Reflections about the Commission

Collection of articles and speeches about the Scottish Law Commission and on law reform projects

This list is a work in progress: we welcome any suggestions of further articles or speeches about the Commission to add

 

General

 

Douglas J Cusine, “Civil law reform: where are we and where are we going?” 2015 Scots Law Times (News) 27-30.

 

Malcolm McMillan, “Law Reform: a New Era” (2015) 60 (1) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 21-23.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/60-1/1018790.aspx

 

Shona Wilson Stark, “The Longer You Can Look Back, the Further You Can Look Forward: the Origins of the Scottish Law Commission” (2014) 18 Edinburgh Law Review 59-83.

 

Elizabeth Cooke and Hector MacQueen, “Law Reform in a Political Environment: The Work of the Law Commissions” in David Feldman (editor) Law in Politics, Politics in Law (Hart Publishing, 2013) 141-154.

 

George Gretton, “Of Law Commissioning” (2013) 17 Edinburgh Law Review 119-151.  Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/9314/0749/3403/Of_Law_Commissioning_-_elr.2013.pdf

 

Lecture by Lady Clark to the AGM of the Scottish Legal Action Group, 26 September 2012. Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/news/lecture-by-lady-clark-of-calton/

 

Lady Clark; First female Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission, interview by John Forsyth in the Scotsman (24 September 2012).  Available at: http://www.scotsman.com/news/interview-lady-clark-first-female-chairman-of-the-slc-1-2542975.
 

David Nichols, “The Scottish Law Commission”, in Mark A Mulhern (ed) Scottish Life and Society: “The Law”, (John Donald, 2012) Vol 13, 249-265.

 

Julien du Vergier, “Instruments of Law Reform: the Supreme Court and the Law Commissions of the United Kingdom” (2012) Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law 47-54:  Available at: http://joomla.cjicl.org.uk/journal/article/36

 

Lord Neuberger, “General, Equal and Certain: Law Reform Today and Tomorrow”, Lord Renton lecture 2011, (2012) 33 Statute Law Review, 323-338.  Also available at: http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/JCO/Documents/Speeches/mr-speech-lord-renton-lecture-28112011.pdf

 

Nick Brotchie, “The Scottish Law Commission: Promoting Law Reform in Scotland” (2009) 9 Legal Information Management 30–34.

 

Gavin Murphy, “Provincial law reform agencies in Canada: are they really that different to the Scottish Law Commission?” (March 2009) vol 35 Commonwealth Law Bulletin 109-120.

 

Lord Hope of Craighead, “Do We Still Need a Scottish Law Commission?” (2006) 10 Edinburgh Law Review 10–27.

 

William W McBryde, “Law Reform: The Scottish Experience” (1998) 3(2) Scottish Law and Practice Quarterly 86-100.

 

Lord Hunter, “Law Reform: the Scottish Law Commission” 1988 Juridical Review 158‑183.

 

Mike Dailly, “Law Reform for the 21^st century” Interview with Lord Gill, former Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission (June/July 1997) SCOLAG Legal Journal 92-95.

 

C K Davidson, “The Scottish Law Commission 1965-95: The Shaping of Policy and Priorities” (1995) 1(1) Scottish Law and Practice Quarterly 18-24.

 

Mike Dailly, “Political scars slow up progress of law reform” Interview with Lord Davidson, former Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission (November 1993) SCOLAG Legal Journal 163-164.

 

Douglas J Cusine, “Law Reform – Who Cares?” (1993) 38 (3) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 101-105.  The Article also appeared in the Herald on Wednesday 22 September 1993 and is available at: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12718538.Law_reform__who_cares_/

 

Lord Rodger of Earlsferry QC, “The Bell of Law Reform” 1993 Scots Law Times (News) 339–346.

 

Lord Davidson, “Law Reform – Who Cares?” (1992) 37 (4) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 130-133.

 

D M Walker, CBE QC, “The Scottish Law Commission under Review” (1987) 8 Statute Law Review 115-122.

 

H R M Macdonald, J C Mullin, T B Smith and J F Wallace, “Law Reform”, in The Laws of Scotland: Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia vol 22 (1987).

 

William H Hurlburt QC, “The Law Commissions” in William H Hurlburt QC Law Reform Commissions in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada (1986) 50-99.

