tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27871673134661488802024-03-08T02:31:43.587-08:00What's the Point?nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-16555369539366735502014-02-10T03:29:00.000-08:002014-02-10T03:29:00.952-08:00A Life’s Lesson From Flappy Birds<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I found a bit too much time to
think through the perfect recipe to doing well in the very addictive and
popular mobile phone app. I concluded that there are various factors involved:-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
1. The
perfect start – The line up of the first set of pipes that you will (or more
often, “will not”) glide through has an effect on your nerves. If the pipes
are too low or too high, you find you are setting off on the back foot, which sets up perfectly for an early demise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
2. The
circumstances – Your first set of pipes could be perfect, and the run
could be going well until.. DUN DUN DUN.. you suddenly hit a low set of
pipes forcing you to drop the bird nose-first then save it before it hits the ground and a close shave through the pipes but PHEWW…. You navigated your way out of that one (narrowly), your heart
beat slows but OH NO.. what’s that? A high set of pipes? Nervously, you
hold the screen and send your bird off into space. Oh dear, it was going
so well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
3. External
circumstances – Lastly, there is how you, the player, is feeling, where
you are sat, if you are comfortable. Lying flat on your back in bed is a
recipe for disaster but crouching over it in a corner strains the neck and
during what feels like your third attempt that day (when in actual fact its
your 62<sup>nd</sup> attempt), you creek your neck to the left, then to
the right, and oh dear.. your bird is dead again. Then there are
distractions. Someone comes into the room just as you are reaching over
your 4<sup>th</sup> set of pipes, calls your name.. “WHAT?” - *bird dies*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
4. The
colour of the bird - I am not entirely sure if this is just me, but the
colour of the bird seems to have an effect on how well I do on one of my
runs. I know, as I start with the blue bird, that I am destined for an
early nose dive crash landing. I seem to do better with the yellow bird. I
am not seeking to prove that there is somehow some scientific explanation
for this but there you have it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
5. The
more you play the better you get – You can see a marked improvement in the
way you play now to when you first downloaded the app. You are getting
15s, 16s, and maybe even 20s now. But even still, there’s still that odd
time, you fall at the first hurdle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
To have the perfect game of
Flappy Birds, you are then relying on the perfect start following by a steady
gradient of pipes, not dropping too low or reaching too high that sends you
into panic mode. You are hoping for no distractions sitting in a quiet room in a
comfy seat. You are in a good mood, having had no recent irritations or guilt
in having something better or more important to be doing. You need the right
colour of bird that you, the player, can connect to. With this set of
circumstances – how can you fail? You still can, apparently.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s a bit like an interview isn’t
it? Most argue that first impressions are incredibly important. You go in and
greet your interviewer with a smile but you have some spinach stuck in your
teeth, the interviewer has a distinct hatred for spinach (maybe even for people
with hygiene issues) and already you are off to a bad start. The first question
is the next step. If it’s a good answer you are off to a good start and
anything you say thereafter won’t be given that bad a light. But say something
weak or offensive, the interviewer will see anything you say thereafter as
poor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was also important how you
felt that day. If you had a good night’s sleep, if you had a particularly
stressful time getting into the place of the interview. Maybe it was raining
and your perfectly gelled or straightened hair resembles an electrocuted
Flamingo. Maybe it wasn’t you at all. Maybe the interviewer had a terrible
morning, had four people in before you that spoke of the weather and you were
their final straw. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
You wore black and grey because
they are neutral colours. They are smart colours and you can’t really go wrong.
The interviewer was at a funeral the week before where everyone was dressed in
black below a grey sky that poured on the mourners all day. You’ve reminded
them of a low point, no matter how hard you try, you may never be able to be
their high point. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
And lastly, you’ve done a
thousand interviews. This in the one. You know what to expect, you have all
your competencies down to a clever clean mind map in your head. You had the
perfect start, the perfect circumstances, the perfect external circumstances
and you wore the interviewer’s favourite colour. Then you say something good.
