Blogs & opinions

PSG moves into residential documents
Range of dispositions now available in style form

Succession Act brings in the divorce effect
[Provisions for spouses to be revoked on divorce or annulment]

Landlords fear and tenants hope as Housing Bill passes
New type of private tenancy will give enhanced security

Digital signatures for residential leases?
These are possible, but there are points to bear in mind

Eviction appeals are not second chances
Sheriff principal criticises “speculative and woolly” grounds

What happens when only one joint tenant leaves?
Advice for landlords on how to proceed

New code of conduct goes with letting agent registration
Standard of conduct set, to apply from 2018

First impressions
Olivia Parker, careers and outreach executive and recent addition to the Law Society of Scotland’s Education, Training & Qualifications team, tells of her experience of the Society so far

Summary decree refused despite defender's conviction
Court not persuaded of correlation with civil liability

Counsel in the sheriff court: reasonable to instruct?
Two contested cases affirm decision to bring in counsel

Court sets out place of health and safety duties
Statutory duties can inform common law duty of care

Vicarious liability: a Supreme Court double header
Two cases set out relevant factors to consider

"Easter 2016"
A Brussels lawyer's plea on how to achieve peace and tolerance in the wake of the terrorist attacks

Sheriff principal wrong to overturn refusal of contact
Case should in any event have been reheard of new

Pre-cohabitation payment can be factor in financial claim
Ultimate basis of fairness should mean sheriff has discretion

Agreement not unfair despite unequal division
Party challenging had preferred security and peace of mind

Expert evidence ruled inadmissible in relocation case
Kennedy v Cordia tests applied to exclude psychological reports

On firm ground?
Reflections from attending the Journal's Property Law Round Table

Politicians, priorities and public interest: Scottish party conference season
Tim Mouncer, public affairs manager at the Law Society of Scotland, explains what’s in store for this spring’s party conferences

Letter: claims – sting in the tail
Why the professional indemnity premium hike after a failed negligence claim?

Letter: conflicted over conflict?
Comment on the Professional Practice article in the December 2015 Journal

Doing complaints better
Rather than treat it with suspicion, solicitors should engage fully with the SLCC's current strategy consultation, as they stand to gain from increased public confidence in the system

Burden of proof and verbal references
Sufficient evidence of link with disability to shift burden of proof

Updated guides produced by ACAS
Revised publications on disability, investigations and recruiting