 

I D Willock, “The Scottish Law Commission: Pragmatism before Principles” (October 1975) SCOLAG Legal Journal 37-40.

 

Norman Marsh, “Law Reform in the United Kingdom: A New Institutional Approach” (1971-72) 13 William & Mary Law Review 263-303.

 

Peter Nicholson, “Lease of Life” (2015) 60 (3) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 12-14.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/pdf/ap-0315/journal-lease.pdf

 

Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies (CALRAs biennial conference – Law Reform in a Fast Changing World, Royal Society of Edinburgh, April 2015

 

The Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, the Rt Hon Lord Carloway keynote address to the CALRAs Conference: Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/6614/3030/0488/CALRAs_Biennial_Conference_-_Lord_Justice_Clerk_-_11_April_2015.pdf

 

Hon Lord Pentland, Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission, presentation to the CALRAs conference: Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/8914/3100/5720/Lord_Pentland_-_CALRAS_speech.pdf

 

Malcolm McMillan, Chief Executive, Scottish Law Commission, Some New Developments: Scotland: Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/6514/3030/1234/Malcolm_McMillan_-CALRAs_-_paper_on_new_Scottish_process.pdf

 

 

The Commission and The Scottish Parliament

 

Malcolm McMillan, “Law Reform in the Scottish Parliament: A New Process – a New Era?” 2014 Scottish Parliamentary Review vol II, 95-115.

 

The Hon Lord Gill, “The Scottish Law Commission – its contribution since devolution” 2001 Scottish Parliament Law Review 12 (Feb), 5-6. 

 

The Hon Lord Gill, “The relationship between the Scottish Law Commission and the Scottish Parliament” 2000 Scottish Parliament Law Review 6 (May) 4-5.

 

 

The Ninth Programme of Law Reform

 

Baktosch Gillan, “Ninth life” Interview with Lord Pentland, Chairman of the Scottish Law Commission (2014) 59 (7) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 18‑19.  Available at http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/59-7/1014221.aspx

 

 

Adults with incapacity

 

David W Cobb, “Bridging the Bournewood gap – the Scottish Law Commission Report on Adults with Incapacity”  2015 Scots Law Times (News) 13-20.

 

Adrian Ward, “Filling the Bournewood Gap” (2014) 59 (12) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 20-22.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/59-12/1016765.aspx

 

 

Commercial law

 

Boris Soyer, “Beginning of a new era for insurance warranties?” 2013 Lloyd’s Maritime and Commercial Law Quarterly 384-40.

 

David Hertzell, “Simplifying consumer rights for misleading and aggressive practices” (2011) 146 Adviser Magazine 44-46.

 

Lord Eassie, “Reforming registration of company charges” (2002) 47 (12) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 26-27.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/47-12/1000324.aspx

 

 

Compulsory Purchase

 

Elaine Farquharson-Black, “Review of the Scottish Law Commission’s Discussion Paper on Compulsory Purchase” (2015) 168 (3) Scottish Planning and Environmental Law, 36-37.

 

Charles Revolta, “Reform - 170 years on” (2015) 60 (4) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/60-4/1019118.aspx

 

 

Unincorporated associations

 

Ross Gilbert Anderson, “Unincorporated associations reform” (2009) 13 Edinburgh Law Review 507-511.

 

Colin Tyre, “Persons Unknown” (2009) 54 (1) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 22-232.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/54-1/1006080.aspx

 

 

Contract law

 

Tim Hardy and Tracey Anderson “Bringing consistency to contract law” (2006) Oct 18 Lloyd’s List Insurance Day 4.

 

David Lowe “Towards a fair and reasonable future” (2005) 0527 Estates Gazette 212-215.

 

Scottish Law Commission, ‘Writings Redefined’ (2015) 60 (3) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 4; Available at:  www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/60-3/1019015.aspx

 

Hector MacQueen, Charles Garland and Lauren Smith, ‘The Legal Writings (Counterparts and Delivery) (Scotland) Act 2015’, 2015 Scots Law Times (News) 103.

 

 

Court procedure

 

“Scottish Law Commission: multi-party actions” 1994 37 Scots Law Times (News) 368-370.

 

Criminal law and law reform

 

Gerry Maher, Principles and Politics in Law Reform: Sexual Offences in Scots Law (October 9, 2013).  Edinburgh School of Law Research Paper No. 2013/40.

