation, banking and projects areas

04.01.08 Sheriff accuses insurers over caution rules

Companies' requirements "subverting intention of Parliament" over carers

04.01.08 Big rise in interpreter costs

Spending up nearly fourfold in three years

04.01.08 Task force to take forward marine law

Representative body aims to balance competing interests for use of coastal waters

04.01.08 Biggart Baillie goes carbon neutral

Firm aims to offset emissions fully from 1 January

03.01.08 Remodelled DTTOs for Lothian & Borders

Further pilot aims to deal with earlier stages of drug misuse

03.01.08 Low cost bankruptcy offered for poorest debtors

No income, no asset cases will be able to declare themselves bankrupt for £100 fee