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Columnist Ash tells the Journal how she came into helping people with their work-related personal issues, and suggests what employers – and the Society – could do to foster a better office culture

Many Scottish solicitors have made their homes and careers in other countries. Five of them tell how it happened, and why they still value their Society membership

Latest civil procedure cases, including decree in absence; recovery of heritable property; simple procedure; motions; legal professional privilege; tenders; final judgment; family actions; adoption.

Licensing briefing: relief is at hand for those whose applications for personal licence renewal, submitted by 31 May, are not processed in time; and is the proposed new s 142 guidance an improvement?

Planning briefing: the Scottish Government has succeeded in deriving a workable Planning (Scotland) Bill at the final parliamentary stage, from the heavily amended version that emerged from stage 2.

Insolvency briefing: a new sheriff court judgment explains the review and appeal stages relating to the discharge of a debtor by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, and the factors relevant to the decision.

Tax briefing: draft legislation on the new capital allowance for structures and buildings has now been laid before Parliament, following its announcement in the Autumn Budget 2018.

Immigration briefing: the Court of Appeal has declared the Home Office’s policy on assessing the age of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children unlawful.

An Inverness firm is in the unusual position of having English-qualified conveyancers on hand to deal with clients moving cross-border – and finds it beneficial.

“Collaborate, respond and innovate”, was the theme of this year’s In-house Annual Conference. We report on a full day of expert addresses, presentations and panel sessions

Recent work of the Society's policy committees, including Planning (Scotland) Bill; organ donation; management of offenders; rural broadband inquiry.

Advice column: I’m under pressure ahead of my holiday – and to deal with things while away.

The Word of Gold: as the Society celebrates 70 years, so much has changed, and yet so much hasn’t.

Electronic storage and document management systems bring benefits for law firms, but they can also carry risks, particularly in the context of court actions in which the firm is a party.

We are all bound to fail at some point, and this should not be attacked but used as a learning tool, with our managers leading by example.

A look back, to mark the Society's anniversary; and a practice area highlight for reparation law.

Committee member Elaine Campbell is accredited in the practice areas of reparation and debt recovery

Scottish Paralegal Association forthcoming CPD dates and autumn conference news

Collected news of new appointments and practice changes

Awareness is growing of the effects of the menopause on working women – and with it the potential for a discrimination claim against an employer who fails to recognise them

Review of Employment Law and the Gig Economy (Mackay and Powell)

Report on a Scottish Young Lawyers' Association survey looking at members' pay and conditions, and issues that cause them to consider leaving the profession – a thought entertained by the majority

A veteran property solicitor offers some practical “nuts and bolts” advice for trainees and the newly qualified, based on personal experience – and hopes others will do likewise

Two clinical psychologists explain their approach to assessing a child in a family law dispute, which focuses on the parent-child relationship as of central importance