Search

Collected news of new appointments and practice changes

As the Brexit clock ticks, to what extent are clients needing advice – and what can legal firms do to help, amid the continuing uncertainty? The Journal put these questions to some larger practices

When the review of legal services looks at the Society, what will it find? We met the convener of the body which has achieved a quiet revolution in the Society's regulatory operations in its six years

While session topics at the Society’s annual conference ranged far and wide, one in particular focused on the challenges of supporting the most vulnerable and needy

Bigger law firms are not always the best performing, whether in generating income or in profitability. That is just one of the interesting findings from the Society's new financial benchmarking survey

Providing support for the dying has become a skill with its own title: the end-of-life doula. A private client solicitor explains how she has added the role to her professional work

The Scottish Parliament’s new Lobbying Register is approaching its introduction, scheduled for the first quarter of 2018. What forms of lobbying are covered, and how to comply with the law?

Solicitors who engage in lobbying for clients should be careful to protect themselves against complaints of breach of confidentiality, the Society’s Professional Practice team advises

Latest criminal cases, including defective representation; desertion for prejudice; breach of the peace; plus a comment on what extending the presumption against short sentences might mean for courts

Licensing briefing: will we see much change in board policies as a result of new membership? Let us hope that hard pressed officials do not bring about poorly prepared reforms

Sport briefing: EU free movement benefits not only professional sportspersons but also in some cases their ability to transport the tools of their trade. A “hard” Brexit would have significant effects

Tax briefing: the Court of Appeal has held HMRC entitled to correct its guidance and apply it to any taxpayer with “open” affairs, unless a very high threshold of unfairness is met

Property briefing: as debate continues on the house sale and purchase process, a Glasgow solicitor questions the value of the Scottish Standard Clauses and comments on how they are regularly qualified

The former vice chair of the In-house Lawyers' Committee has moved back to private practice – to an internal role as her firm’s regulation and compliance manager

The Society has revised its rules for applying for specialist accreditation

A new consumer-focused advertising campaign promotes the work of Scottish solicitors as trusted, regulated legal professionals

Recent public policy work of the Society's committees, including EU Withdrawal Bill; gender representation; Islands (Scotland) Bill; Brexit and health matters; Brexit and competition policy

Ian R Kirkwood has been made a Commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur

SPA focuses on Glasgow 2018 after Aberdeen conference cancellation

The Law Society of Scotland has a new means of sending confidential information securely

The final of three articles on the digital office discusses the staff requirements and changing roles that follow a programme of change

Do you suffer from a stammer? Do you see it as a barrier to your choice of legal career? One solicitor tells how even criminal court practice is not beyond someone with an incurable stammer

With the arrival next May of the General Data Protection Regulation, protecting your clients’ data is more important than ever. Advice from Lockton on some basic duties, and how to prepare

Advice column: my travel requirements are proving much more onerous than I thought on taking the job