Hamilton Advertiser Toys Appeal

Good afternoon.

We would like to wish everyone a wondeful Christmas period & to thank you all for your continued support throughout 2010. Today we had the Lanarkshire Volunteer Committee over to collect TOYS donated from our firm - in support of the Hamilton Advertiser Toys Appeal. This is a fantastic cause and we hope they make a difference to the children of Lanarkshire over the festive period.


We have also rescheduled the Nicholas J. Scullion & Co. Schools Debting Cup to Wednesday 19th January 2011. If you would like to be added to the guest list please email our PR Consultant diana@scullion-law.co.uk for more information or call 01698 283 265.

 Calderside Academy V Hamilton Grammar 'This House is FOR the Death Penalty' should be very exciting and we would like to thank South Lanarkshire Council, the local press, surrounding businesses and Tunnock's for their encouragement.

NOW* RECRUITING AN EXPERIENCED FAMILY & CIVIL LAWYER

Nicholas J. Scullion & Co are recruiting* an experienced Family & Civil Lawyer. If you would like to apply please send your CV and covering letter FAO: Nicholas Scullion at Nicholas J. Scullion & Co. 105 Cadzow Street, Hamilton. ML3 6HG.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Diana Scullion
enquiries@scullion-law.co.uk
01698 283 265

NEWS FLASH!

MOTORISTS BEWARE- SNOW COULD COST YOU YOUR DRIVING LICENCE!

As Scotland’s criminal law firm of the year and specialist road traffic defence solicitors we take this opportunity to warn all motorists in Scotland of the special road traffic enforcement action being taken by the police as a result of the bad weather conditions that could result in the lose of your driving licence.

Police all over the country will now be stopping motorists driving with excess snow on the roof of their cars. It is believed that the police see this as a potential danger as the snow may fall onto the windshield and obstruct a driver’s view or that the snow may be blown into the path of pre-ceding vehicles and consequently obstruct their view of the road. If you are stopped you will be given a £60 FINE AND 3 PENALTY POINTS OR COULD EVEN BE CHARGED WITH AN OFFENCE WHICH CARRIES A PENALTY OF DISQUALIFIACTION.

                                                                                                                 

We would advise all drivers only to drive if absolutely necessary and if you need to drive then please plan your journey in advance, allow plenty of time to reach your destination and ensure you have plenty of warm clothing, food and water in order to deal with any unexpected and difficult situation that you may encounter due to the severe weather conditions.

If you are stopped with this charge or any other driving matter call 01698 283265. If you have any queries regarding this or any other road traffic matter resulting from the adverse weather conditions or otherwise please contact us immediately!

Nicholas J. Scullion & Co - Debating Cup Semi Final - Determined to Succeed

Good morning all.

We are delighted to be hosting the Nicholas J. Scullion & Co Debating Cup Championships tomorrow night. There are four schools competing for a place in the Final on Dec 1st. I will be sure to keep you posted on the outcome and again we would like to take this opportunity to thank South Lanarkshire Council for approaching us. We are delighted to be working on your Determined to Succeed programme.

Friday: Nicholas J. Scullion & Co were kindly invited along to the Society of Solicitors of Hamilton Annual Dinner. It was a great evening and we really enjoyed catching up with everyone.

Saturday: Representatives of Nicholas Scullion & Co. went along to the annual Street Children of Africa Ball in the Bothwell Bridge. We are proud to support this Charity http://www.streetchildafrica.org.uk/

We are also collecting TOYS in partnership with the Hamilton Advertiser - to give poorer children accross Lanarkshire gifts for Christmas. If you would like to contribute please drop in new / nearly new gifts to our reception. We will then wrap them up and give them out.

You can also make a donation or hand in some selection boxes - perhaps your child got far too many birthday gifts last year or has outgrown their Lego Set - Barbie Dolls - Tricycle - Tractors - Farm Animals... It is time to clear out their cupboards and make someone elses day!! We will accept everything that looks nearly new - everything else will go to Oxfam. Thank you in advance for your CONTINUED support.

We look forward to hearing back from you. 

Diana Scullion

Remembrance Day - 2 minutes silence

http://news.uk.msn.com/in-depth/features/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=155212955

Nicholas J. Scullion & Co. would like to acknowledge Remembrance Day with a two minute silence. Today is about remembering those who we have lost in past and present conflicts.  Those who have given their tomorrows for our today’s and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  The 11^th day of the 11^th month marks the signing of the Armistice, the end of WW1. We would like to mark our respects at 11am and also lend our support to Erskine Home - which houses the wounded war veterans and prisoners of war. http://www.erskine.org.uk/

Thank you.

