Practice
2025 - Global mobility and immigration
2024 was, as some might say, a landmark year of changes for immigration law. So what does this mean for the legal profession?
Safeguarding construction finances: the future of cash retentions
David Christie and Charles Mak explore how you can safeguard construction finances following the recent collapse of ISG.
Pilot that saw improved experiences for complainers rolled out
A pilot which saw improved experiences for complainers and witnesses in five courts is to be rolled out to all sheriff courts in Scotland by the end of this year.
Government amendments removed from the Legal Services Regulation Bill
Government proposals for new levels of direct government control and involvement in how Scottish solicitors work are to be removed from the Legal Services Regulation Bill, which the Society says preserves supremacy of the rule of law.
Risk management – a look back
Lockton reflects on its engagement with the profession in 2024 and share some notable take-aways.
Lord Pentland to serve as head of Scotland’s judiciary
First Minister John Swinney has welcomed the appointment of Scotland’s new Lord President by His Majesty the King.
A balancing act
Thomas Mitchell discusses the legal landscape of dashcams in Scotland and what’s next for them in terms of protection and privacy.
PCPs and HPs
Between 2017 and 2019 the UK witnessed one of the biggest advertising campaigns related to mis-sold financial productions. Now, the profession prepares for what could be another major compensation scheme for mis-selling practices in relation to PCPs and HPs.
AI and the legal profession review
In 2024, AI ceased to be a distant abstraction for the legal profession and is now an undeniable presence at every level of practice.
New version - Scottish Standard Clauses
A new version of the Scottish Standard Clauses has been released by the Scottish Conveyancers Forum.
Justice for children
In 2024 there were some significant policy and legal changes which aim to better protect children’s rights in Scotland and reflect a commitment to creating a Scotland where children’s rights are respected, protected and fulfilled.
Is reform needed?
Katy Sharpe looks at the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players alongside the impact of the Bosman ruling.
Legal technology horizon scanning
Christina Blacklaws discusses the dominant trends emerging in the lawtech sector in 2025.
SPONSORED: CPD from Edinburgh Law Seminars January 2025
Gretton, Reid and Steven’s Conveyancing roadshow starting soon. Don’t forget to register.
Festive phishing
Law firms are not immune to cybercrime, fraud and deepfakes. In fact security experts advise that they are a favourite target for cyber criminals due to the amount of data held.
A review of law reform in 2024
The Scottish Law Commission has had another busy year progressing its Eleventh Programme of Law Reform. As 2024 comes to a close, there are many highlights and achievements to reflect upon.
Strategic lawsuits against public participation legislation
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation legislation – what is the position in Scotland?
Dispensing justice
The intersection of IP and competition law is interesting, and embedded in a complex relationship. A recent case has lead Michael Vaughan of Morton Fraser MacRobert’s to provide an update on whether post-expiry royalty payments are anti-competitive.
The Children (Scotland) Act and private client matters
As a Private Client professional in Scotland you might be thinking, but why is the 1995 Act important to me in my role? But it is…
Careless talk costs employers?
Although the vast majority of employees will respect workplace privacy, covert recordings can pose a distinct threat to employers.
It’s been quite the year
Robert Holland, Head of Employment Law at Aberdein Considine, provides the Journal with a look back at what was a momentous year for employment law and highlights what is on the horizon for 2025.
The end of an era
The abolition of the UK’s non-dom regime is in situ from 6 April 2025, but what does the replacement look like?
COP29 - now what?
COP29 produced outcomes of significance to global climate communities. However, given how it operates currently, the actual effectiveness of the COP process and its legal utility is open to question. This is the first in a series of climate law and justice articles from Navraj Singh Ghaleigh, Senior Lecturer in Climate Law at Edinburgh University.