Garrow's Law...

is a new series on BBC1 based on the Old Bailey trial records. It shows the development of our modern adversarial system of justice and might be an eye-opener as to how the courts once worked - or didn't! It's based on pioneering Eighteenth-century Barrister William Garrow's career. Watch here!

The "super injunction" they didn't want you to see...

...has now been published by the Guardian. Have a look here.

DNA database - victory for our rights, or foolish lefty hand-wringing?

Looks like the government have dropped plans to retain the DNA data
of innocent people on their database for between 6 and 12 years.

This follows a European Court of Human Rights ruling that keeping such data indefinitely was unlawful in the case of S and Marper v UK (2008).

Current developments are an interesting insight into the passage of a bill through parliament (which we will look at next year as part of Sources of Law) as the government is having to make concessions to its opponents in order to get the majority of the Policing and Crime Bill past Parliament.

Do you think that such data should be kept on people or not, and why? Are we striking the right balance between police powers and civil liberties?

Comments please...

Trafigura and super-injunctions

Can't believe I haven't blogged this yet... this has been a massive week for the law, freedom of speech and social media.

Should a company be allowed to obtain an injunction restricting the press from reporting something, AND restricting the press from reporting the injunction itself?

Oil-trading company Trafigura have been in hot water, accused of dumping potentially toxic waste off the Ivory Coast, which was alleged to have caused illness and injury to many people.

They commissioned a scientific report into the matter, and then attempted to keep it secret, presumably not liking the contents, which included the idea that the dumping of waste could hace caused effects such as severe burns to the skin and lungs, eye damage, permanent ulceration, coma and death (although the report was expressed in cautious terms).

Clearly those people suing Trafigura for personal injury would have liked to see this report!

Last month Trafigura paid residents of Abidjan in Ivory Coast £30m plus costs in a confidential out of court settlement.

Before the settlement announcement, Trafigura's lawyers Carter-Ruck obtained a super-injunction from Court, banning the press not only from revealing the existence of the Minton report, but also from telling anyone about the existence of the injunction. They also attempted to stop reports of questions about this matter that were asked in Parliament.

As a result Trafigura and their lawyers have been accused of trying to gag Parliament and infringe on freedom of speech. Another feature of this case was the pressure applied by people using Twitter, who were outraged by the injunction!

Read Charlie Brooker on this here.

Gwen Henshaw at Loreto

We were privileged today to have a visit from Criminal barrister Gwen Henshaw from Central Chambers in Manchester. We were treated to a fantastic talk about what it means to be an advocate in the criminal courts. The talk was attended by about 100 students - thanks for the turnout everyone! We also had a really interesting question and answer session; Gwen was bombarded with questions and we ended up running out of time!

Miss Standing and I would like to say a really big thankyou to Gwen for giving up her valuable time for coming to speak to us. It provided the students with genuine insight and inspiration. Thanks Gwen!

Law personal statements

Anyone at Loreto who would like any help with their personal statements for law at uni can get in touch with me, Miss Vollam or Miss Standing for advice. In the mean time, here's some sound guidance from the lovely chaps at allaboutlaw: clicky....

Routes into the legal profession

All about law is a really good website for law students that's just had a revamp.

There's a really good interactive diagram of routes into the legal profession. There may well be more ways in than you thought - for AS study with OCR, you only really need to know the graduate path... but for your own life, you need to know that there's more than one way to skin a cat!

Listen...

...to this interview by legal blogger Charon QC with the Chief Executive of BPP law school for an insight into the academic and vocational stages of training to be a solicitor or barrister.

You could even take notes. Should I hold my breath?

Got what it takes?

...to become a top city solicitor?

Listen to this podcast of top legal blogger Charon QC talking with Lynn Johansen of Clifford Chance. A lot of what she says about the application and training process applies to most city law firms.

Meanwhile, there's another podcast here about the College of Law opening a new branch right here in Manchester. Some of you may end up studying there one day! Have a listen to find out what it might be like...

Supreme Court's first case

...watch here.

UK Supreme Court blog

Just noticed that solicitors from Olswang (big London law firm) and barristers from renowned human rights barristers chambers Matrix have set up a blog tracking the new Supreme Court, so you can keep an eye on what they are up to... clicky

A new way of dealing with divorce...

