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The Convention Belongs To You
This video is an easy Monday morning way of thinking about and remembering the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Hung Parliaments & Queen Activation
Conservatives win more seats than any of the other Parties, but don't have a majority. Have you turned to the unwritten section of the British Constitution to see what happens next? Confused? Professor Peter Hennessey explains hung Parliament procedure here and the...
Birthers, Law and Reading Comprehension
"Birthers", if you didn't know, refers to people who think Barack Obama does not satisfy the "natural born citizen" requirement contained in the US Constitution and thus is ineligible to be President of the United States. Some birthers think Obama was born in Kenya...
The Case for a UK Bill of Rights?
I am usually the first one to defend the UK's unwritten Constitution. Then I read stories like the following and wonder if it really will take a single, codified document for the Executive to get the message. "Police are removing valuables from unlocked cars to shock...
Scrap the HRA for a British Bill of Rights?
If you're a Public law student who's going to be in London on 20 April, I highly recommend getting a ticket to the Times/Matrix Chambers debate: "This House believes that the Human Rights Act should be scrapped and replaced by a British Bill of Rights" Student tickets...
QLTT to QLTS: Putting the Kibosh on Kiwi Lawyers?
As of September 2010, it's going to get a wee bit harder for overseas qualified lawyers to become English solicitors. The days of foreign lawyers from common-law jurisdictions passing an open-book solicitor's accounts exam and having their supervising solicitors...
And Speaking Of New York
This is the story of a man whose "never say die" spirit has yet to be rewarded. Read on: All his life, Robert Bowman wanted to be a lawyer. He overcame a troubled childhood, a tragic accident that nearly cost him a leg and a debilitating Jet Ski collision. He put...
Can’t Make It In England, So Go To New York?
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that New York Bar courses are the latest UK legal education money-spinner? CLT and BPP allude to the "benefit" of a dual US/UK qualification and hey, maybe they're right - but now the College of Law is going that step...
Graduate Advice
A second-year LL.B. student asked me the other day if it was, "too early" to start making summer placement and training contract applications. Absolutely not. I'll let the legend that is Dr Menski explain.
Let’s Talk About Essay Writing
If you want to write a great essay, you must have an introduction. It sounds simple enough, but students struggle with the concept of stating their conclusion in their introduction. When my lecturer suggested I write a "formal" introduction and conclusion, I thought...
