The devil….fortunately.. makes work for idle hands

I had hoped that today would mark a return to more serious matters.  It would appear, despite the global economageddon, that much of Britain appears to holiday on.  I have never had so many *Out of Office* email promises to ignore my emails when the recipient finally gets backs to work at some point this [...]

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Postcard from The Staterooms (2): Unitit Kingdom Pairlament in Lunnon… edition..

First a bit of genius… HT to @Johnthelutheran .. this is wonderful stuff from Dudley Moore: Dudley Moore plays Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.33, the “Colonel Bogey”. A couple of new law blogs:  The Bungablog  on The Bribery Act 2010 by barrister James Vine …..and This Much I Know – Alison Graham-Welles, Barrister. The Bribery Act [...]

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Postcard from the Staterooms: No sh*t Sherlock edition

Dear Reader, It being the bank holiday weekend, a festival to mark the end of the British summer and a transition from torpor back to realities of work, I thought I would have a wander about the online law magazines , a few law blogs and the press to find out what is happening.  I [...]

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Rive Gauche: Dumbed down legal Britain is but months away….?

The final bank holiday of the year until Christmas is upon us.  Next week I shall return to detailed commentary on the law, but for now a few items from ‘left field’. First up… the news that Rocket Lawyer is coming to town to take advantage of the brave new world of law under the [...]

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Lawcast 193: Sundeep Bhatia, Law Society Council member on diversity in the profession

Lawcast 193:  Sundeep Bhatia, Law Society Council member on diversity in the profession Today I am talking to solicitor Sundeep Bhatia, a Law Society Council member and is a former Chair of the Society of Asian Lawyers. Sundeep is the proprietor of Beaumonde Law Practice in Middlesex and specialises in employment law. Listen to the [...]

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Law Review: I had the pleasure of drinking with King Arthur and other legal matters.

Druid leader King Arthur loses legal fight over Stonehenge remains The Guardian reports: High court refuses judicial review of decision to remove 5,000-year-old ‘royal’ remains from Stonehenge for analysis I had the pleasure, some years ago, of drinking with King Arthur.  There aren’t too  many lawyers or law bloggers who can claim that.  I also [...]

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Libya report: A case of *premature congratulation* for Camcorderdirect?

Back later in the day.. when I recover from the natural  nitrous oxide provided by our ‘political masters’… Libya: Saif al-Islam and Mohammed Gaddafi, the dictator’s sons, escape capture Telegraph: Saif al-Islam, Colonel Gaddafi’s heir apparent, emerged defiant at his father’s Tripoli compound hours after reports of his arrest by rebel forces. As the old [...]

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A few sardonic observations and pics on and of Britain in August 2011….

It has been an enjoyable weekend.  I decided to take a few days away from blogging after the podcasts on Thursday last.  I have been doing non-law writing for a couple of weeks – a novel noir….which may or may not be completed. A few quick screen grabs and pics to sum up this week…. [...]

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Lawcast 192: John Cooper QC on the sentencing of rioters and looters

Lawcast 192: John Cooper QC on the sentencing of rioters and looters Today I am talking to John Cooper QC,  a practising barrister at 25 Bedford Row,  about the controversy which now rages in the press in relation to the sentences being handed down to rioters and looters.  The issue of proportion, parity and comparison [...]

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Lawcast 191: Felicity Gerry on women in the law, practice at the Bar and a view on sentencing

Lawcast 191:  Felicity Gerry on women in the law, practice at the Bar and a view on sentencing Today I am talking to Felicity Gerry, a practising barrister at 36 Bedford Row, about women in the law, practice at the Bar and, given Felicity’s expertise, we will take a look at the role of the [...]

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Postcard from The Staterooms: The Silly Season that isn’t….A riot?

“All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.” — Immanuel Kant Kant had a point – and in this last week to ten days with the riots, I think reason, considered reason, is of great value.  While I faffed about on [...]

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Breaking News: A Doctor’s view on PM Camcorderdirect’s attack of Kneejerkitis StreptoDailyMailocockus

AND then.. our revered leader comes up with yet another stunt…. Independent article: Exclusive: PM’s plan to import US adviser angers police chiefs But my favourite commentary on the astonishing behaviour of our Prime Minister is this EXCELLENT…. *Open Letter to David Cameron’s Parents* about the riots…  please do read… well worth your time… And…finally… [...]

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#WithoutPrejudice 11: Riots and The Law – Human Rights Act update – #Hackedoff campaign update

#WithoutPrejudice 11: Riots and  The Law – Human Rights Act update – #Hackedoff campaign update Analysis of the law relating to the riots, a review of a number of important human rights cases and the further developments on the #Hackedoff  campaign. David Allen Green and Carl Gardner is at the table as always and we [...]

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Our Prime Minister….. A definition of public office

I’ve always enjoyed words and I do like a bit of Shakespeare… this from The Scottish play… appears to be inappropriately appropriate. Macbeth: To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty [...]

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#WithoutPrejudice tomorrow night…..

Tomorrow night on our fortnightly Without Prejudice podcast:  Analysis of the law relating to the riots, a review of a number of important human rights cases and the further developments on the #Hackedoff  campaign. David Allen Green and Carl Gardner will be at the table as always and we are joined by former Lib-Dem MP [...]

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The broom is more powerful than the vandal

We have all seen the footage.  Those who live in London are fully aware of the extent of the rioting and I do not need to comment on or add to the extensive coverage in blogs and the media.  David Allen Green, on his Jack of Kent blog, has covered  the issues and Laurie Penny [...]

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Postcard From No 10 Downing Street

I have little to add this weekend… but I shall return on the morrow….  

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Lawcast 190: On the death penalty with Professor Gary Slapper

Lawcast 190: On the death penalty with Professor Gary Slapper Political blogger Guido Fawkes wants to bring back the rope for murder – child and cop killers in particular – and has set up a petition.  This petition was immediately countered by another petition to retain the ban.  last time I looked the retain the [...]

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Law Review Guest Post: ‘Be careful what you say. The authorities are listening.’

Law Review: Guest Post- ‘Be careful what you say. The authorities are listening.’ BY Iain Gould We have all been shocked recently by the revelations about phone hacking and the gross invasion of personal data. What people may not be aware of is that conversations with public bodies may not regarded as private, so that [...]

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Lawcast 189: Paul Gilbert, LBC Wise Counsel on General Counsel and the changing face of the legal profession

Lawcast 189: Paul Gilbert, LBC Wise Counsel on general counsel and the changing face of the legal profession Today I am talking to Paul Gilbert Chief Executive of LBC Wise Counsel.  Paul Gilbert states on the front of the website… “”I want LBC Wise Counsel to be your inspired choice for advice, guidance and training. [...]

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