...is called the collaborative approach. Instead of fighting through the courts, the parties are encouraged to settle their differences through a more amicable negotiation process. After success in family law, we may see more of this approach spreading throughout the courts. Divorce does not (apparently) have to be hell on earth...

Shortly we will be looking at ADR on the course - collaborative law is a great example!

You can listen to a Radio 4 programme about collaborative law here.

The future of the legal profession?

The Barristers

...was a fly-on-the-wall documentary made last year with unprecedented access to the Bar. Have a look here - the whole series is on YouTube in 10-minute clips!

Magistrates

Middle aged, middle class and middle minded - or is this just a stereotype?

Date for your diary!

On Friday 16th October at 1.00pm we are lucky to have a visit from Gwen Henshaw, a barrister from Central Chambers in Manchester.

Miss Henshaw has cleared space in her very busy shcedule tot alk to us about her life and work as a barrister. It is essential that all AS Law students attend, as well as any A2 students considering a career in the legal profession.

Miss Henshaw will be taking questions at the conclusion of her talk so get your thinking caps on and come up with some good ideas!

Jury finds Audenshaw boys not guilty... in only 45 minutes!

The two teenagers charged with plotting a Columbine-style massacre at Audenshaw High School were acquitted by a Crown Court Jury after only 45 minutes of deliberations yesterday. It makes you wonder whether the whole case was a waste of public money... should the CPS have brought the prosecutions at all?

Story here.

Watch the boys give their reaction to the verdict on the BBC here. See what their headteacher had to say about it here.

Below is Sky News' coverage of the boys' reaction:

Supreme Court podcast

Radio 4 report - listen here.

Really good programme on the Supreme Court on Radio 4 this Sunday at 5pm too.

The New Supreme Court

...replaces the House of Lords as the highest court in our domestic hierarchy this year. The Supreme Court will sit for the first time in October 2009.

Radio 4 had an interesting discussion of the possible impact of this new institution this week - listen here. (Only available for 6 more days on iPlayer).

The BBC discuss fears over the court's new role here. Have a look at some stunning photos of the new building here, and read a potted history of the Law Lords.

Follow us on twitter

Click the link on the right!

Role model?

Some people have all the talent, don't they? Eniola Aluko, for one. 3 goals in the European Championships for England... and a career with city law firm Simmons Cooper Andrew to boot (excuse the pun)!

Students - can you imagine just how much work Eniola has put in to achieve these two massive successes?

Aluko's long term aim is to become a barrister, and who would bet against her given her current achievements?

Moral - if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything. Even if we can't all play for England!

Can kids be criminals?

There's a really good discussion on Radio 4's Law in Action programme here, or download the free podcast of it here.

Can younger children know right from wrong?

Can they anticipate the true consequences of their actions?

Can they understand complicated court proceedings?

So, what do you think the age of criminal responsibility should be? 10? 12? 14? 18? Thousands of crimes are committed by the under 10s, but are we demonising our kids?

Complete the poll on the right - but read the article or listen to the discussion first!

Trips to Employment Tribunals

We are off to the Employment Tribunals next week!

Mr Howells' Thurs morning class - meet outside the Tribunals at 9.20am

Mr Howells' Thursday afternoon class - meet outside the Tribunals at 1.40pm

See map below! Travel directions are here.

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MMU Law Talk/LNAT talk

Manchester Metropolitan University are coming into College to talk to AS students about studying Law at degree level.

This is taking place on Wednesday 10th June at 1.00pm in the Theatre. Tickets are available from Mr Howells, Miss Standing or Jarra in the Study Centre.

If you are even vaguely considering studying law at any University, this event will be well worth attending!

LNAT Talk - 18th June

Miss Standing will be giving a talk on the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) and personal statements for law students at 1.00 in the Theatre on Thursday 18th June. Again, if you are considering studying law at University, this will be very useful for you, as many Universities require applicants to take this test. Miss Standing will also cover UCAS personal statements for law students.

See you all there...

Court trips

Mr Howells and Miss Standing's shared group - Wednesday 10th June, morning - meet at Court at 9.45.

Mr Howells' Mon/Thurs group - Thursday 11th June, afternoon - meet at Court at 1.30pm.

Mr Howells' Tues/Thursday group - Thursday 11th June, morning - meet at Court at 9.45 am.

Minshull Street Crown Court is near Piccadilly Station:


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For more details, watch this space!