Thursday, 29 January 2009

New laws to combat web piracy


The Government today announced proposals for new laws to combat web piracy. Lord Carter, the government's Communciations Minister, has announced that ISPs (Internet Service Providers) will be forced to crack down on web piracy by reporting pirates and informing pirates that what they are doing is illegal. However the proposals stop short of forcing ISPs to cut pirates off altogether.
Some people think this doesn't go far enough....

Unfair Contract Terms - Proposals for Reform


A2 students - the Law Commission describe the current law in this area as "unnecessarily complicated and difficult to understand". Having studied it, I'm sure you all agree.

Read a summary of the Law Commission's proposals for reforming the law in this area here.

Are the Lords above the law?

...or does the Rule of Law apply to them as it does to everyone else?

Have a read of the Times article here - a fantastic expose of the protection afforded to our parliamentarians.

Read what the person in charge of the House of Lords, Baroness Royall, has to say about this here.

Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Email updates now available!

Just pop your email address into the box on the left!

Monday, 26 January 2009

Labour Lords "change laws for cash"?


So say The Times...

What price democracy?* Well, about £25 grand it seems - minimum!

Listen to the tapes from the Sunday Times here...

* Sorry, did I say democracy? Peers aren't elected in the first place!

Friday, 23 January 2009

Shannon Matthews' Mum gets 8 years

You can read the judge's sentencing remarks in the case here - a good example of how judges apply the law on sentencing in practice.

Manchester's Civil Justice Centre



£160 million pounds, 16 storeys high...

...and it can be seen from the upper floors of Loreto. It's an amazing building and open to the public so go and have a look! Read about it here or have a look at a video clip here.




They've come a long way from the dusty old buildings on Deansgate that I used to have cases in!


Thursday, 22 January 2009

Exam Dates

Sources of Law - Friday 22nd May, PM.


Law of Contract - Tuesday 16th June, AM.

Monday, 19 January 2009

Live feed from Parliament

Click to watch.

Snakes and Maces!


Still not sure how a Bill becomes law?













How does a Bill become law?

Have a look at this guide to the legislative process for a really good explanation of how a Bill becomes law.

Note that all Acts of Parliament do not become law until they receive the Royal Assent - in other words until the Queen (or one of her representatives) signs off on it
A really good site for all things legislative is http://www.parliament.uk/ - can you find an example of an Act that is currently making its way through Parliament?
Meanwhile for a virtual tour of the House of Commons, click here!

Cameras in Court?

Is this a good idea?

In America, many trials are televised, with some becoming media sensations.
So, what use is it to have cameras in court? Keir Starmer QC (pictured), the new Director of Public Prosecutions, has said that he is not opposed to the idea.

For an example of what it might look like, have a look here at three Scottish judges delivering a verdict on the Nat Fraser, who lost his appeal against a life sentence for murdering his wife.

Media madness or justice being seen to be done? You decide!

Friday, 16 January 2009


Wednesday, 14 January 2009

Don't believe everything you read in the papers!

Law students - a word of advice. Don't take everything you read in the papers as fact.

This article in the Daily Mail is a perfect example. It claims that the judge ruled that a "yob" (interesting term to use for someone found not guilty by the way!) "walked free" from Court as the prosecution's witness was "too believable".

Sounds terrible, eh?

It would be if it were true!

In reality the judge was not prepared to convict someone against whom the only evidence was someone having a glimpse lasting no more than a couple of seconds!

Remember the standard of proof in criminal cases is "beyond reasonable doubt"!

If the ONLY evidence is such a brief glimpse, with nothing else to corroborate it, is there such reasonable doubt?

Of course!

Therefore the judge was clearly correct to direct an acquittal in this case.

The problem for the Daily Mail (and the Metro, which they also own by the way!) is that this doesn't fit in with their "Judges are out of touch and soft" agenda - so they report only the bits they want you to hear!

So be careful not to believe what you read in the papers - they ALL have one bias or another!

Monday, 12 January 2009

How was it for you?

How did you get on in your AS Law exam? I thought it was a fair paper.

Leave a comment! (Please leave a name though, anonymous comments will be deleted!) Best comment wins a choccy prize...

In other news, the system for appointing QCs (the highest rank of barrister) is still biased, according to solicitors. Well, who'da thunk it?

Thursday, 8 January 2009

New crimes for 2009?


Queens Counsel, from The Times.

Tuesday, 6 January 2009

The Eurymedon - an explanation!

The K-Zone has an explanation of this case which i have used to produce this document setting out the case as simply as I can.

Have a read - any questions, let me know.

Monday, 5 January 2009

New powers for the police to hack into your PC!

Interesting article in the Independent here. Needs authorisation from a Chief Constable. No need for a warrant though!

Another step on the road to a police state or a proportionate response to cybercrime? Read The Times on the same story here for a bit more depth.

Dominic Grieve of the Conservative party sees this as a potential threat to privacy - what do you think?