Scots Law Tales

Scots Law Tales brings a number of leading cases from the Scottish courts to life, gathering together a collection of the stories behind some of the most memorable cases from the last hundred years. Many of these cases will be familiar --- or, at least, they will ring bells. This volume offers something more than a dry account of the law. It explores the personalities involved, the events leading up to the case, what the court decided and why, and the role that the case played in the development of its area of law. All involve memorable characters or events, from the huge miscarriage of justice perpetrated against Oscar Slater to the Lockerbie trial; from the decomposing snail in a bottle of ginger beer to allegations of high jinks by a prominent politician; from unplanned pregnancy to children being beaten at school to switching off life support; from McCaig's Folly at Oban to the lettering `EIIR' on pillar boxes; from St Ninian's Treasure in Shetland to allegations of ritual child abuse in Orkney.

All the authors are experts in their respective fields and provide readable behind-the-scenes accounts of some of the cases that have shaped modern Scots law. The tales told in this volume will not be found simply in the law reports. This collection will bring to life these important cases, making them three-dimensional and setting them in their social, historical and cultural context.

Scots Law Tales is essential reading for anyone embarking on the study of law or thinking about doing so, as well as lawyers, historians, social scientists and anyone with an interest in the law, how it operates and what it means for those who become involved, voluntarily or not, with the legal system.