Something impressive. You leave feeling hopeful almost quietly convinced this
was the one, it had to be, you’ve waited so long, you’ve worked so hard. But
one other person, spoke with a French accent. The interviewer’s brother lives
in France, instant common ground. You’ve fallen again. Just like the bird. It wasn't your fault, though, the pipes were too steep, you couldn't possibly get through them. You didn't have a brother. And if you did, he probably wouldn't be in France. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It’s depressing isn’t it? But it
doesn’t have to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We all chase that perfect job or
even that perfect goal – maybe your only goal is to beat your friend’s high
score at this game (in which case, seek help, immediately). I know I am no
different (to the former, and sometimes the latter). We set our hopes high and
those who’ve been at it a while, will know what to expect and prepare to an
inch of their lives. An important thing to remember is that we cannot possibly control
everything. It’s not to mean we do not try at all but it is to mean if it doesn’t
go your way, there is no use getting down about it. There will be other
opportunities, just like being able to press “play” after you fall on the game,
you can get back up again, send your CV off again and await your result. One
day, you will cross the line of your previous high score. You will get the perfect combination of factors to carry out the perfect recipe for success and maybe that will be
enough…until you press “play” again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Maybe, it doesn't need to be on this game at all, maybe press "play" on a different game?<o:p></o:p></div>
nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-26418672936784648652013-02-11T08:08:00.001-08:002013-02-11T08:08:40.871-08:00Law Firms - Prepare for Change<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How have law firms coped with the change in economic times
and the introduction of new legislation set to completely restructure the legal
field? I will give an overview of some of the steps law firms have taken in
order to deal with these then I will go on to highlight some of the changes I
see having an impact in the early stages of my legal career. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the biggest methods of combating the recent climate
and regulatory changes has been mergers. It is heavily evident UK wide. Last
year saw a huge increase in mergers with at least a quarter of all law firms in
the UK top 100 merged with another law firm. In comparison, there were 21 law
firm mergers in 2011 involving firms in the top 100. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Catalysts for these mergers I would say has been a search
for growth driving law firms to enter new markets along with sustaining markets
in areas that are set to be in great competition with the likes of Alternative
Business Structures. It may be a bid to create a big name, maybe even a brand
name that can then cope with the likes of the Co-operative. This merging activity
is expected to continue as predicted by Tony Williams:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;"> “We expect this trend
to continue in 2013 because the strategic logic behind such deals is only
growing stronger.” </span></i>Tony Williams, the former managing partner of
Clifford Chance<i><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The logic in which he refers may be attributed to the law
firms that were originally pessimistic of ABSs, however, upon seeing huge firms
merge, have had a change of heart and feel the need to merge in order to
sustain providing legal services in such a competitive market. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the mergers that have taken place recently involving
Scottish firms include Burness and Paul and Williamsons, DWF and Biggart
Baillie, Ledingham Chalmers and Esslemont Cameson and Gauld and McGrigors and
Pinsent Masons. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, mergers have repercussions. Pincent Masons
confirmed in June 2012 it was consulting with 40 support staff in a bid to
eradicate duplicated roles as a result of its merger with McGrigors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This leads me on to the second step that law firms have used
in order to deal with the climate and change: redundancies. The reason for
these recent job cuts in law firms is that the firms have too many lawyers and
staff in practice areas that, because of the economic climate and the changing
legal serviced market are not making money like they used to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It will always be difficult to gauge just how many people
were made redundant in the last few years. According to figures in The Lawyer,
redundancies were expected to have hit more than 2500 at UK law firms in 2009.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This led to two risk categories: underperformers and those in
a practice where the demand has evaporated somewhat. The former category will
or maybe even has had an interesting impact on recruitment within law firms.
There is a new level of excellence that has to be satisfied in order to in
order to obtain employment security. Previously, <span style="color: red;">“Underperformance
was hidden by a bull market where everybody was busy...” - Tony Williams</span>
This may be a good thing as it ensures that our clients are being provided with
an even higher standard of services and the high performers are finally being
recognised for their hard efforts and being awarded security. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the statistics for these redundancies are pretty
scary for not only the up and coming lawyer but also lawyers in practice today.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The redundancies in varying numbers can be seen in many well
known law firms:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maclay, Murray and Spens confirmed in June 2012 that it was
making two lawyers and four support staff redundant in its Glasgow Private
Client team alone so it could focus on services more closely aligned to client
needs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With a similar mentality, Dundas and Wilson axed 30 staff
after reviewing the “nature and level of demand for its services” in April
2012. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With less staff in employment in each of these firms, there
has been less need to keep certain offices open for those firms with more than
one office. This brings me to my third step which is the closing of offices and
along with that the closing or consolidating of practice areas within law
firms</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The most recent and prominent example of this is DLA Piper’s
office closure in Glasgow where it had 10 partners, 25 fee earners and 50
support staff. Along with that, 10 jobs in the document production unit in
Edinburgh faced redundancy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of consolidation, DLA Piper has also been no
stranger to this. Their entire document production team of 116 people across
eight offices is being consolidated into one centre in Leeds with only a small presence being kept in each office. Also, DLA are
selling its defendant insurance practice, which has 31
lawyers and 19 support staff. Should that fail, it will close the practice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">With redundancies being made left, right and centre and
offices being closed down, the effect has extended to trainee intake across the
UK. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Law Society of Scotland statistics provide little
optimism in this regard. <b><u><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2007 saw the most traineeships registered with 629 and this has decreased slowly over the years to only 488 being registered in 2011. This was 39 traineeships less than in the year 2010. Last year saw a further decrease down to 472 traineeships being registered. There has been some improvement across the border with an 11.6% increase from 2009/10 to 2010/11. Although positive this figure still falls short of the number of traineeships recorded before the financial crisis. Additionally, there is a huge shortfall from the amount of people doing the LPC to the amount of trainee contracts being registered. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Therefore the future of law looks set to be even more challenging and some of the changes which I think are set to make an impact in the coming years include the </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Independence Referendum to take place next year in which it will be decided whether The Scottish Parliament should be responsible for “all laws, taxes and duties in Scotland”. Some legislation which governs both Scotland and England will need to be reconsidered and in all it may have an effect on the relationships between Scottish and English firms especially in light of the mergers I spoke about earlier. Alternatively, after the initial legislation problems are considered, revised and solved, there may be little obstacle in the way of business. Andrew Black of BBC News sums up the impact well:<br /> <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="color: red;">“It’s hard to say exactly how things would happen, given this
would be new territory, but it’s likely
the timescale from a “Yes” vote to full independence would be lengthy,
given the huge number of issues which would need to be resolved”</span></i> –
15 October 2012.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Secondly, access to justice in criminal summary proceedings
is very much under threat with the recent legal aid cuts. The Scottish Civil
Justice Council and Criminal Legal Assistance Bill seeks to introduce legal aid
contributions towards legal expenses to be made by accused persons and that the
responsibility for collecting these contributions will lie with individual
firms of solicitors. Concerns lie with the failure rate currently of clients
paying law firms being 80% in England. The Scottish government estimates 30% of
defendants will fail to pay on time. This will leave criminal practice work
even more unprofitable than it already is leading to many firms going out of
business or refusing to do legal aid work altogether. There is also a concern
that the cuts may spread to civil legal aid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, in Scotland, we will finally feel the impact of
Alternative Business Structures after only hearing of it in England and Wales.
It will see a creation of a lot of jobs with the Co Operative revealing that it
will be hiring 3000 solicitors to carry out its numerous legal services. That
is an enormous amount that will easily out compete the majority of high street
firms. You can see the scale of it in comparison to some of the biggest law
firms in the UK. DLA Piper, has a lawyer base of 4200. Linklaters has only
2300. Law firms have reacted in different ways to this new structure. The likes
of Irwin Mitchell were the first to apply to be an ABS but Freshfields and
Slaughter and May amongst others have ruled out the possibility. So in the
coming years, it will be interesting to see how it will impact the Scottish
firms, the mergers, and the UK wide firms that had originally said no to the
conversion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other changes set to make an impact include the closing of
sheriff courts this year which will undoubtedly see a rise in the number of
cases dealt within the remaining sheriff courts and how this will affect the
efficiency of the court system; also the Law Society of Scotland has announced
that all trainees only need to be paid the national minimum wage instead of the
recommended rates – it is yet to be seen if law firms are inclined to pay the
minimum wage in order to deal with the economic climate and if it will
encourage more firms to take on trainees. (<i>which
from 1 June 2012 will be £16,200 (up from £15,965) for the first year and
£19,400 (up from £19,107) for the second year)</i> and lastly funding for the
diploma has attracted much criticism for their current system of a £3,400 loan from
SAAS as it has been argued it does not provide a fair access to the Scottish
legal profession. However, I spoke to a partner of a firm at the TANQ Society
Christmas Social who used to be on the board for allocating the 300 funded
places and he said that he rather it was the way it was now as everyone has the
same level of access if they so wish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not going to get any easier in the legal field so it’s
time to embrace the change or at the very least be prepared for it. </span></div>
nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-40679597543433966642012-12-09T17:58:00.000-08:002012-12-09T18:09:52.676-08:00Stacking Shelves vs Saving Lives<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is this common perception, no matter how much some of
us may try to fight it that one job is better than another; that somehow the
way in which someone chooses to earn their honest living is subject to some
sort of hierarchy of respectfulness. It’s all around us and sometimes in the
most subtle of contexts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I contend this is utter crap.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our society is full of snobbery and hypocrisy. Not only do
we sit and watch X Factor judges commend their contestants and how they will
never have to go back to “shelf stacking in Tesco” but simultaneously we judge
those that sit on their back sides all day claiming benefits. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Though the job market is poor, it should only highlight the
importance of showcasing all types of employment on an equal footing. This will
remove the superiority complexes earned by no one and encourage more people
into jobs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many are depressed in their jobs; they are unhappy that they
are working in McDonalds; they are unhappy they didn’t secure that record deal,
get that traineeship or get that place in medical school.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, why? A job is a job. I concede that some level of
satisfaction is required within a job but why be upset that you have a job? In this
economic climate, be proud. Be proud that you have beaten the crisis and still
earning a living. Be proud you are choosing not to live on benefits. Be proud
that you haven’t given up on yourself or those around you. Be proud that you
are putting your snobbery and hypocrisy aside in favour of this honest living.
And aside from the economic climate – still be proud. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We can’t all be lawyers, dentists, doctors and frankly the
world would be boring as hell if it was and we can’t all be interested in that
either. As clichéd as it sounds – we need the little screws that hold the desk
together. That’s not to “belittle” these jobs in any way. You’ll find the
little screws are the least substantial element of the desk but the most
integral part as well. This is directly applicable to our society today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the end of the day, job is a means by which you can then enjoy the more
important parts of your life. Like meeting friends down in the pub; taking your
better half out to dinner; buying your kid that extra special Christmas
present. When your job becomes the most important part of your life; you might
be losing sight of what truly matters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all half heartedly admit that the people that collect our
rubbish or serve us in bars make the world go around but do we act on it? Do we
actually believe this popularly said concept? When someone tells you they left
school at 16 and are working in Tesco – do you automatically assume they are a failure?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe you don’t to this extreme extent but even subtle
comments can verify this deep seated perception. We like to believe that we
cover it up with clever sayings but the real challenge is to believe it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I challenge you. Dump the perception in favour of the
things that really matter. There is no need for it and frankly no room.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And let's face it, we all know the person giving us a BigMac in McDonald makes us happier than the Doctor that tells us we have crabs or the Lawyer that charges us £2000 to write a letter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-80022688019516333572012-09-24T07:27:00.000-07:002012-09-24T07:27:12.896-07:00Cheques in “full and final” settlement – take the money?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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An increasing number of cases deal with the attempts of
debtors to avoid or decrease debts through use of these types of cheques. There
is a dilemma, especially if the dispute has been ongoing for a considerable
period of time, to cash the cheque and pursue, anyway, for the remaining
amount. But the trouble is by cashing the cheque, are you then binding yourself
to the agreement that the cheque provided is for full and final settlement and
therefore barring yourself from further claim?</div>
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The case law certainly suggests, that like all things in law
that: “it depends”. It depends, very much, on the circumstances, background and
the intentions of each party. In other words, the courts have been fairly reluctant
to put into place any concrete rules. </div>
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The major difference in treatment in these cases or at least
probably the only one worth mentioning is when a debt is disputed or
undisputed.</div>
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The debt was undisputed in the case of D and C Builders v
Rees, where the plaintiff was entitled to recover the balance of the sum owed
as the cheque offered in “settlement” was nothing other than a means by which
the claimant sought to avoid the price of the works carried out because they
had been carried out with no complaints.</div>
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Another factor in determining whether cashing such a cheque
can be binding is time. In Bracken and Another v Billinghurst, the time taken
for the creditors to indicate their non acceptance of the cheque as full and
final settlement proved a deciding factor. The courts felt that too long a
period of time had lapsed without having informed the defendants of their
intentions and therefore deemed the acceptance of the cheque in full
settlement. </div>
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In a disputed debt claim, reliance is placed on the case of
Day v <span class="reference-text">McLea, whereby an agreement to accept a cheque
in full and final settlement will be heavily based upon the conduct of the
creditor. So in </span>Inland Revenue Commissioners v Fry, where the creditors
had no idea that the cheque they received was in consideration of full and
final settlement were entitled to pursue for the remaining balance.<span class="reference-text"></span></div>
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There are two options for the creditor with the main lesson
to be learned from case law is clarity. If you are explicitly clear (when
banking the cheque) with your intentions of non acceptance, don’t dilly or
dally, do nothing that could be construed as acceptance and notify the debtor
straight away of your disagreement to the lesser amount - do this and the courts
will likely look upon this favourably on the basis that there has been no consensus
in idem to constitute a binding agreement. At the very least immediately write
to the other party that you are rejecting the cheque as full and final
settlement but will be cashing the cheque as part payment. Be sure to keep a
copy of this letter and send by reliable source to the correct address. The
temptation is, understandably, high to bank the cheque and pursue for the
remaining balance but alongside the requirement of clarity; it may be that the
best solution would be to reject the cheque altogether and advise the debtor
that full payment is to be made within a short period of time, failing which
will result in court proceedings. This way, the debtor has no claim against
you. </div>
nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-1433834756818284102012-09-24T07:18:00.000-07:002012-09-24T07:18:02.406-07:00The Land Registration Act 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Land Registration etc Bill introduced by John Swinney MSP on the 1st December
2011 and receiving Royal Assent on the 10 July 2012 has sought to reform and
restate the current law on registration of rights to land, therefore full
enactment will cause the replacement and repeal of the Land Registration Act
1979. Although asserted by the Scottish Law Commission that the changes to be
introduced were evolutionary; conveyancers have regarded it revolutionary with
the proposals set to make a big improvement to the ease of land registration.
The main objective of this new legislation is namely to make conveyancing
transactions a lot simpler. </span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Modernising Conveyancing</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Act will seek to bring conveyancing in line with the 21st century in two ways. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">First
of all, with amendments to the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995, the
position will enable property transactions to be negotiated, signed an
registered electronically making it easier, quicker and therefore cheaper to
carry out overall. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Secondly,
the Act will seek to recognise one Land Register. Presently, only around 60% of
property titles are registered in the land register. Recognising one register
means the title and a plan of its boundaries will be available to view online making
it easier and quicker for purchasers to research prospective properties. This
is a huge improvement as large parts of rural Scotland still rely on written
descriptions of the property require an extra degree of diligence making the
process lengthier and thereby more expensive. This was one of the primary goals
of the legislation and its enactment will see to the closure of the Register of
Sasines, rendering a recording on or after the prescribed day as ineffective -
section 48 of the new act. In addition to this the law will also recognise a
single title map of the whole of Scotland namely Cadastral. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Race to the Register</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Many
will complain of the unfairness, uncertainty and inadequacies attached to this
famous "race to the register" concept in Scotland. The Act will
revolutionise this area by bringing it in line with England. Presently, in Scotland to
register a title, it is to be lodged with the land register therefore it is not
an impossibility that a party could lose his or her title if someone else
manages to register a competing title first. However, in England, the
position is more certain. There, parties have a "priority period"
which is a period of time that can be reserved in advance during which no one
else may register a competing title. Similarly, Scottish Law Commission's
proposed solution to this problem is to introduce "advance notices"
which will have a 35 day effective period. Sections 56-64 deal with this area
(part 4). This will afford buyers better protection. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rectifying Inaccuracies</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Scottish Law Commission recognised that the current law placed
"obstacles" in the way of rectifying the Register even if the mistake
is of a relatively minor value. S.9 of the old Act makes it overly complicated
to rectify inaccuracies with rules on the circumstances in which the Keeper is
able to rectify (s.9(3)). Section 9(2) implies that the Lands Tribunal is
required to make such an order in respect of rectification. Part 8 of the new
Act, however, seeks to do away with such complexities and deals with
inaccuracies in two ways. First of all, the definition of
"inaccuracy" has been tightened in section 65 to mean when something
is misstated in law or in fact; omits anything required, by or under an
enactment, to be included in it; or includes anything which is not permitted by
or under enactment therefore sieving out any minor deficiencies and section 80
makes provision for only "manifest" inaccuracies and the procedure
only involves including in the archive record a copy of any document which
discloses, or contributes to disclosing, the inaccuracy and give notice to any
person that might be materially affected. Inaccuracies in provisional
registration are dealt with simply in s.81 where the Keeper may rectify the
register if all those affected consent. Again, what can be evidently drawn from
this is the Scottish Law Commission's desire to promote efficiency within these
types of transactions; a desire undoubtedly shared.</span></div>
nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-10107717931851756472012-08-18T07:49:00.001-07:002012-08-18T07:49:14.790-07:00The Heartbreak of the RecessionI don't think anything can prepare you.<br />
<br />
I think the majority of us have sat from our cushioned lives and only heard on the news or through friend's of friends about the effects of the recession. We probably routinely or robotically exclaimed "that's a shame"; some of us probably even meant it.<br />