Available at: Social Science Research Network: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2345249 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2345249

 

Scott Wortley, “Law reform after World’s End” (2008) 12 Edinburgh Law Review 293-298.

 

 

Delict

 

Scottish Law Commission Report on Damages for Psychiatric Injury” (2005) 31 Commonwealth Law Bulletin 97‑103.

 

 

Family law and law reform

 

Brian Dempsey, “Law reform and devolution: consultation processes and divorce law”, (2012) 63 Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly 227-245.

 

Janys M Scott QC, “Divorce Observed: family law in the Court of Session in 1977 and 1978” 2014 Scots Law Times (News) 33-38.

 

Nick McBride, “Professional Negligence” (2015) 31 (1) Journal of Professional Negligence 37-39.

 

 

Property law and law reform

 

Andrew Steven, A Golden Era? The Impact of the Scottish Law Commission on Property Law, in W Barr (ed), Modern Studies in Property Law, Vol 8 (2015) Hart Publishing.

 

Andrew Stevenson, "Land Attachment Revisited" (June 2016) Scottish Law Gazette 38-39.

 

Andy Duncan, “The Crown Estate in Scotland – time for a change?” (October 2014) 132 Greens Property Law Bulletin 7-8.

 

Kenneth G C Reid, “Smoothing the Rugged Parts of the Passage: Scots law and its Edinburgh chair” (2014) 18 Edinburgh Law Review 315-340.

 

Hugh Beale, “Reform of security over moveable property: a view from England” (2012) 16 Edinburgh Law Review, 278-282.

 

Ross Gilbert Anderson, “Reform of security over moveable property: a critique (2012) 16 Edinburgh Law Review, 267-272.

 

George Gretton, “Reform of security over moveable property: the discussion paper in outline” (2012) 16 Edinburgh Law Review 261-267.

 

Hamish Patrick, “Reform of security over moveable property: a view from practice” (2012) 16 Edinburgh Law Review 272-278.

 

 

Regulation of Health Care Professionals

 

Mark Davies, “Professional negligence in 2014: the year in review” (2015) 31 (1) Journal of Professional Negligence 5-17.

 

 

Succession law and law reform

 

Douglas J Cusine, “Legal rights: a little discretion required?” 2014 3 Scots Law Times (News), 13-17.

 

David Nichols, “Succession Matters” (Aug 2013) 124 Greens Family Law Bulletin 1-2.

 

Amanda Spalding, “People’s choice” (2011) 56 (7) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland 20-22.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/56-7/1009967.aspx

 

 

Trust law and law reform

 

Lord Drummond Young, “Trustees and Trust Administration: Scottish Law Commissions Proposals for Reform” (12 February 2012) Trust Bar Seminar.

 

“Trust law reform: does it really matter” 2011 Scottish Private Client Law Review, 5-6.

 

“Proposals for reform of trust law” 2015 Scottish Private Client Law Review, 5-6.

 

Scottish Law Commission, A trusts law for the modern era?  An overview of the Scottish Law Commission’s recommendations for the reform of trusts law, explaining why reform is needed:  (2015) 60 (5) Journal of the Law Society of Scotland.  Available at: http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/60-5/1019251.aspx

 

 

Scottish Law Commission: link with Malawi Law Commission

 

Lord Drummond Young, Chairman of the Commission: keynote address on Judicial Training and Judicial Ethics (March 2011) Malawi.  Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/index.php/download_file/view/696/685/260/

 

Lord Drummond Young, Chairman of the Commission; keynote address on Law Reform (March 2011) Malawi.  Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/index.php/download_file/view/695/685/260/.

 

Malcolm McMillan, “The role of Law Reform in Constitutionalism, Rule of Law and Democratic Governance”; presentation at the Conference of the Association of Law Reform Agencies of Eastern and Southern Africa (November 2011) Malawi.  Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/4014/3532/8140/ALRAESA_paper_-_1_Nov_2011.pdf

 

Malcolm McMillan, “Duty of Care: Constitutional and Law Reform, in Malawi: reflections on behalf of the Scottish Law Commission” presentation (November 2012) Africa Research Institute, London.  Available at: https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/9914/3532/8211/Presentation_-_Africa_Research_Institute_-_15_November_2012.pdf