[Guvnor]

(Original post by chalks)
To the contrary, it's pretty standard practice that firms/corporates provide staff with the means to log in to their network remotely from home PCs and laptops. I work fro home one day a week in this way. I'm not sure if I see why you think there are flaws with such a system? If anything, I don't see what Dentons have done which is newsworthy!

My reaction was due to security reasons, that's all. A employee could save certain docs on his system initially so I do think that there are disadvantages to the system as well as advantages, plus the computer could get stolen, damaged, break down etc

[Guvnor]

Landmark ECHR ruling abolishes huge success fees for lawyers

http://www.rollonfriday.com/TheNews/...6/Default.aspx

[chalks]

(Original post by Guvnor)
My reaction was due to security reasons, that's all. A employee could save certain docs on his system initially so I do think that there are disadvantages to the system as well as advantages, plus the computer could get stolen, damaged, break down etc

Our system prevents users saving any docs onto anything other than the network i.e. you can't save onto your own machine so, if stolen, no docs are accessible. The security is very tight. As for the machine being damaged, breaking down etc then that's no different to a laptop owned by the firm.

[Guvnor]

(Original post by chalks)
Our system prevents users saving any docs onto anything other than the network i.e. you can't save onto your own machine so, if stolen, no docs are accessible. The security is very tight. As for the machine being damaged, breaking down etc then that's no different to a laptop owned by the firm.

Okay fair play, I put my hands up for being wrong, your in a better place then me to know so I agree with you, thanks for clearing up the misconception

[Guvnor]

College of Law launches undergrad degree - at £9,000 a year

http://www.rollonfriday.com/TheNews/...6/Default.aspx


http://l2b.thelawyer.com/col-makes-f...006736.article

[Guvnor]

Solicitor Andrew Crossley has withdrawn from 26 cases against illegal file sharers that he brought on behalf of MediaCat. Mr. Crossley of ACS: Law claims to have received death threats. The law firm had sent thousands of letters to alleged file-sharers, which attracted the criticism of consumer groups and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Further information on this story can be found at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12253746



The College of Law and BPP have introduced a new two-year LLB course. The school claims that the course will be more practice and business oriented than the standard LLB on offer at most universities. This move is seen as very significant in light of the rise in tuition fees for undergraduate courses. The two-year LLB will cost students £9,000 per year meaning students get to save a year’s tuition fees. However, students selecting the course will not qualify for the subsidised state loans available to students attending conventional universities. There are also questions over whether prospective employers in the legal sector recognise the qualification. Further information can be found at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/j...-education-law



City firm DLA Piper has announced plans to merge with Australian ‘best friend’ DLA Phillips Fox. The proposed merger is subject to partnership approval and shows an increased interest by city firms of expansion particularly into the Asia-Pacific region. Further information can be found at:
http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-targets...006759.article


The Law Society President Linda Lee said that government attempts to address control orders fell short of expectation. The new regime will still impose significant restrictions on liberty, including a nightly curfew, electronic tagging and severely restricted communication – all based on unproven allegations and evidence that the suspect is often not aware of and therefore unable to answer.
http://lawgazette.co.uk/news/law-soc...control-orders


The Junior Lawyers Division has warned that proposed cuts in legal aid could reduce the number of young lawyers entering the legal aid sector. Camilla Graham Wood, JLD executive chair and legal aid specialist, said: ‘Faced with such levels of debt, those from low-income families find it far harder to forge a career in legal aid, and social mobility in the sector is poor. They cannot afford to become legal aid lawyers, and the legal aid profession is becoming less and less representative of the people it serves – those without means.' Further information can be found at:
http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/cut...gal-aid-sector



Those doing their LPC and BPTC will be interested in a competition being run by the Sentencing Council, the first prize of which is a law firm work placement or mini-pupillage. Further information can be found at:
http://www.lawcareers.net/Informatio...il.aspx?r=2519


Finally, here’s an interesting article about the threat to parliamentary sovereignty from EU law and the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/j...ry-sovereignty

[vira]

Thank you for the updates, Guv'nor!

[Guvnor]

In a landmark ruling this week, The Supreme Court said that immigration authorities would have to listen to the views of children whose parents are facing deportation. The case in question involved a Tanzanian asylum seeker whose applications to remain in the UK had failed because she fraudulently posed as a Somali. Despite describing her immigration history as appalling the court said the children – whose father was British – should not be held responsible for their parents' shortcomings.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/fe...r-human-rights


A major system error meant that thousands of university applicants who sat for the LNAT failed to receive their results. The company administering the test-Person Vue, then informed students that the test results would be available at a later date (1st February). However, the students found that the results were incorrect because their scores were out of 30 instead of 42.
http://www.thelawyer.com/lnat-releas...006834.article


Kaplan Law School’s bid to introduce an entrance test for the Legal Practice Course (LPC) course has been rejected by the Solicitors Regulations Authority (SRA). An SRA statement featured in the Lawyer said: "The SRA has not validated any LPC proposals which feature aptitude testing as part of the admissions arrangements. The SRA is aware that the Law Society is presently carrying out research into the possible merits of such tests and we await their findings with interest."

http://www.lawcareers.net/Informatio...il.aspx?r=2526

The Supreme Court has expanded the definition of domestic violence to include physical contact as well as other forms of violent conduct. Baroness Hale delivering the judgement in Yemshaw v London Borough of Hounslow said that ‘physical violence’ is not the only natural meaning of the word ‘violence’; another is ‘strength or intensity of emotion, fervour, passion’. Hale added that international and governmental understanding of the term had developed beyond physical contact.

http://lawgazette.co.uk/news/supreme...-violent-abuse


Finally, for all budding solicitors, magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is introducing a two day international workshop 4 April and 5 April 2011. The first day will take place in the firm's London office and will include an introduction from a partner, a tour of the office and talks from Freshfields trainees who have been on client secondments. Day two will be spent in the firm's Amsterdam office, where students will participate in a commercial case study, receive presentations from local associates and go on an organised tour of the city.

http://careers.freshfields.com/globa...#39;s-new.aspx

[Guvnor]

Court bans man with low IQ from having sex
A man with a low IQ has been banned from having sex by a High Court judge who admitted the case raised questions about “civil liberties and personal autonomy”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...aving-sex.html

[Guvnor]

ACS Law officially shuts down

10 February 2011
ACS Law, the firm that sent thousands of letters to internet users it claimed were involved in illegal file sharing, has officially closed, the SRA confirmed yesterday after it received notification from the firm’s founder.
The regulator also confirmed the regulator was still pursuing separate proceedings against Andrew Crossley, the sole practitioner behind ACS Law.
Crossley was referred to the SDT on 25 August last year in the wake of complaints by consumer organisation Which? saying Crossley’s letters threatened recipients with legal action unless they paid £500 in damages.
Crossley denied the accusations, saying instead recipients were given the opportunity of entering into a compromise agreement to “close the matter off” if they wanted to.
On Tuesday the Patents County Court refused to allow notices of discontinuance filed by ACS Law in the case of 26 recipients of the letter who had refused to pay up.
Judge Birss QC said discontinuance in the circumstances would be an abuse of process and would give both ACS Law and its client Media CAT an “unwarranted collateral advantage” in that they would avoid judicial examination of their behaviour.
The judge pointed to the agreement between ACS Law and Media CAT under which the firm received 65 per cent of the revenues generated from writing letters to suspected infringers, before adding: “Media CAT’s financial interest is actually much less than that of ACS Law. Whether it was intended to or not, I cannot imagine a system better designed to create disincentives to test the issues in court.”
He continued: “Media CAT and ACS Law have a very real interest in avoiding public scrutiny of the cause of action because, in parallel to the 26 court cases, a wholesale letter-writing campaign is being conducted from which revenues are being generated. This letter-writing exercise is founded on the threat of legal proceedings such as the claims before this court.”
Unpicking the applicants’ approach, the judge said the claims were based on “untested legal and factual propositions and issues of technology” and that the letter sent to thousands of consumers “materially overstates the untested merits of Media CAT Ltd’s approach”.
“Why take cases to court and test the assertions when one can just write more letters and collect payments from a proportion of the recipients?” he asked.
He also commented on the involvement of GCB Ltd, a separate company which momentarily collected the sums claimed by Media CAT.
“The GCB episode… was nothing more than a last ditch attempt to make some money from the letter-writing exercise,” he said.
Ralli, who acted for some of the defendants, has been contacted by about 250 individuals who received letters from ACS Law and is considering a possible harassment claim against the firm.

http://www.solicitorsjournal.com/sto...ion=getsession

[Guvnor]

A bit late this week, just really busy I guess the others are as well,


Research by trade body TheCityUK has shown that the profits of the top 100 law firms in the UK for the year 2009/10 is up by 1% to £4 Billion despite the fact that revenues are down 4% to £13.7 Billion over the same period. Acording to the research, the top 100 law firms have saved upto £500 million in costs over the period.
Globally, the top 100 firms have seen a decline in revenue by 6% to £46.5 Billion for the first time in a decade.
The research also shows that the legal servises sector contributed to £23.1 Billion or 1.8% of the UK’s GDP. Further information on this research can be found at:

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/leg...its-uk-economy


Investment bank Credit Suisse is suing city firm Linklaters for £115 million for professional negligence over a deal with Italian food giant Parmalat. The advice concerned a £500 million convertible bond issue by Parmalat’s Brazilian subsidiary to which the bank subscribed and and a complementary forward sale agreement (FSA) that saw the company pay the bank €248m in return for future share entitlement. The dispute has arisen over Credit Suisse’s claims that Linklaters were negligent in advising the bank on the transaction and as a result prevented the bank from negotiating better terms. Linklaters will be advised by Clyde & Co while Allen & Overy is advising Credit Suisse alongside Italian law firm, Chiomenti Studio Legale.
http://www.thelawyer.com/linklaters-...006917.article



The Russell Group (a lobbying group for Oxford, Cambridge and 18 other universities) has issued guidance on which subjects are most likely to earn students a place at a top 20 institution. The guide called ‘Informed Choices’ states that many of the top degree courses will not be open to students unless they have studied at least two 'facilitating subjects'. The list of preferred subjects includes English, maths, physics, biology, chemistry, geography, history and languages. Spokesperson for the Institute of Career Guidance - which collaborated on the new guide - Andy Gardner told The Lawyer: "Law A-level is not a facilitating subject, but if someone is interested in law A-level, they could choose it alongside some facilitating subject.
http://www.lawcareers.net/Informatio...il.aspx?r=2529


Finally, in the wake of reports of increasing elitism in the legal profession, magic circle firms Allen & Overy (A&O), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Slaughter and May have backed a website designed to boost social mobility. The trio, along with accountancy firm Deloitte, are among the first to sign up to charity website Accessprofessions.com which gives students aged between 13 and 21 opportunities to enhance their career prospects. Students can access information on careers fairs, 'taster' days, work experience, summer schools, seminars and lectures; and those who register their details (including their education and career aspirations) are contacted by email when suitable opportunities arise.
http://accessprofessions.com/

[Guvnor]

Due to changes in client requirements, Olswang have decided to cancel its 2013 recruitment programme for London. In a statement reported in The Lawyer, the firm said: "Along with our competitors, we have seen a change in client demands and this has resulted in a change in our resourcing requirements, particularly at trainee level. We want to ensure that our trainees get consistently excellent experience and on-the-job training during their training contracts, in addition to the required formal training, and we feel that a smaller trainee body will allow us to ensure this consistently as the legal market continues to change."

http://www.lawcareers.net/Informatio...il.aspx?r=2534

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer have successfully defended their clients RBS in the latest round of litigation over the Liverpool FC sale. The claimants Tom Hicks and George Gillet were attempting to have an anti suit injunction dismissed. An anti suit injunction prevents parties from commencing or pursuing a lawsuit in another jurisdiction. Mr. Hicks and Mr. Gillet were hoping to have a Texas court block the sale of Liverpool FC to New England Sports Ventures (NESV). Floyd J is his judgement said: “I still find it difficult to imagine what possible real connection such a claim would have with any jurisdiction in the United States. The disputes concern an English asset, duties owed by English directors under English law to English companies, and corporate governance arrangements governed by English law.”

http://www.thelawyer.com/freshfields...007003.article


City law firm Clifford Chance has announced a merger with two Australian boutique firms: Sydney firm Chang, Pistilli & Simmons, and Perth firm Cochrane Lishman Carson Luscombe. The combined operation will bear the Cliford Chance name and add 14 lawyers to the Clifford Chance global network.

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/cli...stralian-firms


the UCL Human Rights Institute is hosting “An evening with Robert King”. Robert King was convicted of a murder he didn’t commit and was sentenced to life without parole and spent 29 years in solitary confinement (a 6ft x 9 ft cell) in Louisiana’s Angola prison until his release in 2001. While in prison, King joined Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, who were convicted with King, in successfully organizing prisoners to improve conditions; reducing rape, sexual assault, improving food quality and tackling racism - all of which were condoned and even instigated by prison security. Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox remain in Angola prison to this day despite having their convictions overturned by Federal courts, and are now the focus of a recent film, ‘In the Land of the Free’, narrated by Samuel L Jackson. Robert King comes to UCL to tell his personal story of injustice and to expose the cruelty of the prison-industrial complex. He calls into question both the systemic injustices involving class and racism that lead people to unjust incarceration as well as the human rights violations that prisoners must endure once incarcerated. The film 'In the Land of the Free' will also be shown and the director will be in attendance. It’s worth checking out for those interested in criminal law and/or human rights law. The event takes place on the 7th of March at 6 P.M at UCL’s JZ Young Anatomy Lecture Theatre. Further details are available at:

http://robertkingucl.eventbrite.com/

For those who can’t attend the UCL event, another screening will take place at the Rio Theatre on the 12th of March. Further details are available at:
http://www.riocinema.ndirect.co.uk/2...lcreenings.htm

[GoBigOrGoHome]

(Original post by billybob13)
Program on BBC about banks/financial crisis - could be useful. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...o_Big_to_Save/

For people looking for this, it has been taking off iPlayer

but i found it here

http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvi..._Big_To_Save_/

I would definitely recommend viewing.... rather embarrassingly, i think really enjoyed watching it as well

[Guvnor]

Ex-Goldman Sachs director charged with insider trading

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12615158

[InterviewBeast]

We always get asked about what "commercial awareness" means. Certainly, approaching this concept literally isn't particularly useful, as you will know. In truth it's really marketing guff, and shouldn't intimidate anyone.

As careers coaches we consider it to require, at an absolute minimum, that candidates appreciate the four following things:

(i) that the firms to which they are applying have an underlying profit motive and understand that they are being recruited to help the business achieve this;
(ii) how firms make (or lose) money (for example, many law firms make money primarily through the traditional "billable hour" business model) and how this business model differs from other industries (e.g. finance) and the pros and cons of this approach;
(iii) how firms win business and why a client might choose one firm over another for reasons other than expertise; and
(iv) a knowledge of the types of clients that a firm represents and a high-level understanding of what issues might be most important to them.

[Guvnor]

The Supreme Court in Sienkiewicz v Greif and Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council v Willmor, recently ruled that A person exposed to even tiny amounts of asbestos who then contracts mesothelioma can claim compensation from those who caused the exposure. Merseyside women Enid Costello, who died in 2006, and Dianne Willmore, who died in 2010, contracted mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. Costello was exposed while working in the offices of packaging factory Greif between 1966 and 1984. Willmore was exposed while studying at Bowring Comprehensive School in Merseyside in the 1970s.

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/rul...asbestos-cases



A leading legal aid firm, Hodge Jones & Allen, has accused the Metropolitan police of criminalising a generation of students for taking part in the protests against tuition fees. The firm, which specialises in protest litigation, argues that the Met has handed out an excessive number of cautions for the offence of aggravated trespass to students. Ruth Harman, one of the firm’s criminal lawyers warned that students had to disclose any cautions when applying for jobs in teaching, law and medicine, among other professions. "While aggravated trespass might not be the sort of offence that would automatically make a person ineligible for a job, it may encourage an employer to favour another candidate over the candidate with a caution. Our concern is that, by using these wide discretionary powers, the Met are criminalising a generation of political activists.”


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/ma...ation-students

[Guvnor]

The Sun and the Daily Mail have been found guilty of contempt of court for publishing a picture of a murder trial defendant, Ryan Ward, posing with a gun on their websites. In a landmark ruling for Internet publishing, the high court found that the publication of the photograph created a "substantial risk" of prejudicing the defendant's murder trial in November 2009.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...-mail-contempt


US Senator has introduced a bill which would allow external investment in US law firms. The bill has been introduced by Senator Fletcher Hartsell, who is a lawyer and is designed to allow, “non-attorney ownership of professional corporation law firms”. The limit of ownership would be 49 per cent under Hartsell’s recommendations, leaving the majority of the corporation’s shares in lawyer hands.

http://www.thelawyer.com/us-senator-...007232.article

[Rosey2]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ust_Your_Bank/

[marrythenight]

(Original post by hmaus)
Thanks for this link I fancied watching this when it was mentioned before but iplayer isn't available where I live.

I just watched it, was very good! I'm just a first year trying to improve my commercial awareness so bits were a bit difficult to understand.. all that CDO stuff and 'Basel 3' but mainly fine!

[colly6191]

Which area of law would you most like to change and why?