We hear that Sheriff Charles Smith has decided to hang up his robes next month, leaving the much-coveted shrieval post up for grabs, to put it somewhat crudely.

Traditionally, the title of sheriff at Cupar has come with a courtesy honour, membership of the Royal and Ancient at St Andrews. Which is all very

well, except if the new sheriff just happens to be one of these chaps who don't play golf. And stand by for a test case at the nineteenth hole at the home of golf if it is a woman who is appointed.

No excuse

Meanwhile, Allcourt's new office at the Carmondean Shopping Centre in Livingston possesses a feature which surely no other solicitor's office in Scotland can boast. The former Bank of Scotland sub-branch has a cash dispenser which is still in operation.

Partner Ken Hogg reckons it's good for business.

It should certainly be handy for clients who want to pay their bills on the spot, although it could, presumably, rather cramp the style of anyone thinking about sloping off for a couple of hours with the excuse: ''I'm just going to the bank.''

Open all hours

Not to outdone on the Livingston legal front, Caesar and Howie think they have achieved a first by becoming the first Scottish firm to open seven days a week.

As well as the weekend service, the firm also has plans to stay open late four nights a week because of a surge in demand.

Managing partner David Borrowman says: ''In Livingston we find that there is a high percentage of commuters in the town. That means anyone requiring legal work or advice either has to go to a city centre firm or try to fit in a visit to their local lawyer. ''Now that we are open Saturday and Sunday it will give people in Livingston the chance to use their local solicitor.''

Eye level

Rarely, does a piece in the British Medical Journal refer in such glowing terms to the architectural splendour and pleasant working environment of a modern building.

Pleasant, marble-tiled floor, tastefully arranged flowers, spacious, smartly carpeted, with good-quality wooden furnishings and comfortable seats, lunch break for at least an hour, routine work stopping at four, those not dealt with asked to return tomorrow and no-one questioning the power of the bosses.

Where is this Nirvana which aroused the envy and admiration of consultant physician Charles Swainson? Edinburgh Sheriff Court no less.

The Diary reckons that Dr Swainson will just have to wait for the new PFI building in Little France to replace the dump which masquerades as the present Royal Infirmary.

Driving force

Not everyone involved in drugs quite makes the big time it seems.

In a recent case before Lord Bonomy the Crown had considered asking for the forfeiture of a car involved in the offence.

However, the car in question turned out to be a D-registration Toyota Corolla which was lying severely damaged at Ace Recovery's premises at Buckhaven.

Lord Bonomy pondered whether any attempt at forfeiture might be more trouble than it was actually worth and advocate-depute, Simon Di Rollo, agreed to drop the motion of forfeiture.

''I would have saved you from yourself if you hadn't,'' the judge assured him.