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Purpose -- This paper aims to describe the development and evaluation of a resource for use by practitioners to self-evaluate their policy and practice in relation to the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007. Design/methodology/approach -- The self-evaluation resource was developed in the context of multi-agency adult protection policy and legislation to reflect key quality indicators relevant to stakeholders, the community, practitioners and their agencies. Findings -- The quality indicators were selectively piloted by 15 of the 28 multiagency partners in Scotland. The utility of the resource was demonstrated and in some cases the outcomes led to changes in policy and practice. The effect of resource restrictions was reported to have a bearing on the utility of the resource in some partnerships. Research limitations/implications -- The quality indicators were not equally piloted with participants focusing on evaluation of case outcomes rather than wider structural and agency-wide aspects of adult protection. Practical implications -- The adult protection, self-evaluation resource has been identified as a potential means of enabling multi-agency partnerships to establish the effectiveness of their own policy and practice and offers the potential for cross-Scotland comparisons and bench marking. Social implications -- The resource provides the basis for self-evaluation and improvement in adult support and protection that will make the lives of adults at risk of harm safer . Originality/value -- An innovative approach is described to enable self-evaluation by adult protection practitioners and policy makers to judge the effectiveness of their own performance and ensure improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about several papers at the 28th annual conference sponsored by the Legal Scottish History Group on October 4, 2008 at the Advocates Library in Edinburgh, Scotland on matters regarding the law reports is presented. Topics include the long-term project for publication of Sinclair's "Practicks," the earliest Scottish form of law reports, the parliamentary process in the reign of James VI and a re-analysis of the "duel under the law of Clann Duib."

The article discusses the special session on the rule of law by Commonwealth Law Ministers and Attorney-General in the Scottish Parliament on July 7 to 10, 2008. Papers presented discussed the enhancement and development of Commonwealth support for the rule of law and the role of Justice Minister. It also discusses the adaptation of the Edinburgh Statement on Enhancing the Rule of Law which requires the member states of commit to the enhancement of the rule of law according to the needs of the member state.