A sharp slice of what matters in Scottish law
Scottish Edition
6th October 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
MSPs urged to assess impact of sex trial ruling
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition urging MSPs to seek an update from the Scottish Government on the impact of a Supreme Court ruling on evidence in serious sex offence trials. The November 2025 judgment found Scotland’s courts had interpreted rules on evidence relating to complainers too restrictively, potentially compromising defendants' right to a fair trial. Former Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain and former justice secretary Angela Constance warned the ruling could lead to delays, appeals and disruption. The petition seeks information on affected cases, guidance and resources, with Holyrood's petitions committee yet to set a date for consideration.

 
INDUSTRY
SLCC consults on updated rules
The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) is consulting on updated rules governing its work following changes introduced by the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025. The proposed rules aim to make complaint handling more flexible, proportionate and accessible, while maintaining a focus on early resolution. The SLCC has proposed introducing the changes to its complaint powers from July 1, 2027. Chief executive Neil Stevenson said views were welcome from legal services users, providers and other stakeholders. The consultation runs until January 20, 2027.
Judge raises concerns over Scotland councillor watchdog rules
The Herald reports on growing criticism of Scotland’s ethics watchdog after a senior judge questioned the Standards Commission’s guidance on evidence in councillor misconduct cases. Lord Sandison ruled that the commission acted unlawfully in refusing seven documents sought by Glasgow councillor Fiona Higgins, who faces a hearing over comments about education cuts. He said the guidance was so broad it could justify almost any decision on relevance and warned that excluding potentially relevant evidence could create an impression of pre-judgment. Investigated councillor cases have more than doubled to 244 in 2024/25. Critics want reforms, while the commission plans to appeal.

Are you a conveyancer wishing things could be different?

As a traditional conveyancing solicitor, are you:
  • Fed up with the technology employed?
  • Annoyed with the lack of support?
  • Disgruntled by the way the cake is divided up?
The good news is that things can be different with Plug & Play Law !

Plug & Play Law gives you:
  • Properly developed and implemented document automation for all your conveyancing documents and processes.
  • Experienced conveyancing support staff to assist you with much of the day-to-day work.
  • More of the fees you generate; complete freedom of how, where and when you work; and allows you to focus on doing the legal work that you love to do.
Find out if Plug & Play Law is a good fit for you. Simply complete the scorecard for conveyancers .

Read more

 
THE LAW
Tory leader pushes benefits fraud bill
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has called on MSPs to support a proposed Benefit Fraud Bill aimed at addressing Scotland's rising benefits costs. The bill, introduced by Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, seeks to recover overpayments from benefit fraudsters directly from their bank accounts and increase the maximum sentence for fraud to ten years. Last year, Scotland's benefits bill reached £6.8bn, projected to rise to £9bn by the decade's end.
CASES
Trial date set for Lockerbie bombing suspect
A US trial of Libyan national Abu Agila Masud, accused of making the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, is due to begin on January 19. Judge Dabney Friedrich warned against further delays after proceedings were postponed in August following the disclosure of new evidence. Masud, extradited from Libya in 2022, denies charges of destroying an aircraft resulting in death and faces life imprisonment if convicted. The bombing killed 270 people. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi remains the only person convicted over the atrocity.
Wings Over Scotland raises £30,000 for SNP funds legal challenge
Wings Over Scotland has raised more than £30,000 to fund a legal challenge over how Police Scotland and the Crown Office handled around £600,000 raised by the SNP for a proposed second independence referendum. Blogger Stuart Campbell is seeking a judicial review after the Operation Branchform investigation resulted in former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell being convicted of embezzling about £400,000, but no charges were brought over the referendum fundraising. Campbell argues the authorities' handling of the money should be reviewed. Police Scotland and the SNP say the matter was fully examined.
Google faces £1bn class action trial
Google is facing a class action lawsuit in the UK, seeking over £1bn in damages for hidden charges on Play Store app sales. The claim, representing around 20m consumers and businesses, alleges that Google violated competition law by imposing a commission of up to 30% on app developers, which was passed on to consumers.
FIRMS
Harper Macleod workforce tops 500 for first time
Harper Macleod has surpassed 500 employees for the first time, reaching 501 staff across its offices. The firm has grown 54% since 2015 and has welcomed 17 new trainee solicitors, taking its trainee population to 41. Thirteen trainees recently qualified, with 76% retained by the firm. Chief executive Martin Darroch said the growth reflected its investment in talent and opportunities for aspiring lawyers across Scotland.
TAX
Overseas tax scrutiny of wealthy Brits hits record high
Foreign tax authorities made 1,772 requests to HMRC for information on wealthy UK taxpayers in 2025, a seven-year high, up from 1,693 in 2024 and 1,393 in 2020. Andrew Park of Price Bailey attributes the increase to tougher offshore enforcement and expanded data sharing. Requests increasingly cover historic overseas property transactions, crypto trading through international exchanges and income earned via digital platforms, reflecting greater cross-border scrutiny of individuals with overseas assets and investments.
ECONOMY
South Scotland projects offer £31.8bn investment potential
Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has discussed research identifying more than 200 projects in the south of Scotland with potential to unlock £31.8bn in investment. The South of Scotland Enterprise report covers opportunities in clean energy, technology and tourism. Gilruth said investment could support economic growth, jobs and the housing market, while acknowledging challenges around transport, connectivity and environmental impacts. She highlighted the potential data centre at Chapelcross, saying employment opportunities must be balanced against environmental concerns.

 

Legal Slice delivers the latest, most relevant, and useful legal intelligence each weekday morning with intelligence, designed specifically for legal professionals, including attorneys, practice owners, judges, legal scholars, and influencers.

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in Legal Slice, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Legal Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe