Criminal law
Public Policy Highlights February and March 2025 including Covid, Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Throughout the year, the Law Society Policy team and its network of committee volunteers respond to a variety of consultations and comment on a range of Bills, helping to shape good law for the benefit of its members and in the public interest.
15 best TV legal dramas according to Scotland's solicitors - from Sutherland's Law to Silk
The news the BBC has commissioned a high-octane legal drama set in the courtrooms of Glasgow got everybody talking - so what are the greatest legal dramas of all time, asks Joshua King.
Future of homicide and 11 other lessons from Scottish Law Commission's 2024 report
The Scottish Law Commission’s Annual Report 2024 has been published and gives an insight into the future of legal reform including homicide and mortgages, writes Joshua King
Book Review: The Law of Sexual Offences in Scotland - Harvey & Turnbull
"This seminal work by Paul Harvey and Alan Turnbull provides an in-depth, practical study of the sexual offences in Scots law, their prosecution and sentence."
Remembering Fiona Raitt - a 'visionary' reformer and ground-breaking educator
Fiona Raitt is remembered for a lifetime of commitment to law reform, justice for women and educating the next generation of lawyers, write friends and colleagues.
Public policy highlights January 2025 including Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill
Every month, the Law Society Policy Team and its network of committee volunteers respond to a variety of consultations and comment on a range of Bills, helping to shape good law for the benefit of its members and in the public interest.
SLAB trainee solicitors embark on new-look civil-criminal traineeships
SLAB’s Client Legal Services (CLS) Directorate have welcomed three trainee solicitors who will be the first intake to benefit from a new traineeship in both civil and criminal law.
Judicial Factors (Scotland) Bill, the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, and two consultations
The public policy update provides a look back to November and December and the work of the many Society committees. This round-up features the Judicial Factors (Scotland) Bill, the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, as well as the Making Work Pay consultation and the Scottish Building Safety Levy Consultation.
Collaboration and innovation are key to progress
Each year, legal aid supports an extensive network of committed providers to deliver help across Scotland to thousands of people facing a wide range of problems. But that does not mean that all needs are being met, or that the system operates as smoothly as it could.
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.
Rough justice, Society responds
In case you missed it, a few weeks ago the Journal covered the publication of the Rough Justice report. Over the course of the past few years the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has consistently heard from their members about the workload pressures facing them in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS).
The Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill published
Today, legislation to ensure prisons continue to function safely and effectively following a significant increase in the prison population over the past year has been published.
Putting victim/survivors at the heart of civil law protections
As part of the Scottish Law Commission’s review of the legal protection available for victim/survivors of domestic abuse in the civil context, the Commission has recently published its report. Share your views by 22 January 2025.
"Constantly overwhelmed with work", says Crown Office and SCTS staff
Rough Justice Report reveals extent of crisis in Scotland’s courts and prosecution services, with many overworked.
Scottish Law Commission seeks views
A discussion paper has been published reviewing the civil remedies available for domestic abuse.
Victim Notification Scheme
In response to the Independent Review, proposed changes to the scheme aim to provide victims of crime with enhanced support, advice, and information.
Rebuilding shattered lives
Major Trauma Awareness Week earlier this month highlighted the legal community’s vital role in supporting trauma survivors an important focus year-round. From injury to recovery, legal professionals can profoundly shape a survivor’s journey. How can the profession both support and be supported?
On the case
We speak to renowned criminologist Professor David Wilson about why you should never trust a serial killer, the five serial killer victim types, the state of the sector, and training the next generation.
We also explore the rise of the armchair detective and why ultimately “The police can’t have it both ways. They can’t ask for the help of the public on one hand and then criticise armchair detectives on the other.”
Victims highlight gender abuse complexities
A new report has been published by the Scottish Sentencing Council examining how victim-survivors of domestic abuse view sentencing.
A time to right historical wrongs
Is now the time for justice for the victims of the Infected Blood Scandal? After decades of campaigning by victims and their families, new regulations are published later this month which will formally appoint the Infected Blood Compensation Authority as the operator of the UK’s compensation scheme for all those affected.
A contract consultation
It has been six years since the SLC Review on Contract Law Report was published. This consultation seeks to establish whether the landscape around this area of the law has changed, and, if yes, then whether the changes are material to the recommendations contained in the report.
Will they be fit for purpose?
The Scottish Sentencing Council is seeking views on draft sentencing guidelines for rape offences.