Prisoners to get clean slate under MoJ plans
Thousands of criminals, including fraudsters, drug dealers and burglars, are to have their criminal records erased under government plans to help them back into work. Criminals who have served prison sentences of more than four years will no longer have to tell employers about their past crimes as part of the Ministry of Justice's rehabilitation plans. At present, anyone jailed for more than four years is required by law to tell prospective employers about their criminal past. Recruiters are also entitled to carry out criminal checks on them. However, the crimes will become "spent" seven years after they complete their sentence under the new plans in the Government's Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. This means past offences will no longer have to be automatically disclosed to employers. It will cover not only those jailed after the Bill becomes law but all former offenders including those who have not been convicted of any crime in the seven years since they completed their sentence and time on licence.
The Daily Telegraph  

Society CEO recognised with Lifetime Achievement Award
Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland, has been named as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Legal Awards 2021, which take place this week. Ms Jack, who has been in post since January 20089, has announced her retirement from the Society at the end of the year. She is credited with making major improvements in transparency, governance, engagement and business management during her time at the Society.  She will accept the honour at the celebration dinner for the Awards, which takes place in Glasgow this Thursday. "I am extremely honoured to receive the Scottish Legal Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. We have much to be proud of in Scotland’s solicitor profession and it has been a great privilege to lead the talented, dedicated team at the Law Society, along with our many volunteer committee members who do extraordinary work in addition to their day jobs", Ms Jack said. "I would not have been able to achieve so much without the good advice and support of colleagues and friends in the legal community and am both delighted and deeply humbled to have been chosen by the Scottish Legal Awards judges this year".
The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland  

Number of properties available to buy rising
Data from Rightmove show that an imbalance between supply and demand in the housing market has begun to resolve, with the number of properties available to buy beginning to rise. The property site found that in the first two weeks of this month, the number of new listings was 14% up on the last two weeks of August.
The Daily Telegraph  

Pharmacist avoids jail after bank fraud
A pharmacist has been handed unpaid work after being "fooled" into laundering money for bank scam fraudsters. Jannath Nilma was tricked by an acquaintance, who turned out to be a fraudster, into letting him use her bank account for the con. The scammer told the 25-year-old he was going on holiday and needed access to funds, however was unable to have money he was owed transferred to his account. Ms Nilma agreed to let money be deposited into her account before exchanging it into euros and giving it to the man's friend. The court accepted Ms Nilma had no involvement in the fraud itself, and stood to make no financial gain, but despite her solicitor requesting an absolute discharge, Sheriff Eric Brown ordered her to carry out unpaid work. Ms Nilma previously admitted a charge of using criminal property in that cash was paid into her account and withdrawn by her.
The Press and Journal  

Council tax and rating cases moving to tribunal chamber
Draft regulations covering the transfer of council tax and rating appeals to the newly created Local Taxation Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal have been published for consultation. The new chamber will take over the functions of the Council Tax Reduction Review Panel, along with those of the valuation appeals committees and the Lands Tribunal for Scotland relating to complex valuation appeals referred from the valuation appeal committees. The regulations now out for consultation effect the various transfers, and provide for the composition of the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal and the rules prescribing the practice and procedure to be followed in proceedings. The deadline for responses is November 28th 2021.
The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland  

City firms seek to poach Scots financial services staff
London-based financial services firms are increasingly looking to attract Scottish staff with the lure of remote working and City salaries, according to Edinburgh-based recruiter Core Asset Consulting, which added that changes to working patterns during the pandemic were now having a “profound impact” on the jobs market with employers from outside Scotland able to recruit staff who can work from home. “The majority of employers understand they will be adopting hybrid or remote working for the remainder of the year", said Core Asset director of financial and profession services Louise Powrie. "While this is dependent on the business' needs, the general consensus is these working models are here to stay for the foreseeable. This is now having a profound impact on the job market, with businesses in London now looking to attract Scottish talent with the lure of remote working and a London salary".
The Scotsman  

Tourism industry issues Covid tests warning
Scotland's next tourism season is at "serious risk" because rigorous Covid testing requirements are being retained for international visitors, industry leaders have claimed. Visitor testing rules are being relaxed in England but the Scottish Government has raised health concerns. The Scottish Tourism Alliance has put its name to an open letter signed by more than 40 tourism businesses calling for an urgent meeting with ministers. A spokesperson said: "It is the grave concern of many that international bookings, revenue and visitors are being lost not just now but should this policy remain, it could destroy any hopes of recovery in 2022."
BBC News   The Times   Edinburgh Evening News  

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Missing boy, 7, found hiding in gran's loft
Missing Ayrshire schoolboy Carson Shephard was found hiding in the loft of his own home, it has been confirmed. The seven-year-old sparked a major search operation after apparently disappearing from the Afton Bridgend area of New Cumnock in Ayrshire at about 19:20 on Sunday. As the search continued into Monday morning, police confirmed the young boy had been found safe and well. He was hiding in a space in the wall which was inaccessible to adults. About a dozen police vans and cars which had been scouring the area for the child were seen leaving the town of New Cumnock after he was found.
BBC News  

Angus MacLeod: 'Vital to seek legal advice when considering business collaboration'
In a piece for The Scotsman Angus MacLeod, a partner at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie, stresses the importance of seeking legal advice when considering business collaboration, to ensure the right paperwork and agreements are in place to prevent either party from being duped
The Scotsman