Legal news

Success for Journal at Scottish Magazine Awards
Society's title takes prize for Business and Professional Magazine Design

Ministers publish Human Trafficking Bill
Law enforcement and victim support central to new provisions

Party litigants rules to be reviewed following Justice Council study
Paper surveys research and literature form different jurisdictions

Inner House upholds disputed power of attorney wording
Special case affirms validity of continuing power in OPG style

Audit Scotland questions readiness for new land transaction tax
Recruitment and IT procurement delays have increased risk: report

Property law think tank launches new website
Unifi aims to promote debate on future direction

Legal background an advantage to Lord Chancellor, peers conclude
Constitution committee calls for stronger duty to uphold rule of law

Privatising services risks losing FoI rights, Agnew warns
Special report to be published on effect of delivery by private sector

Society releases video on Street Law schools project
Glasgow and West Lothian pilot outreach initiative

Mixed success for prisoners claiming non-rehabilitation damages
Supreme Court declines to follow Human Rights Court approach

Commissions seek streamlined electoral law
Discussion paper proposes consistent rules across all types of election

Minister to give further thought to register of judges' interests
Wheelhouse will seek Lord President's assurances over voluntary system

Mourners sought to pay respects to lone lawyer Henderson
No surviving relatives to mark former Edinburgh defence agent

UK lawyers unite to reaffirm client confidentiality
Joint declaration marks first European Lawyers Day

Real estate associate hire for McClure Naismith
Barbara Mayne joins from DLA Piper

MSPs call for more effective action on wildlife crime
Committee says rates of prosecution and detection "must be improved"

Scots-born banking lawyer to lead Pinsent Masons
John Cleland elected as next managing partner

HMRC launches Solicitors' Tax Campaign to catch non-declarers
Window opens to reveal undeclared income or face higher penalties

Search engine launched to help find EU lawyers
Users can search in own language for assistance on continent

Borrower's solicitor not liable to lending bank for misstatement
Not reasonable for bank to act on request without checking accuracy

Holyrood committee backs Scottish welfare bill
Stage 1 support for crisis grant scheme

Poll tax collection to end from 1 February, bill proposes
Government to reimburse councils for expected loss of revenue

Crown cuts drink drive margin of error as new limits come in
New guidelines could mean drivers prosecuted when just over limit

Associate promotion at WJM
Fraser Morrison advanced in corporate team