The Sunday Herald asked a number of Scots prominent in different fields for their views on what 2008 holds. Here is what Edinburgh-based human rights lawyer John Scott had to say about law and the legal system:
"Things are overwhelmingly pessimistic for 2008. Although Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has made it clear there are on-going consultations with the profession over the government's plans to reform legal aid, which could see accused people invited to represent themselves in court, there are going to be significant income reductions in legal aid for lawyers, and fewer young people coming into the profession at a time when few are already taking up jobs.
The number of cases going to be dealt with by the police and the fiscal, rather than going to court, is also worrying.
This is not a golden age for the law, particularly in relation to appeals and maintaining the principles of Scots law. We have some major appeals - including Luke Mitchell, William Beggs, and the Lockerbie appeal - that could determine what the law looks like. The system doesn't appear to have the fairness it used to have."
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