Weekly roundup of Scots law in the headlines including Sandy Peggie tribunal and landmark lawyer treaty — Monday December 15

This week's review of all the latest headlines from the world of Scots law and beyond includes the fallout from an NHS Fife employment tribunal and international calls to protect lawyers.

Sandy Peggie and legal team launch appeal over NHS Fife employment case

The case of NHS Fife nurse Sandie Peggie is one of the most closely-watched employment tribunals in memory and has been seen as a bellwether case following the Supreme Court's For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers case early this year.

The outcome of the first tier tribunal was that NHS Fife was found to have harassed Sandie Peggie, but other claims of discrimination and victimisation were dismissed.

• Nurse Sandy Peggie to appeal trans doctor employment tribunal judgment (Sky)
• Sandie Peggie says 'I will not give up legal fight' with tribunal appeal (BBC)
• Former UK equality chief questions Peggie tribunal ruling (BBC)
• Sandie Peggie tribunal ruling 'not compatible' with the law as she prepares to announce appeal decision (Scottish Daily Express)
• Scottish nurse wins part of her tribunal in trans doctor changing room case (Guardian)
• Sandie Peggie latest: Judge amends NHS Fife ruling (Herald)
• [£] Sandie Peggie judge has missed the point of Supreme Court ruling (Times)

Societies team up to support protect treaty for lawyers

To mark Human Rights Day, 10 December, the law societies of England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland united to call for urgent ratification of a groundbreaking new treaty designed to protect lawyers, the people responsible for defending everyone’s rights.

The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer provides a framework to protect lawyers from the rising worldwide tide of harassment, threats and physical attacks that undermine their ability to do their job and serve the public.

• Law societies unite to protect lawyers (Solicitors Journal)
• UK law societies back landmark treaty to protect lawyers (The Law Society)

And in other news

Legal headlines from across Scotland, the UK and beyond:

• Scotland’s looser rules on assisted dying could lead to ‘death tourism’, say senior politicians (Guardian)
• Controversial bus gates to stay after legal challenge fails (STV)
• Glasgow City Council faces threat of judicial review over homelessness crisis (Glasgow Live)
• Glasgow law firm owes people thousands of pounds after shock closure (The Sun)
• Will Australia’s social media ban survive a high court challenge from two teenagers? Most likely – here’s why (Guardian)
• Scottish Law Agents’ Society: SSDT reduction in standard of proof ‘deeply regrettable’ (Scottish Legal News)
• [£] North America Innovative Lawyers Awards 2025: the winners (Financial Times)
• Emma Caldwell's family 'betrayed' as Police Scotland left out of inquiry (STV)
• 'Hidden super-power': Lammy convenes legal services taskforce (Gazette)
• [£] ‘Underpaid family court lawyers on verge of quitting’ (Times)
• Solicitor who failed to spot 'sophisticated' fraud fined £15,000 (Gazette)
• Prostitution Scotland: Hundreds sign open letter to MSPs calling for law change (The Scotsman)
• [£] Ministers crack down on dirty money (The Times)
• [£] Bid to boost diversity at Bar falls short (The Times)
• [£] US judge strikes down Donald Trump’s ban on new wind permits (Financial Times)
• Gilson Gray achieves fastest growth status (Solicitors Journal)