For information about criminal procedure in Scotland, see Practice Note: The investigation and prosecution of criminal offences in Scotland. This

In Scotland, less serious offences are prosecuted on a summary complaint. Summary procedure is regulated by Part IX of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. For an explanation of summary procedure in Scotland, see Practice

A shortened procedure for divorce (sometimes referred to as DIY divorce) that may be adopted where certain criteria are satisfied, including that there are no children of the marriage (or family in the case of civil partnership) and neither party seeks to apply for financial provision. Where the simplified procedure isn’t used, the non-simplified procedure will be adopted.

In Scotland, less serious offences are prosecuted on a summary complaint. Summary procedure is regulated by Part IX of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. For an explanation of summary procedure in

In Scotland, less serious offences are prosecuted on a summary complaint. Summary procedure is regulated by Part IX of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. For an explanation of summary procedure in Scotland,

Practice Compliance analysis: Will the new Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) overseas rules be less onerous and more appropriate for overseas practices? Alison Hook, international adviser to the SRA, explains how practices with an overseas office would be affected.

What is continuous improvement? The definition of continuous improvement (CI) is often over-complicated and buried in jargon, but it means exactly what it says: continually looking for ways to improve processes, methods and procedures to: • remove blockages • make them as efficient as possible and therefore • save time and money Improvements do not have to be major changes. Several small but effective changes soon add up. CI tools and methods can help you fix processes that are no longer effective and review processes that may appear to be working but could still be improved to deliver greater efficiencies and cost savings. Above all, CI is about engaging with individuals and pooling ideas, challenging the existing habitual ways of doing things and identifying a method of measuring the success or failure of new initiatives. See Practice Note: What is continuous improvement in law firms? Five steps to improving efficiency The simplest framework for making process efficiencies has five steps: • define—identify the issue or problem • measure—measure the cost and the impact • analyse—go

A work qualifies for copyright protection if it was first published in the UK or in another country specified by CDPA 1988. It frequently happens that a work is published in two or more countries at approximately the same time, one good for copyright purposes and the other not. Accordingly, CDPA 1988 provides that a publication in the UK or other qualifying country shall be treated as first publication even though it was previously published elsewhere, provided the earlier publication was within the previous 30 days.

Good leasehold title Good leasehold title usually occurs when the lease appears valid on the face of it but the documents proving the landlord’s title or any superior landlord’s title have not been registered at HM Land Registry. HM Land Registry award good leasehold title where the freehold title (or intermediate title) has not been produced. Provided that the title to the leasehold is satisfactory then good leasehold title will be granted. Before 2006, good leasehold title was also granted where a superior landlord’s or mortgagee’s consent was not produced where required. The situation in this Q&A indicates that the good leasehold title was granted for

To develop and review council policies, overview and scrutiny committees were established in local authorities by the Local Government Act 2000 (LGA 2000). Several new sections have been inserted into LGA 2000 by the Localism Act 2011, Sch 2 which contain the current main legislative provisions on overview and scrutiny. There is a House of Commons Standard Note (SN\PC\6520, full report) which provides information about ‘Overview and Scrutiny in Local Government’ and indicates that in relation to education: For committees which relate to local education authorities, there are provisions to allow religious representatives

Sincere cooperation is a principle of EU law under which the Member States and the Union are required to assist each other in fulfilling the tasks flowing from the Union Treaties.

A trustee with a right of veto over the acts of co-trustees.