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Tax Tips for Small Businesses

Published on 2013-06-18 16:48:00

Guest Post For a small business owner, dealing with the ins and outs of tax can be a confusing and intimidating matter. Here are seven top tips to help you navigate the subject and maximise your profits 1: Classify Your Business Correctly Different

Pooting PC declared hero in drugs haul

Published on 2013-06-17 16:44:00

From the Metro 13/06/13: A cannabis factory was sniffed out by police after they wound down their car windows to escape the smell when one officer kept breaking wind. The team noticed a second strange scent as they sucked in the welcome fresh

Why is there a rise in certain types of personal injury claim?

Published on 2013-06-13 16:59:00

Guest Post Whiplash claims and industrial illness have been major personal injury talking points of late, and it's vital to know what to do if you wish to make a claim. In recent weeks, a number of stories have appeared in the mainstream media that

Playground brawl between parents resolved by police with CS spray

Published on 2013-06-12 15:00:00

From BBC News 30/05/13: Police used CS spray to break up a fight between parents in the playground of an infants [sic] school. The fight broke out at Penryn Infants School in Cornwall as children waited to be collected. Devon and Cornwall Police sai

Head and Brain Injuries

Published on 2013-06-10 17:11:00

ABS don’t smell (that) bad

Published on 2013-06-09 15:27:00

(It’s just they don’t smell too good either - says ill-informed respondents to survey) From the Solicitors Journal 04/06/13: Students remain in the dark when it comes to changing legal services, says survey. More than half of law students would

The Importance of Research in Employing a Conveyancer

Published on 2013-06-06 16:36:00

Guest PostDoing your research and making sure that a solicitor or conveyancer has your best interests at heart before you employ them is very important. The quality of a conveyancer could mean the difference between your sale falling through and your

Making the Law Accessible

Published on 2013-06-05 16:31:00

Guest PostBefore the internet, legal service and the law itself was complicated, confusing and inaccessible. It still can be complicated and confusing, but through various schemes and technology like the internet, people no longer have to have access

Cambridge criminal law exam – what’s all the fuss about

Published on 2013-06-03 14:59:00

I saw this piece of overblown stupidity was doing the rounds earlier. Everywhere. What’s all the fuss about? As an undergraduate, I don’t remember answering a question on sexual offences (despite it being on the syllabus) but I do remember that

Judge compares lawyers to airline pilots and an F1 pit crew

Published on 2013-06-02 14:37:00

In a speech delivered to SJ Live conference delegates, District Judge Monty Trent drew a number of interesting analogies between solicitors and other jobs – airline pilots and an F1 pit crew. No, the fit isn’t an obviously natural one, is it?

Are you worried about claiming against your employer for an accident at work?

Published on 2013-05-30 16:26:00

Guest PostSome people feel uneasy about claiming for an accident at work. But, if you are injured as a result of negligence by your employer, it’s important to be aware of the facts. Suffering an injury is traumatic enough, but coupled with the wo

The Rise of Medical Negligence Claims

Published on 2013-05-28 16:25:00

Guest PostMaking a claim for compensation is not always based on securing what we feel we’re owed. Being injured in an accident at work or a road traffic accident can stop you from doing your job and lead to a loss of earnings, which compensation c

Lawyers and the standing desk

Published on 2013-05-27 13:36:00

Setting an Example: Fraud Officer Convicted of Fraud

Published on 2013-05-23 14:10:00

Guest PostFormer head of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Richard Alderman, has had a slap on the wrist for issuing £1m of unauthorised severance payments to his fellow workers, without evidence of the proper approval. He has subsequently apologised

Fighting a Speeding Fine? Top Tips to Help

Published on 2013-05-23 13:58:00

Guest Post Most drivers have received a speeding ticket in their lifetime, whether that’s because they intentionally broke the law or because they obliviously rolled into a 30 zone at 40mph. Whatever the reason, you don’t have to take your spee

Work email culture–there’s always tomorrow

Published on 2013-05-19 16:48:00

From Law Donut 17/05/13: Accessing work-related emails is no longer just confined to the working day. According to a new report, small business employees are checking their work emails at all hours of day and night – even at social occasions that

Studying for a law exam - a cry for help

Published on 2013-05-13 16:24:00

It’s been a while since I did a mailbag feature, so here’s to turning that around. ;-) The following email plopped into my inbox a couple of weeks ago from a law student panicked by the prospect of open book exams: Just found your law blog after

To kill a mockingbird - I wish someone had killed me

Published on 2013-05-08 16:27:00

Anything would have been better than reading that thing! You’d have had to been holed up somewhere for your entire life to not be familiar with the award winning novel by Harper Lee. It’s often cited as being a must-read novel for aspiring lawye

Thief aping Santa Claus found dead in chimney at law firm

Published on 2013-05-07 16:48:00

(And who said I was lousy at coming up with blog post titles?!?) :p From the Telegraph 03/05/13: The body of a serial burglar was discovered wedged in the chimney of a Grade II–listed building after staff at a solicitor's office noticed an unpleas

An enclosure you won’t forget

Published on 2013-05-02 16:25:00

From the Metro 02/05/13: [W]hen one angry Greater Anglia rail passenger was denied a refund on a ticket for a cancelled train he decided not to take rejection lying down. He tightly rolled up the letter he had received from the company’s customer

Stress is still lawyers’ biggest concern

Published on 2013-04-29 16:43:00

From Legal Futures 19/04/13: Three-quarters of lawyers in the UK and Ireland report being more stressed than they were five years ago but two-thirds are reluctant to report their concerns to employers, a survey has found. However, while seven out of

Parliamentary Privilege: Frivolous Personal Injury Claims

Published on 2013-04-24 16:36:00

Frivolous? Well, how else would you describe someone filing a claim for tripping over their umbrella, ripping their crotch bending over to plug in a computer or getting their glasses bent when they failed to open a door before trying to walk through

Dealing with Cold Callers

Published on 2013-04-21 13:58:00

I’m not at all sure that many businesses could give a flying frick about the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (oh, those catchy names just roll off the tongue so easily don’t they)? And registering your number on TPS – you

Good Deed Feed

Published on 2013-04-18 16:05:00

I generally take a butchers at the good deed feed in the Metro at some point on the train each morning during my commute to work. (It’s funny how a journey never gets any less painful the more times you do it.) Well, this morning, I saw a good dee

Does the UK suffer from a compensation culture?

Published on 2013-04-16 15:01:00

Guest Post Hailed by many as a direct response to a growing compensation culture in the UK, the Jackson reforms introduced on the 1 of April brought in a number of new pieces of legislation intended to prevent Britain from becoming a “claim happy

Managing digital assets after death

Published on 2013-04-15 17:11:00

From the Telegraph 12/04/13: Google has launched a new service to help its users make an online will that dictates what happens to their data after they die - either permanently deleting it, or passing it on to loved ones as a digital inheritanc

Can I Still Get Family Legal Aid?

