Blogs & opinions
Journal editorial December 2019
The benefits of bringing a feminist perspective to the law
Anyone can play guitar!
If you've ever harboured secret aspirations of becoming a rock star, then look no further than Lexfactor. Round up your band and sign up to take part in the inaugural battle of the legal bands on Thursday 12 March at Edinburgh's Corn Exchange. It's all in support of a great cause, the Lawscot Foundation, so if you're more of a groupie than a performer, you can help too. Buy your ticket, get the date in your diary and come a long for a great night out. And in the meantime, watch Lorna and John's promo video to find out more!
Putting user experience first benefits us all
Rob Marrs, Head of Education, reflects on the recent Inclusion Scotland conference and asks what difference would it make if we began by asking how can we design processes to make sure everyone can participate.
The victim surcharge
Law Society Policy Executive Gillian Mawdsley provides an update on the victim surcharge regulations which were introduced in November.
My unconventional journey to qualification
Claire Withers, newly-qualified solicitor at Brodies, discusses her journey to qualification and explains why, despite qualifying six years later than intended, she wouldn't change her experiences on the way
Platinum blog series - rehabilitating woman offenders with Grace
As part of our Platinum blog series marking the Society's 70th year, we hear from Joyce Murray, founder of the social enterprise Grace Chocolates which supports women who have touched the criminal justice system towards fulfilling employment.
Want to develop your skills and network? Why not join a Law Society committee?
Deborah Lovell is a partner at Anderson Strathern. Following her recent appointment to The Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, Deborah has stepped down as convener to the Property Law Committee, having served on Law Society committees for 12 years.
Benefits of working in rural practice as a trainee solicitor
Newly qualified solicitor, Aidan Tuohy, discusses his experience of spending twelve months of his traineeship in a rural practice and the benefits this afforded him.
Can technology simplify compliance processes?
Recognising that collecting data to complete the AML certificate can be time consuming for members, we have been working with a number of case management providers to see if there is a technical solution that will ease that process.
Journal editorial November 2019
Reform is set to follow the publication of the Scottish Jury Research Study, and the profession should engage with Government on that basis
The LLB: you’re in...what now, what next?
Amelia Mah, future trainee solicitor,and final year dual-qualifying law student at the University of Dundee, discusses the LLB.
5 questions to explain contextualised recruitment and our pilot scheme with Rare
You may have heard recently of 'contextualised recruitment' that firms like Pinsent Masons, Dickson Minto and Morton Fraser are implementing via a company called Rare. It's designed to improve social mobility, but what does it all mean?
A change of scenery and jurisdiction
A qualified lawyer in Australia, Rebekah Leviston talks about moving to the other side of the world and working as a paralegal in Scotland.
Platinum blog series - the future of Scotland’s 'not proven' verdict
As part of our platinum blog series our policy executive and secretary to the Society's Criminal Law Committee Gillian Mawdsley looks at the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act and what it means in ensuring a more just, equal and fair society for us to live in as its citizens.
Platinum blog series - Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act 2018
As part of our platinum blog series our policy executive and secretary to the Society's Criminal Law Committee Gillian Mawdsley looks at the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act and what it means in ensuring a more just, equal and fair society for us to live in as its citizens.
Platinum blog series
As part of our platinum anniversary blog series, Adèle Nicol, Partner, Anderson Strathern and member of our Rural Affairs Sub-committee looks at how legislation introducing the right to roam and the right to buy brought about significant change.
Platinum blog series
As part of our platinum anniversary blog series, Claire E Macpherson, solicitor at Burness Paull LLP and member of the Law Society of Scotland Trusts and Succession Law Sub-Committee looks at how succession law has changed with the times.
Platinum blog series
As part of our platinum anniversary blog series, Tim Taylor, Scottish solicitor at Hastings Legal and member of our Property and Land Law Reform Law Sub-Committee looks at the significance of Scottish Standard Clauses in the context of our 70 year history.
Platinum blog series
As part of our platinum anniversary blog series, Scottish solicitor, Policy Executive and Secretary to our Criminal Law Committee, Gillian Mawdsley discusses the death penalty, its implications in terms of human rights and abolition in the context of our 70 year history.
Platinum blog series
As part of our platinum anniversary blog series, Aiste Slezeviciute, a member of our Competition Law Sub-Committee and Assistant Director, Mergers at the Competition and Markets Authority, looks at the broad reach of competition law.
Platinum blog series
As part of our platinum anniversary blog series, Adèle Nicol, Partner, Anderson Strathern and member of our Rural Affairs Sub-committee looks at the rights of agricultural tenants over the past 70 years.
Platinum blog series
In the next in our series of Platinum blogs, Alyson Shaw, trainee solicitor at Shepherd and Wedderburn reflects on the impact of technology on the legal profession.
Platinum blog series
In the next in our series of Platinum blogs, Rebecca Lindsay, trainee solicitor at Wright Johnston Mackenzie reflects on the potential loss of governmental accountability in the wake of Brexit and the possible impact on the environment.
Platinum blog series
In the latest in our series of platinum anniversary blogs, Michael Kusznir, solicitor at Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace and member of our Trust and Succession Law Sub-committee, looks back to a time when an ‘illegitimate’ child was a stranger in law and blood to its parents.