AlliF

Can anybody recommend an immigration lawyer who would have some knowledge of Scottish common law, and in particular how it would equate with other countries laws (i.e. the equivalent levels of seriousness of crimes).

Pollyana

You really need someone registered for the country you are looking at - eg for Australia you need a MARA registered agent. Each country has such different requirements that you should really go with a specialist for that country. For Canada, for instance you have to look at qualifying for rehabilitation; for the US you need someone up on the crimes of moral turpitude, and various waivers.
There is often more to it than just seriousness of an offence.

AlliF

Thanks Pollyanna. We actually have already had an immigration lawyer retained on our behalf, however he is asking us to provide the basis of the Scottish common law to do the comparison.
I have been on the internet and on the phone to legal law libraries in Scotland and nowhere can we find the law laid out to provide a basis for him to do his comparison.

Pollyana

So you really need someone familiar with Scottish law, and Australian migration policy and law? Or are you talking about amigrating to a third country?

If Australian, you could try Alan Collet (Go Matilda), George Lombard, or Ian Harrop? i think there's also a company called Visa Go who are based in Scotland but I know nothing about them.

Pollyana

Actually, having now seen your other posts, you would be better asking in the Canadian forum - the rules for Australia are so different that anyone registered for Aus is unlikely to also be registered for Canada, so won't be familiar with all the ins and outs of rehabilitation What you really need is an agent registered with the Canadian equivalent of MARA, who is familiar with Scottish law.

AlliF

I'll try over there then, it was just if we could find someone over here with some familiarity with Scottish law we should be able to get enough of a definition to then pass on to our lawyer.
Difficult when you are trying to emigrate to a 3rd country where you are dealing with three different time-zones. Lot harder than trying to get over here that's for sure.

Pollyana

It certainly seems to be; both Canada and the US seem a lot harder and more restrictive than Aus. My thinking is also that if you post in the Canadian forums there must be someone else who has had an issue with Scottish Law. I know that rehabilitation does come up quite frequently over there.