Published on 2013-04-11 17:11:00

Guest Post Following the introduction of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 there has been a lot of publicity and comment some of which could be misunderstood to indicate that legal aid will no longer be available in family

Parents release poignant message from texting tragedy

Published on 2013-04-11 16:57:00

From the Huffington Post 11/04/13: The parents of a university student killed in a car crash as he typed a text have released his final message in a bid to warn other drivers against doing the same. He was responding to a friend’s message and ha

A Guide to Interest Rate Swaps Redress and Compensation

Published on 2013-04-09 14:11:00

Guest Post As the scandal escalates over mis sold interest rate swaps more and more businesses are wondering if they have been mis sold this highly complex hedging product by their banks and if so, are they entitled to redress? Directors of SMEs are

PC cops it over curb

Published on 2013-04-04 16:58:00

From the Huffington Post 31/03/13: A petrol station owner who phoned police when he thought he was being burgled is being sued by one of the attending officers because she tripped on a kerb. Steve Jones called police last August when the alarm prote

Living with sight loss

Published on 2013-03-28 03:02:00

Guest PostExperiencing sight loss can be painful, traumatic and sometimes life changing to those who suffer it. Major injuries and illnesses can lead to a complete loss of eyesight. Deep puncture wounds from accidents, serious chemical burns, and maj

Taking the Biscuit

Published on 2013-03-27 17:41:00

Hmm… haven’t we been here before? From the Metro 25/03/13: Flapjacks cut into triangles have been banned from a school after a pupil was hit in the eye with one during a food fight. The bizarre health and safety ruling was imposed after a

Personal injury claims in the winter weather

Published on 2013-03-25 16:12:00

Guest Post Much of the UK has recently been gripped by snow, ice and blizzard and while plenty of us may have enjoyed a snow day or two, what about those who have suffered an injury due to slipping on ice? And what if their fall happened outside thei

Don’t let your online assets die with you – make a digital will

Published on 2013-03-19 17:36:00

Guest Post What we recognise as our valuable assets constantly changes over time and with more of us spending time online and managing our finances on the web, it has become a necessary importance to ensure our modern-day secrets, including our passw

Essays win prizes… well, a place on the LPC

Published on 2013-03-17 17:04:00

I see from my inbox that Young Lawyer have been banging the drum for their 2013 essay competition.

University Offers – Picking & Choosing

Published on 2013-03-13 17:56:00

The Telegraph advises students (with a little help from UCAS’ Cathy Gilbert) how to make that killer decision when deciding which university offer to accept. Ah – the joys.

Copyright Infringement: taking the moral high ground

Published on 2013-03-10 15:47:00

I guess that’s an alternative way of doing it. Found here.

Drunk driver car accident: How to claim

Published on 2013-03-08 11:39:00

Sponsored Post If you have been involved in an accident with a drunk driver, a claim maybe brought against the driver. If the driver has a valid motor insurance policy, the insurer will pay compensation if can be proven that the drunk driver acted n

BT Law - Telecoms Services and Legal Advice all in one

Published on 2013-03-07 17:15:00

From the Solicitors Journal 04/03/13: BT aims to turn legal services unit from internal cost centre to profit centre as it starts pitching for external business. Nice idea. Assuming you’ve got some clients who want to pay. ;-) BT will sta

Legal advice for Irish investment funds

Published on 2013-03-07 16:38:00

Sponsored Post Maples and Calder provides an overview of investment funds, offering specialist advice on the legislation, regulations, restrictions and requirements. Ireland has become a popular location for investment funds. With a skilled workfo

Lawyer Humour

Published on 2013-03-05 16:47:00

From the Solicitors’ Journal 22/02/13: Jonathan Smithers asks what the horse meat scandal can teach lawyers about the free market and consumer expectations. The recent Tesco burger scandal, finding that the ingredients might feature more Dob

Restaurant Diners: Making off without payment

Published on 2013-03-03 16:56:00

From BBC News 03/03/13: A woman has been arrested after four champagne diners failed to pay for their £520 meal at a restaurant in Essex. Three men and a woman drank two £150 bottles of champagne and ate steak and lamb at Milsoms, in Dedham, befor

Don't Be a Victim after an Accident at Work: Show Initiative

Published on 2013-03-03 16:15:00

Sponsored PostHave you been harmed at work and the incident wasn’t your fault? When a business is liable for a personal injury accident, they’ll do all they can to mitigate costs – that means attempting to con you out of the compensation you de

Airborne Affront to Court Etiquette

Published on 2013-02-28 14:15:00

From This is Grimsby 31/01/13: The quiet dignity of a court session was abruptly disturbed when someone loudly broke wind in the public gallery. Nobody apologised for the noisy interruption – and there were anxious looks from people nearby w

5 best break-up movies

Published on 2013-02-26 16:45:00

Sponsored PostFilms about break-ups not only help you review your own relationship when experiencing disappointments and frustrations, but distract you from reality for a while to appreciate the beauty of an ideal love. If you’re looking for movi

Movies and TV shows for the newly single mum

Published on 2013-02-26 16:30:00

Sponsored PostBeing a single mum can be challenging, but it most certainly can be rewarding. While newspapers and television shows always seem to take a negative spin on single mothers, in reality you will have a closer bond with your child – and p

Old fashioned policing saves the day

Published on 2013-02-24 16:48:00

From The Independent 19/02/13: A drunk burglar who led police from the scene of a break-in to his own doorstep with a trail of footprints in the snow has been spared jail. Lewis Ward, 28, snuck into a home in Raby Street, Darlington and took a

Debunking the Same-Sex Marriage Myth

Published on 2013-02-21 17:00:00

Sponsored Post December 2005 – the Civil Partnership Act was born, giving same-sex couples the opportunity to enter into civil partnerships together. February 2013 – the majority of MPs vote in favour of a change to the law which would allow s

Happy Birthday Law Actually

Published on 2013-02-19 17:23:00

Yep, that’s another one ticked off! Six years old – and still going strong!

Almost as boring as a lawyer’s office…

Published on 2013-02-18 16:51:00

From Huffington Post 16/02/13: Brits have got the hots for slow-burning Scandinavian drama, from The Killing, to Borgen, to The Bridge, but the latest hot offering from Norwegian state TV might not see any takers here - a 12 hour broadcast of a b

Lawyer vs Pragmatist

Published on 2013-02-17 17:08:00

Situation: Ben from Eastenders standing in shock over big Heather’s (Evvvv’s) body after smashing her head with a picture frame. The lawyer said: “I’d advise you to put forward a prepared statement and then make no further comment at intervi

Valentine’s Days Gifts

Published on 2013-02-14 16:08:00

Forget flowers, chocolates or lingerie.

B2B Travel Law - The Digital Revolution

Published on 2013-02-08 15:54:00

Sponsored Post As more and more businesses go digital, it is absolutely essential that you understand the potential risks that the digital revolution has on your travel business. ASB Law specialists in

Stating the obvious – postgraduate study makes a HUGE difference

Published on 2013-02-07 16:36:00

Darn it – there was no electronic version (at least not that I could find). Still, that scanner’s got to justify its existence somehow! ;-) Anyhow, let me run that first line past you again. Students who want to stand out in the job market now

How to improve your grades at law school

Published on 2013-02-04 16:02:00

No, getting an iPad won’t help you. I received the following email from a stressed (and struggling) law student a couple of weeks ago. Dear Sir, I am a second year Law LLB student. Actually, I have been very worried with my progress at university.

Valentine after Christmas?

