We have rely on conventions and unwritten rules every day and a variety of situations.
But our over-reliance on them in the Legal and Political space has left us weak when facing-off against those whose whole drive is to ignore and upend them.
We must be bolder in protecting our liberal democracies from those who threaten them. Continue reading 2025.3 – A New Norm-al
The Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 (‘The Act’) provides that, in certain circumstances, a Student may bring their tenancy to an end. [Sch. 1; Part 1]. I wanted to provide a quick and easy guide for people that may be affected by this. Continue reading Ending Scottish Student Rentals under ‘Rona
This weekend, the 5th (unofficially) bi-annual Street Law training Session took place in the HQ of the Law Society of Scotland’s headquarters in Edinburgh. It’s the first one in a year-and-a-half I haven’t been involved in, which saddens me a bit.
Street Law is now firmly implanted as part of LSoS’s Legal Education programme – which is fantastic news. Street Law is not ‘teaching law’ the way the LL.B or Diploma means it. The aim of Street Law is to make those most likely to come into contact with the law (who are, by the way, the demographic groups least likely to study law) more aware of the rules and their rights in those situations. Continue reading “The Next Stage of Street Law.”
With Europe taking beating after beating, and Theresa May seemingly wanting to make #GE2020 a fight over the ECHR and the scrapping of its partner, Human Rights are in need of some love. I am and will always be, one of the many giving it to them. We, as whatever nation, should be hearing EHCR protects the our fundamental individual rights, but also helps us ensure our government works as it should. Continue reading “A Love Letter to the European Right…”
…or giving un-sexy law some much needed attention.
At the start of the 5th Scottish Parliament, there is an air of a new start for the 9-year-old SNP administration. Reforming the Scottish Education system (with an increase in the school age being suggested by some) and re-shaping the NHS in Scotland with mental health provision becoming a more integral part of the service. These are big, important policy areas. They graces pages and pages of the various parties’ manifestos over the Spring. They are sexy law. Continue reading “Successful Sexy Succession”
The LBTT Surcharge for 2nd Homes comes in on 1st April 2016…but what effect has it had before then? Continue reading Tax can be Taxing…
The Glasgow Bin Lorry case continued to march on this week as Michael Matheson, the Scottish Justice Secretary, announced that Legal Aid would be provided for the families seeking to bring a private prosecution against the driver, Harry Clarke. I don’t think the private prosecution will succeed, but I don’t want to swell on the merits of the action itself here. I want to look … Continue reading State Aid for Private Prosecution
…or what may or may not happen and what happens when and if it does. Antonin Scalia, the most senior Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), died this week aged 79. This means two important things: There is now a seat on the most important Judicial Bench in the world; and The Judiciary is now a live issue in the US … Continue reading A Scot on SCOTUS…
Full Opinion and Dissent The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) today handed down their decision in King v Burwell 576 US (2015), that they heard earlier this year. It was the last major challenge to the Affordable Care Act (or ‘ObamaCare’) coming through the court system, and the Justices voted 6-3 to uphold the Act as it was currently in force. And, the … Continue reading ObamaCare Forever (maybe)…
…or a post where I really want you to read the footnotes. My brother has put a poster up on my wall. I don’t like it, but if I take it down he’s just going to moan. So I probably won’t take it down. But you see, he doesn’t trust me – it’s against his very nature to trust me, so he wants to make sure that I can’t take it … Continue reading A Permanent Parliament…
Paul Cruikshank 