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Spotlight on: Sir Alec Jeffreys
When Sir Alec Jeffreys made the discovery that formed the basis of DNA profiling, he immediately saw the potential for uses in forensic and legal investigations. What he perhaps didn’t expect was the impact this single discovery would have on solving difficult paternity and immigration cases, catching criminals and freeing the innocent.
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Tort law: Ireland, personal injury and the myth of the victimless crime
The massive increase of personal-injury claims that have turned out to be fraudulent has forced insurance companies and the legislature to take action. In Ireland, perjury is currently a common-law crime, but lawyers are seeking to change this to make it a statutory offence and ensure the perpetrators are properly punished.
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AAL Blog: UK greenhouse gas emission target, Hong Kong extradition law, and more
Welcome to the third edition of AllAboutLaw’s weekly blog! This week, we briefly look at legislation aiming to cut greenhouse gas emissions to a net zero, as well as the Hong Kong extradition law and the use of surveillance technology.
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Human rights law: journalists under fire
From Russia and Turkey to Saudi Arabia, journalists are being persecuted and even killed. The media has never been more under threat; even in the US, accusations of ‘fake news’ from President Donald Trump are putting traditional media outlets on the ropes. We look at the laws protecting the free press, and the challenges they face.
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AAL Blog: your weekly legal news drop
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Family Law: Legislation and Modern Family
Now that civil partnerships are available for everyone, we explore the differences between civil partnerships and traditional marriages, and look at the upcoming changes in law regarding today’s families.
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We demand action: why people are worried about the law industry
We take a look at the serious concerns being raised by the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division, looking at where the legal industry needs to reassess or improve: from training contracts to health and wellbeing.
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Mergers and acquisitions: an anatomy
One of the biggest processes a client can go through is a merger or acquisition—in fact, there’s an entire area of practice devoted to it. Here’s a brisk run through the basics, so you’ll be able to keep up the next time you read about one!
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The history of parliamentary privilege
What happens when parliamentary privilege goes head to head with legal rulings in the age of social media? And does there need to be a new rule book on freedom of speech within the government?
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Plastics pollution – providing a coherent solution
With single-use plastics being scrutinised and banned, the UK appears to have acknowledged its plastic pollution problem. But it’s a global problem as well as a national one. Elizabeth Kirk, professor of international environmental law at Nottingham Law School, discusses how it could be solved.
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Criminal law: Tackling domestic violence in the UK
Propelled forward by the #metoo movement, the conversation surrounding domestic violence is gaining momentum in the UK. How has legislation on this issue changed over the years? And, as our understanding of what constitutes domestic abuse changes, how will the law shift to accommodate this?
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“For us, change is not in any way threatening, it’s what we do every day here”: Introducing the M-law
Combining a qualifying law degree and the legal-practice course, the undergraduate Masters in Law Honours (M-law) programme is a possible direct route to a training contract. John Clifford, head of law at Pearson Business School, talks us through the M-Law and addresses how it fits in with the wider future trends in the profession.
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ULaw in Norwich: The University of Law announces a collaboration with University of East Anglia
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NDAs: Is it time to break the culture of silence?
Non-disclosure agreements are commonplace across a wide variety of sectors. But recent events suggest that they are being used to keep crimes under wraps. We take a look at the Government’s recent action on unjust confidentiality clauses.
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Implementation of the Climate Change Act
With environmental warnings from the scientific community becoming ever more dire, we take a look at the landmark UK legislation that aimed to reduce our usage of fossil fuels. How effective has it really been?
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Training contracts: ultimate deadline checklist
For most of you, there’s only going to be one goal for the next couple of months—securing a training contract. Ahead of the deadline, here’s everything you’ll need to have in place to make sure your application is at the top of the pile.
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The growth of e-discovery
The massive growth of electronically-stored information (ESI) has increased the cost and complexity of the discovery process, coined a new term (electronic discovery) and resulted in the emergence of new roles in litigation support and trial technology.
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Shamima Begum, Sajid Javid, and the legal question of citizenship
Shamina Begum is the world-famous “ISIS bride” who traveled to ISIS-controlled territory in Syria at 15 years old and married an ISIS fighter. She now wishes to return home; however, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has stated that he will not permit her to return. She was stripped her of her British citizenship in February 2019 and her case is under appeal. It was revealed recently that Begum will be eligible for legal aid. Despite near-universal condemnation of ISIS, the decision has provoked considerable controversy on legal grounds.
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Your guide to competency-based questions
Competency-based questions: Just one aspect of the law application process that never fails to freak candidates out. Luckily, Amy Ruff, graduate recruitment officer at Shoosmiths, is on hand to talk you through these particularly tricky questions.
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Kim Kardashian, and the art of the side hustle
With Kim Kardashian West set to become a lawyer—alongside her many other endevours—the side hustle is having a bit of a moment. Matthew Kay of Vario explains how you too can balance a legal career and a successful business.
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Racism in football: the lowdown on laws and regulations
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Shoosmiths reveals expansion plans for trainee solicitor programme
Shoosmiths is expanding its trainee solicitor programme with an increase in trainee and NQ recruits, expansion into the London office, and two trainee intakes annually.
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Legal insights: the prospect of the right to die
Recent news reveals that 90% of people believe that terminally ill people should be granted the right to die. However, laws in the UK do not allow for this. Here, we examine two countries—Belgium and Canada—where the right to die has been granted, and two others—the US and the UK—where the right-to-die debate has been particularly prominent.
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The Viagogo effect
It has long been the case that tickets for sold-out events re-enter the marketplace on ticket resale sites. One such site, Viagogo, has attracted significant legal criticism.