Published on 2013-01-28 16:42:00

Guest Post Now that the New Year is well and truly underway and the festive season is a fading memory, it may well be a good idea to remind readers that Valentine's Day will soon be upon us. February 14th is, of course, the big day - and don't you

Lunching Lawyers beware

Published on 2013-01-24 16:58:00

Lunching at your desk is disgusting... says Anna Soubry, the minister for public health. From the Telegraph 24/01/13: Office workers should take a proper lunch break rather than engaging in the "disgusting" habit of eating a sandwich at t

Ice Injury Claims

Published on 2013-01-22 16:57:00

Here is a mash-up of a couple of emails I’ve received over the last few days from careless pedestrians who were on the scrounge for legal advice.

Domain Names – When an apostrophe makes ALL the difference

Published on 2013-01-20 16:33:00

Remember these brarmers?

Hot Cross Madness - Sickening Commercialism at its Worst

Published on 2013-01-15 16:55:00

On the first day back at work after Christmas (the 3rd of January as I recall) I nipped into the local Sainsbury’s during my lunch break.

Do ex bloggers ever pop back for old times’ sake?

Published on 2013-01-13 15:00:00

I’ve been having a massive clear out of Google Reader subscriptions over the last couple of days. I must have deleted dozens and dozens.

Law Schools as Charities

Published on 2013-01-10 16:46:00

As the portly gentlemen observe to Scrooge at the start of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: “At this festive season of the year it is more than […] desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatl

Workplace chemicals and occupational dermatitis claims

Published on 2013-01-07 16:51:00

Sponsored Post An employer is responsible for protecting workers from occupational dermatitis. A breach can affect workers' health and lead to industrial disease claims. Employers have a legal obligation to assess the risks presented by chemicals i

Train Travel – Too Much to Bear

Published on 2013-01-06 15:31:00

From the Guardian 06/01/13: David Mitchell writes: Rail minister Norman Baker insists that fares are fairly fair. He must be one of those paragons who books online, months in advance [and who inhabits cloud cuckoo land]. The main point Baker was try

The History of ‘No Win No Fee’ Solicitors

Published on 2013-01-02 16:14:00

Guest Post Anyone who is a fan of courtroom-based dramas on American television will have long been fascinated by the mix of business practice and law that makes up the legal system in the USA.Indeed, the complex relationship between State Law and Fe

Millions of British workers don’t see daylight

Published on 2013-01-01 14:14:00

From Law Donut 21/12/12: The dark mornings and even longer, darker nights mean that millions of workers who don't take lunch-breaks only see the sun on weekends. And research conducted on behalf of Beurer, makers of Brightlight Daylight Lamps, find

‘Twas the night before Christmas (legalese style)

Published on 2012-12-24 16:02:00

I stumbled across this gem the other day which seemed too appropriate to pass up.

Professional Negligence Claims against your Previous Solicitor

Published on 2012-12-21 10:12:00

Sponsored Post 2012 has seen an alarming increase in the number of professional negligence claims brought by clients against their previous solicitor. Cases of professional negligence involving solicitors often result from a claimant’s case being

Lasting Power of Attorney and What It Means

Published on 2012-12-19 15:53:00

Sponsored PostThere are many reasons that someone might want to allow a family member or loved one the power of Lasting Power of Attorney (L.P.A). When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, brain injury, or suff

Not to be a pedant or anything, but ...

Published on 2012-12-18 16:39:00

Clinton’s Christmas card sent to (valued) clients this year. Clintons, based in London, “is one of the foremost law practices in entertainment, sport and media, with an extensive general practice.”Hat tip to Legal Cheek. Thank God - a law firm

‘Tis the Season for an Injury

Published on 2012-12-16 16:30:00

Tra-la-la-la-larrr …. la-lar-lar-lar. Quotes from the Telegraph 24/12/11: Christmas treesChristmas Trees are the root (ahem) cause of a number of accidents during the festive season. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Christmastime once again

Published on 2012-12-12 17:31:00

You see, I know it must be that time of year again, faithful reader, because Law Actually has received its annual festive makeover. I’m a bit more satisfied with this year’s attempt; it’s good to have the horrors of trying to decorate that n

A Guide to Choosing a Solicitor in the UK

Published on 2012-12-12 16:50:00

Guest Post Thousands of solicitors work in the UK and choosing the right professional for your situation may seem like mission impossible. Picking the right legal expert will often have a significant bearing on the outcome of your legal proceedings.

Approach the Bench: The Chess Set for Lawyers

Published on 2012-12-10 16:45:00

Sponsored Post With Christmas just around the corner, here’s a stunning gift idea for any lawyer – chess lover or otherwise. These exquisite chess sets are handmade in the USA out of cold-cast bronze, travertine tile and mahogany. Each piece is m

Dolphin enjoys a bite of lunch

Published on 2012-12-05 13:46:00

From Sky News 03/12/12: Jillian Thomas was holding out fish to feed to dolphins at Orlando's SeaWorld when she got an unexpected surprise. Ah yes – holding out fish along with scores of other children, taunting hungry dolphins with food. Don’t y

Darts, Tweets and ‘Defer-mating’

Published on 2012-12-02 16:38:00

From Yahoosport 17/11/12: Darts fans have been forced to apologise to former BDO world champion Ted Hankey after accusing him of playing while drunk - when in fact he had suffered a stroke. Hankey appeared disoriented and suffered a comprehensive 5-

How To Stay Safe and Cut Accidents On The Road

Published on 2012-11-28 17:49:00

Sponsored Post Road accidents are a common occurrence and in the winter festive season, when nights are longer and drivers undergo more stress, accidents are more likely to happen. In the run up to the festive season, the likelihood of driving whils

RoF break an exclusive (if not so fresh) story to readers!!!

Published on 2012-11-25 16:28:00

From RoF 23/11/12: Exclusive: Clarke Willmott no longer accepts trainee applications

The Most Reputable Law Firm

Published on 2012-11-19 16:51:00

(Whatever that really means!!).

Compensation Claims for Personal Injury

Published on 2012-11-14 17:11:00

Sponsored Post If you have been injured in an accident which wasn’t your fault, there are several ways of obtaining compensation. The most common option is by bringing a legal action in a civil court (typically by instructing a specialist personal

Spray Pepper with your phone

Published on 2012-11-11 15:05:00

It turns out there’s not an app for that. From the Register 09/11/12: An Arizona man concerned for the safety of his college-bound daughter has created a personal-protection device that she's sure to carry with her everywhere: an iPhone case that

College Students Present: How to become a solicitor

Published on 2012-11-08 17:02:00

(Plus tips on rubbing your own belly for camera).

Young Lawyer … anything but Inspiration

Published on 2012-11-05 17:15:00

I love hate to nit-pick but, you know, Young Lawyer should be setting an example and trying to encourage attention to detail – not making copywriting faux pas. I’m sure you can imagine my disappointment, dear reader, when the following email plo

The true meaning of Halloween

Published on 2012-10-31 18:22:00

As we all know, Halloween Hallowe’en (let’s be correct here) is an opportunity to gorge on Mr Kipling’s wide variety of spooky-themed treats. The extent of his Halloween selection is simply staggering now. Given the volume of them I’ve consum

Pumpkin Carving Injuries (and how to avoid them)

Published on 2012-10-29 17:42:00

From Smithsonian.com 26/10/12: In 2004, a team from [New York] decided to investigate the potential risks of pumpkin carving, comparing the threats posed by conventional kitchen knives with those of other tools specifically intended for pumpkins. “Even with optimal treatment, injuries from pumpkin carving accidents may leave people with compromised hand function,” they wrote. Common pumpkin-carving injuries come in a number of forms: hand punctures, resulting from instances where a knife [..]

