30th June: News up on Insite Law

News up on Insite Law Editor Mike SP Email Editor pick of the day 30th June 2009 Commons clerk raises legal obstacle to Westminster ‘clean-up’ Bill Times: “The Government’s attempt to replace self-regulation of MPs’ financial affairs by a new independent regulator faces an unexpected challenge. Ministers hope to push the Parliamentary Standards Bill through [...]

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Inner Temple / Middle Temple Library survey

Inner Temple has issued an online survey as part of their feasibility study into the possible merger of the two Inn libraries. You may express your thoughts on the possible plan to merge the two Inn Libraries: Click here for the Inner Temple Survey Inner Temple Library news has the details of the latest position [...]

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College of Law podcasts – Inside Track

The College of Law has asked me to present a series of 10 Podcasts on current legal issues which while aimed at prospective members of the profession will be of interest to qualified lawyers and non-lawyers who are interested in law alike.  I’m delighted to work with The College on this project and quite apart [...]

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Get a job as an MP and have lots of jobs…

Following on from DuckGate and MoatGate the newspapers are now running amok with tales of greedy MPs with multiple jobs; causing embarrassment to some, discomfort to others and general outrage from many.  Part-time MPs don’t give the attention to our affairs that the position merits.  I do understand that MPs may well be able to [...]

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29th June: News etc up on Insite Law

29th June: News etc up on Insite Law

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Rothschild and Freshfields founders linked to slavery

Rothschild and Freshfields founders linked to slavery Two of the biggest names in the City of London had previously undisclosed links to slavery in the British colonies, documents seen by the Financial Times have revealed. Financial Times: Nathan Mayer Rothschild, the banking family’s 19th-century patriarch, and James William Freshfield, founder of Freshfields, the top City [...]

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Beware of Greeks causing rifts… and other thoughts…

Beware of Greeks causing rifts While the ethical standards of today should not be applied to the acquisitions and  ‘grabs’ of yesteryear,  the hardening of the Greek government line in demanding the return of the Elgin Marbles is likely to fall on deaf ears.  The Economist has an interesting take on this – inter museum [...]

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27th June: Postcard from Armed Forces Day

I write from Chatham in Kent, home to the former Royal Naval Dockyard where HMS Victory was built and many other famous warships.  There is a lot of history on the Medway with Chatham, Rochester and Upnor providing much of interest. Today, Chatham is hosting Armed Forces Day – a celebration to honour those who [...]

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A series of podcasts on Civil Liberties – and the right to a fair trial

A series of podcasts on Civil Liberties – and the right to a fair trial Roger Smith, Director of Justice, writing in this week’s edition of The Law Society Gazette has a thoughtful piece called Acts of Folly and states: “New Labour’s anti-terrorism legislation has proved ill considered and unnecessary.” He adds..“We should remove the [...]

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Abercrombie & Fitch have pissed me off and many others too!

I am not impressed by Abercrombie & Fitch’s treatment of law student Riam Dean as my post this morning probably makes clear.  It goes wider than that.  Abercrombie & Fitch, a US company I understand, is tapping into the sort of brainless ‘yuppie Hooray henry shit’ which should have disappeared years ago but, sadly, still [...]

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Lawcast 145: Diane Abbott MP on the use of secret evidence

Lawcast 145: Diane Abbott MP on the use of secret evidence Today I am talking to Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington about her latest campaign to prevent the use of “secret” evidence in UK courts. Earlier in the year Diane tabled an early day motion (EDM) declaring “that this House [...]

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Abercrombie and who?: Woman with prosthetic arm forced to work ‘out of sight’ in storeroom

Woman with prosthetic arm forced to work ‘out of sight’ in storeroom Independent: Law student felt humiliated by clothing retailer, tribunal told The Independent reports today that a law student with a prosthetic arm was forced to work in the storeroom of the clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch because she did not fit with the [...]

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A rant… Time to defenestrate!!!

I was was one  of many  first purchasers of the Apple Mac 128k in 1984 (I think it was 1984).  I have used Macs all my professional life. They are excellent.   I bought a Sony Vaio PC three months ago because I felt I needed a PC laptop – simply because the world works [...]

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Burqa not welcome in France….

News, law reports update on Insite Law Nicolas Sarkozy: burqa not welcome in France Telegraph: President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that the Islamic burqa is ‘not welcome’ in France. In a speech at the Palace of Versailles, Mr Sarkozy said that the head-to-toe Islamic garment for women was not a symbol of religion but a [...]

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Snobbery and bed-wetting continues in Parliament.

We learn today that only three Tories voted for Bercow in the Speaker election. Nadine ‘off her’ Dorries was almost spitting with rage at the announcement.  Few Tories clapped in the Chamber. Bercow, although a Tory, was not ‘one of them’.   All in all, frankly, a pretty poor show. Dorries, apparently, described the election [...]

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Kickbacks? Good grief!….

It would appear that people have been lurking around on dark drizzly days in The Temple…. offering barristers work in return for kickbacks. The Bar Council announced today on their website: Kickbacks – ” The Bar Council has received reports that Chambers are being approached by a well established company who introduce clients to solicitors [...]

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Time to ditch the mumbo jumbo?

Tory MP John Bercow will get down to work chairing Commons proceedings after being elected Speaker of the House. BBC: Mr Bercow got 322 votes to fellow Tory Sir George Young’s 271 in the third and final round of secret voting. Gordon Brown and opposition leaders welcomed the appointment of Mr Bercow, who stood on [...]

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Blawg Review #217: A remarkable read…

I’m not a Father… I don’t have children – but this Blawg Review is beautifully written, thoughtful and covers some remarkable issues and life stories.  You don’t need to be a lawyer to enjoy this – but there is, also, a bit of law from the blawgers… of course. This is a very enjoyable Blawg [...]

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22nd June: News up on Insite Law

22nd June: News up on Insite Law

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Caption Competition Winner…

I am pleased to announce – while I would like everyone to win – that I drank of the wines of the Gods last night and after locking myself away and smoking enough to raise puffs of white smoke through the chimney… there is a winner of my Caption Competition last week …….. ……… and [...]

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