Diana

NICHOLAS J. SCULLION & CO - DEBATING CUP CHAMPIONSHIP 2010

Today you will see on page 33 of the Hamilton Advertiser that we have been working very closely with the South Lanarkshire Council 'Determined to Succeed' campaign. As Scottish Criminal Law Firm of the Year we wanted to give something back to our community by way of educating young children on 'debating' and the lifelong skills that can be gained from this.

We took a team of 20 enthusiastic and eager pupils to Hamilton Sheriff Court last week. They were introduced to Sheriff Danny Scullion & the formalities associated with the system. It was hoped that by watching a trial - they would gain valuable tips, enjoy what was happening, listen to what was being said and learn to structure, deliver and project their argument with confidence.

Debating is a wonderful sport and people of all ages, abilities and walks of life can take part. It is healthy, enjoyable and feeds the mind. If you would like to learn more about debating please contact the Glasgow University Debating Union and speak to Katy Doherty - she organises and judges debates throughout Scotland and is a very able student. We would like to thank Glasgow University for providing both John & Katy to judge the first round - providing the pupils with constructive feedback & encouragement.

We would also like the thank all the Sheriffs at Court for welcoming such a large group; South Lanarkshire Council especially Helen Salt & the local schools 'Holy Cross, Lesmahagow High, Larkhall Academy, Hamilton Grammar, Calderside Academy & John Ogilvie High' as well as all the teachers involved with this project. We hope to grow this year by year and make it an annual event.

Our first round took place in our office boardroom 105 CADZOW STREET, on November 2nd. It was a huge success - the semi finals will be taking place on Nov 17th and the final will be taking place on December 1st. Please continue to follow our blog and lend your support to the schools.

All photos can be viewed on our corporate facebook page Nicholas J. Scullion & Co.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Diana
PR & MARKETING

Supreme Court Ruling on Tuesday 26th October 2010 and subsequent Emergency Legislation now in force since Saturday 30th October 2010

As many of you will know, judges in the Supreme Court in London on Tuesday upheld an appeal by teenager Peter Cadder, whose assault conviction was based on evidence gained before he spoke to his lawyer.

Until yesterday, when the Criminal Procedure (Legal Assistance, Detention and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 2010 came into force, suspects could be detained and then questioned for six hours without a prior consultation with a lawyer. The Supreme Court judges ruled this practice violated human rights to a fair trial.

The Scottish Government has reacted almost immediately (anticipating the ruling, as we at Nicholas J. Scullion & Co. had) by passing this new Act on Friday which fundamentally changes Scots law and procedure. These new procedures came into force yesterday meaning that persons being questioned by the police on suspicion of having committed an offence have the right of access to legal assistance. Further, this right applies to persons detained (an initial maximum of 12 hours with a potential increase to 24 hours) and those who attend voluntarily at a police station or other location for the purpose of being questioned by Police.

The result of the above is that in all cases where a Trial is yet to commence, a confession given by a suspect of sound mind given to Police officers even after being formally cautioned (i.e. advised of his right to silence by the Police Officers) will not be able to be used by the Crown as evidence at any forthcoming Trial if the suspect had not been offered a private consultation with a Solicitor prior to the questioning.

And what of the rights to appeal for all those persons convicted in the past after the Crown had led evidence of their admission/confessions where prior legal advice by a lawyer was not allowed or given? This area is less than certain. This is because the very same Supreme Court judges in the Peter Cadder ruling who said, on the one hand "There is no room, in the situation which confronts this court, for a decision that favours the status quo simply on grounds of expediency” and "The issue is one of law. It must be faced up to, whatever the consequences” have also made it clear, however, on the other hand, that their ruling would not apply to closed cases. This in itself is a rather peculiar state of affairs and is one which itself will likely be the subject of another legal challenge.

Notwithstanding that the Supreme Court ruling was expressed as not retrospective, even at the present time, for all closed cases, there is still at the very least the option of an application to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) for a “Review". The SCCRC’s review of a case is completely independent of Parliament, the Scottish Government, the Crown, the Justiciary and the Defence and the SCCRC will decide for itself whether there may have been a miscarriage of justice and if it is in the interests of justice to refer a case to the High Court for determination.

Should you discuss the implications of Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling or Friday’s Act of Parliament with one of our Criminal Defence Solicitors on your specific case and circumstances then please do not hesitate to contact us 24/7 on our urgent online enquiry@scullion-law.co.uk. We at Nicholas J. Scullion & Co are also on hand 24/7 by telephoning 01698 283 265 to answer your concerns and questions and finally please feel free leave a comment on this blog.