Legal advice and that personal touch

Published on 2012-10-28 17:34:00

There’s a lot to be said for the personal touch when it comes to legal advice. Whilst some types of work can be more suited to high-volume, factory-style delivery of legal services (such as straightforward conveyancing and some uncomplicated personal injury claims) other, more complex matters are still more suited to that one-on-one bespoke service offered by a conventional law firm. And traditional high street firms of solicitors still play a vital role in delivering that. Even if the Solic [..]

Yet More Government Cuts Compromise Health and Safety in the Workplace

Published on 2012-10-24 16:14:00

Guest Post There have been yet more government cuts recently, and the latest in line to bare the brunt of the economic crisis in the UK is the Health and Safety Executive. As of April 2013, thousands of businesses will not have to undergo compulsory health and safety inspections, unless they are considered to be high-risk workspaces, such as food preparation areas or construction sites. This effectively gives thousands of businesses the green light to cut corners without consequence; until injur [..]

Desperate Young Lawyer – asking the impossible

Published on 2012-10-21 16:10:00

From the Metro Friday 19th October 2012*: Well - it seems that desperation abounds in the legal profession.

Troutlippe and Pout – Law firm

Published on 2012-10-18 16:53:00

Finally!

Harvey Nicks and Wet Crotches

Published on 2012-10-15 16:50:00

From the Telegraph 03/10/12: An advert for a Harvey Nichols sale has escaped censure despite attracting 105 complaints that it pictured people who had apparently wet themselves with excitement. The campaign for the upmarket department store featured well-dressed women and a man each with a wet stain in their groin area accompanied by text stating: "The Harvey Nichols sale. Try to contain your excitement." Oooh. Wet crotch!

Jimmy Savile - HIGNFY

Published on 2012-10-13 11:35:00

Jimmy so-vile (alleged) paedophile Saville at his imitable worst on HIGNFY.

The Law Society – Ask a Solicitor Ads

Published on 2012-10-08 16:28:00

Yes, they’re back.

Publication Review: From Goods to a Good Life

Published on 2012-10-04 17:09:00

From Goods to a Good Life by Prof. Madhavi Sunder examines how, for the greater good, hard-edged commercialism in intellectual property law can (and should) be tempered by a healthy dose of social conscience and culture. From the very outset, the author recognises the enormity of her task; challenging the centuries-entrenched focus of commercial endeavour that lies at the heart of international IP law sounds like an impossible task. Still, it a task Sunder takes on with gusto. She poses an unc [..]

Whiplash a scam by patients, say doctors

Published on 2012-10-01 17:02:00

From the Metro (the hardcopy version – sorry I’ve forgotten the date… the cutting has been lying on my desk for the past week or so and I couldn’t find the same story online):

The Law of Printers

Published on 2012-09-29 04:16:00

There can be few things more frustrating in life than working with computer printers.

Finger lickin’ crazy

Published on 2012-09-24 16:48:00

From the Metro 20/09/12: A deranged customer who rammed his car into a KFC restaurant because staff refused to serve him a bargain bucket has been jailed.Hugh Brown flipped (a burger? / the lid of a KFC bucket?) when workers would not serve him the £10.99 meal deal because the fast food shop had closed 20 minutes earlier. Ohh – I remember the time when a bargain bucket was £9.99 AND you got 10 pieces of chicken.

Copyright Infringement: that’s an interesting approach

Published on 2012-09-19 16:34:00

You can find a lot of interesting shows stuff on YouTube these days. Don’t look at me like that.

Cotton wool culture is ruining our kids

Published on 2012-09-17 16:50:00

(Or it might as well be). You know I’m a one for sensationalist headlines. From: the Telegraph 04/09/12: A "cotton wool culture" of over-protecting children has contributed to a decline in freedom for them to play, heath [sic] and safety watchdogs said yesterday. They said that too often regulations were wrongly cited as an excuse when denying youngsters the chance to have fun outdoors. Children needed to be able to be able to take part in activities such as climbing and playing c [..]

How a Trust Deed can help YOU!

Published on 2012-09-03 16:07:00

Sponsored Post Trust deeds are the Scottish equivalent of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). By using a trust deed, the debtor transfers their estate to the trustee to be held on trust for the benefit of creditors. Providing the debtor complies with the obligations set out in the trust deed (including the making of regular monthly repayments to the creditors) the estate held on trust remains untouched and is returned at the end of the relevant period. A trust deed protects the debtor [..]

Choosing a Personal Injury Lawyer

Published on 2012-09-03 15:54:00

Sponsored Post Seeking legal redress for a personal injury you have suffered can be a traumatic experience. Choosing the right firm to handle your case can go a long way to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Although many personal injury lawyers specialise in a particular area such as road traffic incidents, occupational or medical negligence etc. it is common for a wide variety of personal injury areas to be collectively handled by a single firm – certainly in the case of the l [..]

Bikes and trains: an unhappy marriage

Published on 2012-09-02 17:03:00

Like many of my fellow commuters, I’m going I’m going to buy a bike and take it on the train to work each day. I’ve no intention of riding it. I just intend to take that cumbersome monster about with me on trains, station platforms, and along narrow pavements to be just about as damn awkward as I possibly can – exactly how my fellow commuters treat me. I can make a massive fuss trying to get my bike in and out of the bike rack on the train. I can wheel it along the platform with the hand [..]

Superhuman moneybag lifter a misprint after all

Published on 2012-08-23 16:44:00

From the Metro 22/08/12: Mary Deller heard her back pop when she was asked to lift two bags of 500 £1 coins, weighing a total of 9.5kg (21lb), on to a trolley. Ah – that isn’t quite what I read in the paper version of the Metro yesterday morning:

Graffiti Madness

Published on 2012-08-22 17:11:00

I like to think we live in quite a nice neighbourhood, but maybe I’m kidding myself. When I was on a casual jaunt recently, I noticed the wall running alongside the quaint little footpath adjacent to the bottom of our rear garden had acquired some rather rude ‘daubings’ (as Alan Partridge would no doubt have termed them). The graffiti ran along the wall for some distance (probably 30 metres or so in total). The focal points were two rather rude words about 20 metres apart – one rather ra [..]

Accidents can just happen: tragic but true

Published on 2012-08-16 17:05:00

From BBC News 14/08/12: [A teacher], Glennroy Blair-Ford, 45, was on a Kent school trip in Devon when he broke his neck while taking part in a sporting event commonly known as welly wanging. A judge said it was a "freak accident" and dismissed his claim against outdoor pursuits centre firm CRS Adventures. Lawyers for Mr Blair-Ford, formerly of Bromley, south-east London, argued that he had been asked by centre staff to throw the welly adopting an "unsafe" method. An unsafe method of throwing (a [..]

Catalogue of errors left patient to die of dehydration

Published on 2012-08-14 16:44:00

Sponsored Post Every now and then I see a news article which leaves me truly shocked, and earlier this week I read about the tragic case of a young patient who was so badly neglected by medical staff that he died of dehydration. Kane Gordy, who was only 22, was in hospital for a hip operation, after his bones were left weak following a battle with a brain tumour back in 2009. Medical staff at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, neglected Kane so badly that he was forced to call 999 as h [..]

Law Actually is recruiting...

Published on 2012-08-13 16:50:00

We’re looking for a Google Reader Reader Law Actually is a UK-based global leader* in the blawgosphere. Who the frick are we kidding?!?!?

No Facebook account? Then you’re a twisted weirdo (or worse!)

Published on 2012-08-09 17:29:00

Or something like that. From Forbes.com 06/08/12: I used to say that “if you’re not on Facebook, it’s possible you don’t actually exist.” I think it’s time to update that, courtesy of Slashdot: Facebook abstainers will be labeled suspicious. Slashdot flagged a German news story in which an expert noted that mass murderers Anders Breivik and James Holmes both lacked much of a social media presence, leading to the conclusion, in Slashdot’s phrasing, that “not having a Facebook acc [..]

Religion the saviour for Cornish superfast broadband

Published on 2012-08-07 17:17:00

From ISP Review 06/08/12: The coastal fishing village of Polperro in Cornwall […] which has so far been unable to benefit from the massive £132 Million “Big Build” scheme to roll-out BT’s superfast broadband services around the region, has finally found a solution after the local Methodist Church stepped in to help. Yay!!

Viewing porn at work

Published on 2012-08-05 16:45:00

From the Verge 02/08/12: It's never really a good idea to watch porn while at the office — especially if your job involves mildly important tasks like defending the US from missile attacks. Yet that's exactly what some employees at the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency have been doing, according to a report from Bloomberg. Sounds like the staff have been minding some lap rockets of their own during work hours, then. Last week, MDA Executive Director John James Jr. issued a memo warni [..]

Anyone for mushy grapes?

Published on 2012-08-02 16:18:00

From the Telegraph 26/07/12: A grocer has been ordered to pay £111,000 to a shopper who slipped on “mushy" grapes outside his shop. Samira Hassan, 57, fractured both wrists in the accident outside The Stall, in Greenford, west London. She sued the owner, Onkar Singh Gill, claiming that despite wearing sensible shoes she had slipped on grapes that were "trodden in and mushy". Ooh – mushy grapes. Damn grapes - how very dare they be mushy! And it’s always grapes isn’t it? Nobody eve [..]

Qualify as an Attorney in New York or California

Published on 2012-07-29 16:58:00

Yeah, baby. Look what gem plopped into my inbox a few days ago.

Sun-seeking lawyers (and other office wallahs)

Published on 2012-07-26 17:13:00

From How to Geek: Q: It’s finally getting nice and warm out… and I’d really like to work on the terrace at my office. The only problem is that my laptop screen is barely usable in the bright light! Do you have any pointers to help me enjoy some fresh air and sunshine while still getting some work done? Working outside? Heavens to Betsy! That can’t be allowed - no matter how hot it gets. Forget all that ‘lawyers think better with a dose of vitamin D’ malarkey. The last thing a [..]

50 shades of sauce

Published on 2012-07-19 16:54:00

Brown sauce, of course. Ooh la la From the Telegraph 10/07/12: Raymond Hodgson, 31, was charged with common assault after being appalled to discover that his partner of five years, Emma McCormick, had been reading the racy book [50 Shades of Grey]. Racy? I think that’s the least of its offences and a wholly unsuitable adjective.

Police and tattoos

Published on 2012-07-17 16:43:00

I can get my head around a polar bear prancing about on a service station forecourt. I can cope with police officers snickering at the cheeky bear’s antics. But a police officer proudly bearing (ahem) his tats for the world to see whilst on duty is a step too far. I thought my beady eyes were deceiving me this morning (or wondered whether it was a dodgy print in the Metro) but oh no – this is for real. Truly shocking! I thought police forces had a policy on that kind of thing. And don’t [..]

Killing spam and digitising content

Published on 2012-07-09 16:53:00

That’s what I call a win-win. From BBC World Service 20/06/12: Duolingo, aims to translate the entire web with the help of people starting to learn a new language. It's a project born out of guilt from the man behind one of the most annoying features of web surfing - those online security checks involving random words. Duolingo hopes to convince millions of people to work for free and thus translate all web content in a matter of years. As a 22-year-old graduate student in 2000, von Ahn i [..]

Meet Marmite - the Law Actually bunny

Published on 2012-07-03 17:13:00

Callsign: “the Marmster”.

Updated blog theme

Published on 2012-07-01 16:38:00

It must be that time of year again – Law Actually’s gotten a makeover. It’s not a massive change; it retains the same template structure but has thankfully lost the energy-sapping browns and creams of the previous design. The new style uses a background image available through blogger rather than some concoction of my own, and while a high speed train isn’t perhaps a totally natural fit, the colours work well for me. The theme remains a work in progress and I intend to add a few tweaks [..]

Mayors do the funniest things

Published on 2012-06-29 17:09:00

fnar fnar From this is Lincolnshire 29/06/12: The Mayor of Louth has made national headlines after an Olympic Torch Relay stunt - with many people saying her novelty sausage costume was mistaken for a penis. Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders, 61, wore the unusual 8ft-tall pink costume to promote the famous Lincolnshire sausage on the national stage. Is it really that penis-like? Not many have two sticky legs at one end – or a cheeky face, eyebrows and a penchant for carrying literature around [..]

RBS/NatWest-gate – incompetent offshore team to blame?

Published on 2012-06-28 17:11:00

Well, sort of. But let’s not let fine detail get in the way of blog post titles. From the Register 28/06/12: Cost-cutting RBS management had halved the team within which the banking group's recent data disaster happened, sources have told The Register. The sacked British employees were replaced by staff in India, and there had been concerns about the quality of the work done in India for a lengthy period prior to last week's catastrophe. Damn offshoring – it gives me the utter squits. Mis [..]

Ofcom releases draft code for online copyright infringement

Published on 2012-06-26 16:52:00

From Ofcom 26/06/12: Internet users will be encouraged to download music and films through legal channels under measures outlined today by Ofcom. Oh no! Don’t open that spectacularly nasty can of worms again. I remember attending the Parliament & Internet Conference back in 2009 when the (then) ill fated Digital Economy Bill was the talk of the town and BIS’ inconsistent use of the terms “legal” and “lawful” resulted in a lot of head-scratching and looks of bewilderment amongst atte [..]

Floormats that suck

Published on 2012-06-25 16:28:00

Literally! From MSNBC (no date): [T]his floormat [...] vacuums dirt off the soles of your shoes when you step on it. No. It really does. Each mat is about 20 by 40 inches, and comes attached to a vacuum unit and sensor. The sensor detects when someone gets close and turns on the vacuum, but no air is actually sucked in except where a foot depresses and opens the tiny nozzles. Naturally it's not quite as useful for snow, mud and other sole hazards, but it could probably handle [..]

Why, Lexis, why?

Published on 2012-06-24 17:16:00

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life which puzzle me. For instance, why do Lexis continue to measure the estimated time of your download in relation to a 56 kbps connection (i.e dial-up)?

Screen Slaves all the rage! Lawyers among the worst?

Published on 2012-06-21 17:19:00

From BBC News 19/06/12: People are risking their health by working on smartphones, tablets and laptops after they have left the office, according to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. God bless ‘em! It says people have become "screen slaves" and are often working while commuting or after they get home. The society said poor posture in these environments could lead to back and neck pain. Oh come on - and all the rest! If my work just resulted in neck pain I’d be happy. [..]

Blogging, Blogs and Blog Posts

Published on 2012-06-18 17:04:00

I like to think I’ve been a fully fledged blogger (you know, as distinct from a half-baked one) for quite a few years now.

Reconceptualising the over-supply problem...

Published on 2012-06-13 16:36:00

From Roll on Friday 08/06/12: Michael Todd QC, chairman of the Bar Council, claimed on Wednesday that over-recruitment of students wasn't doing the profession, the students or social mobility any favours. Todd said it was a "great concern" that law schools were pumping out a hefty oversupply of grads with "no realistic prospect of pupillage". And he worried about those chucking £16,000 at a qualification which, for those who fail to obtain pupillage, adds little to employability. Shhhh! S [..]

Masters of the Universe - London Business School

Published on 2012-06-11 15:53:00

Contemplating a Master’s degree?

Exploiting aftermarkets – the curse of printer ink

Published on 2012-06-09 14:23:00

iPads, iPhones and drafting legal documents

Published on 2012-06-06 17:35:00

In several meetings recently I’ve noticed just many of the solicitors present had iPads with them. Suddenly, from once being a fancy plaything confined to over-paid partners, editing legal documents on mobile devices is clearly becoming an established way of working. And it’s not just the more junior staff; seasoned lawyers of maturing years love nothing better than slipping their iPad out of its expensive leather pouch, hoping to be met with glances of envy and approval from those present. [..]

Impoverished lawyers … practising law on a shoestring

Published on 2012-06-04 17:14:00

From Business Insider 01/06/12: While in law school … Erin Gilmer developed a passion for health law and policy, but pursuing that passion has made it exceedingly hard to pay her bills. Since her 2008 graduation, Gilmer has completed a variety of health policy-related fellowships and other advocacy work, but all have been time-and-funding limited. Since this fall, she has been on her own, attempting to build a practice, Gilmer Health Law, in the areas of patient advocacy and health [..]

The scourge of geo-tagging

Published on 2012-06-02 17:27:00

Sad but true. I generally avoid apps which reveal my location and I disable geo-tagging on any apps I do use.

Guest Post: Creating the perfect legal CV

Published on 2012-05-30 15:52:00

A CV is the first opportunity to show a potential employer that you are qualified for a role and getting it wrong can mean the difference between a job offer and not even making it to an interview. While there are many specifics to consider when writing a CV for a legal role, there are general points which should be kept in mind – it sounds simple, but making sure any contact details given on a CV are correct is key. You don’t want a wrong phone number or email address to mean an interview [..]

Fighting back against the PI claims scandal

Published on 2012-05-29 17:28:00

The personal injury niche generally comes in for a lot of bad press – deservedly so at times. As well as the infamous ambulance-chasing antics, sketchy client care and extortionate success fees, the dubious business of cross-referrals can badly impact the credibility of firms which work in this area. Perhaps most pernicious of all is the practice of insurance companies selling potential claims to the firm of solicitors with the highest bid. (Think of it as exploiting claimants via e-Bay).

Solve wasted heat and office greenery in one

Published on 2012-05-24 17:35:00

From How to Geek: I can’t exactly recall when the idea came to me, but at some point I started wanting to use the heat from a computer as a way to warm the soil and help with germination/growth.

Hitting back at the text-walkers

Published on 2012-05-20 17:36:00

From the Metro 15/05/12: People texting while walking in Fort Lee, New Jersey, could be slapped with an $85 (£53) fine after police decided to clamp down on the activity. It’s better than me slapping them I suppose. The Fort Lee Police Department has issued 117 tickets for reckless walking in the past month, with offenders being forced to pay the penalty. Officers pointed out at least 20 pedestrians who had been hit by cars while texting and walking to justify the fine. Police chief Thomas [..]

Hitting back at the text-walkers

Published on 2012-05-20 17:34:00

Best exam advice ever

Published on 2012-05-17 17:20:00

Judging from the stats on my blog at the moment, there are a lot of students (and not just law students) who are desperate (I mean really desperate!!) to find some kind of magic answer to: how to revise super-effectively and craft great answers in exams; knowing what’s going to come up in their exams; fluking their exams with or without any revisions if all else fails; and ending the months (years?) of studying torment because, you know, it’s all got a bit too much. Hmm - must be that t [..]

Stock photos – the generic face of today’s law firm

Published on 2012-05-16 17:21:00

Coffee trips, slips and spillages

Published on 2012-05-13 16:26:00

There’s nothing worse than a soggy bourbon! (Most) lawyers love coffee. In fact, I have heard it said there is a direct correlation between the greatness of a lawyer and the blend of coffee he or she drinks. I’m not so sure about that, but anecdotally at least, I think it’s a fair statement that the majority of lawyers love their coffee. I’m sure we’ve all had a mug miscalculation at work which results in stained trousers and a damp crouch for the rest of the afternoon. Ahem. Well, I [..]

It’s getting kind of quiet around here…

Published on 2012-05-12 16:53:00

I’ve just been clearing out / sorting some more of my Google Reader subscriptions.

Clinton Cards - Another one bites the dust

Published on 2012-05-10 17:21:00

From the Telegraph 09/05/12: In 2009 it made a pre-tax profit of £24.1m on sales of £345m, an operating profit margin of 7pc. Last year it made a loss of £10.6m on sales of £364m. The change in its fortunes has been swift. But it has been building up for a while. The company for too long was dismissive of the threat from email and e-cards, claiming most people enjoy sending and receiving real cards through the post. That may have been true a few years ago, but with high quality smart phon [..]

Lee Mack and Magic Eye chins

Published on 2012-05-07 17:08:00

As a kid I could never “see” Magic Eye prints (I mean, random dot autostereograms).

A Jury of Your Pyrs

Published on 2012-05-03 16:57:00

I’ve found StatCounter to be an excellent way of discovering new content in the past. Sometimes a site links to Law Actually totally unbeknownst to me and when a visitor swings by via that link, it’s logged in my stats, so I take a quick look. Earlier in the week, I spotted a few people had dropped by via My Muse Calls which, it turns out, is a fascinating blog of a hobby artist. Anyhow, it seems that the author, Judy, was doing some research into her latest work – a legally themed maste [..]

iJudges and practising law the Apple way

Published on 2012-05-01 17:17:00

From the New York Post 29/04/12: It’s an order from the court — send me an iPad! New York City judges are gobbling up Apple iPads, iPhones and computers with taxpayer cash. Not another expenses scandal?!

Parking space squeeze turns nasty

Published on 2012-04-29 16:39:00

But we’re not talking a dinged door or scratched paintwork during a parking manoeuvre gone wrong. Oh no. It’s something far worse!! From the Huffington Post (Weird News) 26/04/12: There are worse ways to die, but you probably don't want to think about them, especially if you're a guy. A Chinese man was reportedly killed last week when a woman squeezed his testicles until he collapsed during a fight over a parking space. Was a slap round the face just not enough then? An unidentified 41 [..]

On-shoring legal work is more popular than ever

Published on 2012-04-22 16:49:00

(No matter what RoF call it!!). From Roll on Friday 05/04/12: Simmons & Simmons is joining the outsourcing race by opening an office in Bristol. The new outpost will be restricted to real estate, projects and dispute resolution work, and will initially have between 15 and 20 lawyers on the ground. Outsourcing to Bristol. From London? Does that qualify as ‘outsourcing’? I know Bristol might seem to be a little off the beaten track to some (largely those who rarely step out of the capital [..]

Where there’s a plane, there’s a claim

Published on 2012-04-17 17:25:00

From the Express 17/04/12: Passengers forced to evacuate a Virgin Atlantic jet told last night how panicked cabin crew screamed “Get off as quick as you can” after making an emergency landing at Gatwick. One claimed the evacuation from the Airbus A330 was panicky, with one of the crew “screaming like a banshee” after an on-board alarm was triggered in flight. Erm – better safe than sorry, surely? Absolutely – but stop calling me Shirley.

PPI fraudsters give legitimate firms a bad name

Published on 2012-04-16 17:05:00

From STV11/04/12: A woman has been conned out a three-figure sum of money by a bogus PPI claims company. The 42-year-old received a phone call to her house in Telford Drive, Edinburgh on Wednesday March 28 from someone saying they were from a PPI claims company. They told her she was eligible for a refund and she was told to pay them a three-figure sum of money through UKash vouchers. The victim has not received a refund. A spokesman for the [Lothian and Borders Police] force s [..]

Vinnie Jones’ CPR given the all-clear

Published on 2012-04-15 16:04:00

From the Guardian 11/04/12: A TV campaign featuring Vinnie Jones teaching people how to resuscitate someone, set to the rhythm of the Bee Gees' Stayin' Alive, has been cleared by the advertising watchdog despite complaints it featured a medically unsafe technique The Advertising Standards Authority received 20 complaints that the ad, in which Jones teaches the correct timing of the technique by performing CPR* to the song, is harmful and likely to encourage unsafe behaviour as he is shown perfo [..]

April Skewers (and novel umbrellas)

Published on 2012-04-12 17:12:00

From the Telegraph 10/04/12: The Nubrella, which resembles a bubble wrapped around the user's head and shoulders, works by strapping on a shoulder support and extending a canopy around the head. Weighing just over 1kg, it costs £40 and comes in either black or see-through style. Inventor Alan Kaufman, 49, from Florida, said: "The major advantage is the wearer doesn't have to carry anything when not in use as it goes behind the head like a hood. Hmmm. Possibly. In high winds, th [..]

Easter messages

Published on 2012-04-08 15:47:00

Cracking.

Social media and location tracking - more un‘appiness

Published on 2012-04-06 16:56:00

From Digits – a blog from the Wall Street Journal 31/03/12: The developer of a controversial mobile app that used data from Facebook and Foursquare to reveal the location of nearby women defended its intentions Saturday after drawing a firestorm of criticism over privacy concerns. On Saturday, Foursquare cut off access to the “Girls Around Me” app that made it possible to view the location of women on a map and their publicly available data and photographs from Facebook. A number of [..]

Pet-trifying road traffic accidents

Published on 2012-04-03 16:21:00

From AOL Money 16/03/12: Direct Line pet insurance has revealed that more than a quarter of the dog and cat road accident claims it settled last year occurred in just 10 locations. Ouch. You might want to keep your furry friend on a leash if you live anywhere near those locations then! Still, maybe those who live in or around those areas are just more predisposed to settling claims?

How art those contract terms?

Published on 2012-04-02 16:27:00

I pray thee, good reader, let’s retire: The day is hot, the OFT abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring. … or something like that. From the Metro 23/03/12: Some websites ask users to wade through more words than a Shakespeare play in accepting the ‘terms and conditions’, a new investigation shows. PayPal, for example, demands visitors must read and accept 36,275 words of Ts&Cs, leaving Shakespeare’s longest play Hamlet tr [..]

Multi-tasking with Chrome

Published on 2012-04-01 06:20:00

Finally, Google’s sense of humour has returned. I love Chrome, and I’ve used it every single day for a few years now. As far as I’m concerned, no other browser even comes close. So what could be better than new functionality which allows you to be 50% more productive by enhanced multitasking. Oh yes, the aptly-named Multitask allows you to connect two mice to the one computer and enjoy twice the productivity by having one in each hand. (Mice, that is!). Don’t be a sceptic – after a [..]

Sexist label in trousers cause a stir

Published on 2012-03-28 16:07:00

From the Telegraph 06/03/12: Some sexist 'jokes' can be funny. Others are just offensive and we shouldn't succumb to societal pressure to laugh for the sake of it[.] This weekend, as I attempted to tidy to my house, I happened to notice the label inside my boyfriend’s trousers – which he had strewn across the floor of our bedroom. Upon picking them up, to throw them firmly onto ‘his chair’, (my weekly way of telling him that he needs to put his clothes away), this large white l [..]

Goodness Grapetious Me!

Published on 2012-03-26 16:38:00

From the Metro 22/03/12:

Fine print lawyers have all the fun...

Published on 2012-03-22 17:35:00

Over at Big Legal Brain (3 words which rarely go together my experience) I stumbled across a question and answer session with Greg Coughlin, who’s styled as “America’s Foremost Fine Print Lawyer”. For those of you who are a little puzzled, it is a genuine niche; it’s a kind of ‘what-it-says-on-the-tin’ thing. Remember: we’re talking American law here – it’s best to go with it and not ask too many questions to begin with. Q: You fine print lawyers must be a boring lot. [..]

Fraudulent case whips up a storm

Published on 2012-03-20 14:29:00

From the Telegraph 01/03/12: A mother has been jailed for claiming she suffered whiplash injuries in a fictitious car crash after her insurers took her to court in the first case of its kind. Samina Bashir, 28, admitted making a fake declaration for more than £5000 in damages after lodging a claim that she was in involved in a three-car pile-up, the High Court was told. Her husband, Faisal Rauf, 27, was also jailed after he supported the family’s false claim that they were involved [..]

The legal gravy train has been delayed

Published on 2012-03-18 18:16:00

From Roll on Friday 14/03/12: Ah to be a lawyer in America. Who doesn't watch Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, errr, Shark and dream of a snazzy corner office, sexy cases, fervent closing submissions (complete with fist waving and authoritative pacing) and a f*ck off penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park?

Wacky Searches–March 2012

Published on 2012-03-15 18:10:00

It’s been ages since I’ve done one of these posts, so what the heck: here goes. “nice loyers pens” - I’d work on the spelling first. You can worry about the cursive handwriting later. (Wouldn’t it have been embarrassing if I’d typed ‘speeling’? :p “Valentine restraining order” - and who said romance was dead. “management approach of left thigh swelling” – um, probably to grope it? “UK LLM expensive little return” - cynic! “personal injury portal inst [..]

Toilet Trouble

Published on 2012-03-13 18:02:00

From Huffington Post 13/03/12: The capital of New Jersey is at risk of running out of toilet paper thanks to a budget stalemate between the mayor and the city council. Dear oh dear. That could lead to some sticky tricky situations in cubicles throughout the Garden State’s capital. Oooh.� [Where’s that steaming pile of sh*t emoticon when you need it?] Supplies are already desperately low at government buildings including City Hall and according to Bloomberg News, there will be none [..]

Sofa Surfing turns deadly

Published on 2012-03-11 17:20:00

I’m not sure if this has passed me by until now, or it genuinely is a new (albeit crazy) pastime.� I’ve certainly not seen any instances of it on the roads over here; I don’t think it’s the type of thing I would have forgotten. It’s possibly even more ridiculous than this. From Sky News: A young man has died after crashing into an oncoming car while "surfing" on a sofa being towed behind a van. Francois Halle is believed to be the first victim of a craze called "couch surfi [..]

Stinky trains and squashed tomatoes

Published on 2012-02-23 17:05:00

I spotted a rather dull article in the Metro this morning (one of many), as I stood on a chilly platform waiting for the 07.58.� I had to abandon reading it as the train approached, and instead put on my determined ‘I’m-going-to-do-this-but-I-know-it’s-going-to-be-bad’ grimace as I prepared to board, ready to be hit by that wall of smell which can only be described as a sweaty dog mixed with overtones of early morning passenger excretions.� Oh the joy of trains. But I digress.� The arti [..]

No Win, No Tea – legal work experience with a difference

Published on 2012-02-21 16:17:00

From Roll on Friday 14/02/12: Poor old Hogan Lovells. Two years ago the firm launched its "Ladder to Law" programme. The scheme is intended to widen access to the profession by providing open days and work experience to kids from inner City state schools. It's clearly a very good thing. When it works... Heavens to Betsy. That sounds rather like inviting the hoi polloi to the legal party. That can’t be right, old chap. Yesterday morning one young student who was due to turn up never made [..]

Another Law Actually Birthday

Published on 2012-02-19 16:05:00

Yep. Another blogging birthday is ticked off. I looked back at what I wrote a year ago and was depressed to realise it was more or less identical to what I planned to write this time. So I just won’t bother. I think I’ll go off and enjoy some Law Actually birthday cake instead.�

Valentine’s Day cards for Geeks (and Geekesses)

Published on 2012-02-14 17:26:00

All found here. Tweet heart?� Oh my!� Feel like moaning in despair at this one?� Permission Granted. Inbox Zero isn’t awesome.� It’s an unattainable myth with no basis in reality.� As a Valentine’s Day card this fails miserably.� Next? Hmm.� Cute.� That antenna is very, um, erect.� Probably just a coincidence.� Bit of a damp squib.� I can’t see many ladies’ hearts going all-a-flutter on receipt of this.� That’s not to say that HTML and CSS can’t be sexy.� It just i [..]

King’s Student Law Review

Published on 2012-02-12 17:25:00

For those who aren’t in the know (and in the interests of karma), I thought it would be well worth flagging up the King’s Student Law Review, the existence of which I was alerted to recently. So what’s the big deal? Well, firstly, it’s an excellent peer-reviewed journal written by students for students everyone. It describes itself as an: online academic publication managed by students of the King's College London School of Law. The Review seeks to publish high-quality legal sch [..]

Family of brain-dead teen seeks permission for euthanasia

Published on 2012-02-08 16:09:00

From the Onion: The parents of 13-year old Caitlin Teagart have decided to end her life, saying she can now do nothing but lay on the couch and whine about things being "gay." The tragedy is we were all like that once. (Some more than others perhaps). Still, one painless injection and that’s it. Preferable to puberty any day, I guess. Brain-Dead Teen, Only Capable Of Rolling Eyes And Texting, To Be Euthanized

Siri and Scottish accents

Published on 2012-02-05 15:50:00

I was on a train on Saturday when I overheard someone asking their iPhone all kinds of weather updates – with varying degrees of success. Yep, it was snowflake panic central throughout the whole carriage. In the circumstances, it would have been a lot more efficient to have used the touchscreen instead of speech recognition to find out that the 5 snowflakes that had settled were enough to bring the country to its knees. I’m not an Apple user myself, and despite the good things I’ve heard [..]

Should they claim

Published on 2012-02-02 15:44:00

Recognising that large swathes of the public wouldn’t trust a personal injury solicitor further than they could throw him, one firm has decided to take on the challenge of restoring faith in this branch of the profession and in the worthiness of the claims they bring. I know what you’re thinking: pity the poor PI solicitor, eh? It comes to something when they need to drum-up business and bolster their credibility using an online game. But let’s not be cynical – give it chance. So, t [..]

Good for a giggle: Solicitors don’t solicit. Well, not in that way...

Published on 2012-02-01 17:37:00

I still find it staggering just how bad some university websites are at marketing their courses, given their budgets and specialist marketing departments. What with the hikes in tuition fees, increasing doubt over the value of degrees and the fact that traditional law school prospectuses are going the same way as the Yellow Pages, the effectiveness of their websites has never been more crucial. I should probably explain: I’ve visited loads of law school websites over the years. I’m sure I [..]

Asbestos dust and the corporate veil… revisited

Published on 2012-01-29 17:00:00

From the Metro 17/01/12: When Korah Leah came home from his job clearing asbestos his children would fling their arms around him the minute he arrived. As a worker in the 1930s he had no idea he was putting their lives at risk when he hugged the youngsters in his dust-caked overalls. But now, long after his death from cancer in 1968, two of his children have died from asbestos-related illnesses and a further six have irreversible lung damage. ‘It’s a terrible thing to happen [..]

BT pay the price for dodgy roadworks

Published on 2012-01-26 17:16:00

From ISPreview.co.uk 26/01/12: Transport for London (TfL), a UK public authority with responsibility for most aspects of London city's transport system (e.g. roads, railways etc.), have successfully prosecuted both BT and Cable & Wireless (C&W) over a string of "badly managed roadworks". The Westminster Magistrate's Court handed down several thousand pounds worth of fines to both firms for a raft of failings that included working without a permit, breach of permitting conditions [..]

That’s why punctuation exists

Published on 2012-01-25 16:55:00

Regular readers know that email is a constant (and painful) battle for me.� If you’ve forgotten, you might want to have a butchers at this and this.� I know everyone has gripes, but email gets on my proverbials in ways I can’t even describe. My latest peeve relates to the following ‘punctuation-less’ email which I received recently.� “Hi Mike* please see the attached would you leave them named as they are no need to put countersigned� thanks.” * OMG – off to a VERY bad star [..]

Text-o-rama – Personal Injury Spam

Published on 2012-01-22 17:43:00

I was clearing out my text messages earlier today and came across this brarmer I received a while back. “Our records indicate that you still haven’t claimed the £3750 compensation for the accident you had. To claim for free reply ‘YES’ to this message.” Interestingly, I didn’t delete it immediately; perhaps I left it in anticipation of an accident? I’m a glass-half-empty kind of chap, after all. While keeping it in my inbox might have brought me some comfort, it didn’t stop [..]

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