<br />
There will also be many of us who will have felt the effects first hand - have been made redundant once or twice or had to give up their homes; have witnessed or suffered the pains of it all. <br />
<br />
I was in court listening in on some procedural hearings once again. Although aware of the detrimental impact the recession has had; I naively thought that I could look at the hearing as a "case file" and ignore the emotional attachments behind it. That's all fair and well in the office but step out from behind your desk and march on down to court and face the person you are extracting from their homes. Their homes that they could once, very easily, afford to pay for. As each month passes with them still unable to find other means of income; the interest builds, leaving them worse and worse off. It's like a never ending cycle of debt; each time you go around, the debt increasing.<br />
<br />
At the office we complain of the people behind the late payments; behind the several excuses; behind the impossibilities of getting a hold of them on the phone - we sighed and huffed and puffed at their pathetic excuses; their laziness at not getting another job and their rudeness at not getting back in touch. So we threaten them with court action and we see it through - we take them to court; armed and ready to blast them for their incapabilities.<br />
<br />
But face to face in the court in front of the Sheriff, you cannot help but feel a lump in your throat and and a tug on the heart string as you see respectable people nervously face the Sheriff with their excuses. Perfectly good excuses. Excuses like, "I was made redundant; found another job but was made redundant again"; "I have a wife and three kids, we had other stuff to pay for this month"; "I just can't afford it anymore; I can't find a job". <br />
<br />
Once faced with the reality of what you are doing - you can't help but hate yourself at least a little bit. I don't blame the job; I don't even blame reality. I blame our mentality; mine as well and it was a solid reminder to me that there are people taking the recession perhaps a lot harder than I am. Let it be a reminder to you all as well. Be grateful for what you have. nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-58967024782755661632012-08-10T17:25:00.003-07:002012-08-10T17:27:15.448-07:00Lawyers - Have we neglected our purpose?Presently, I am doing a summer placement with a firm in
Glasgow and I took the opportunity to accompany the senior trainee to court
this morning for some procedural hearings. Upon her case being called, a
nervous but gutsy woman stood tall and walked to the desk. With a clear but
shakey voice <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she asked for a
continuation on the basis that she could not find legal representation because
her case was not worthy of legal aid and she could not afford to appoint a
solicitor herself. She had approached 8 different firms that had all turned her
down. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although aware that the firms themselves cannot be blamed
for this injustice, we have to question our ability, as ambassadors of the law,
if we are doing the right thing by only protecting the insanely rich or those
that are set to make an insane claim. My opinion is clear: law is a mechanism
whereby we assert a certain standard of behaviour across our country. When that
behaviour is not adhered to, there is, more likely than not, an injustice. As ambassadors,
our job is to make right that injustice no matter how small or big the case is
or how rich or poor the person is. The Sheriff somewhat remorsefully advised
the woman that if she could not find representation by the next court date that
she would have to represent herself. If she wants to see her injustice put
right; she has no choice in the matter. Where is the justice in that? This will
clearly have some sort of detrimental impact on her chances of being successful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know very little of her circumstances and it may very well
be that her claim is vexatious but from what I heard the message was evident
and disturbing. An injured person can walk into hospital and expect to be
treated. No matter if that person is a terrorist/murderer/rapist/child/mother/ned
or otherwise. Likewise, a person wronged should be able to walk into court with
legal representation. Doctors can do their jobs – why can’t we?</div>nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-71195982886370218302012-06-20T17:12:00.000-07:002012-06-22T02:40:25.866-07:00Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat Reconsiderd.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few months ago, a boy was labelled a racist for enquiring
if a school mate was brown because he came from Africa. This boy was 7. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although in agreement that racism is a form of abuse that
has to be heavily minimised and stamped upon, is it really legitimate to
categorize this young boy’s curiosity racism? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps it is too pedantic to look to legal maxims as an illustrative
point in this matter taking into consideration that the boy was only 7 and no
charges were brought but it got me thinking. If we are to assume for the time being that the
boy was 17; looking strictly at the maxim: ignorance is not an excuse; this
comment would be deemed an offense and possible charges could be brought. There does not seem to be any indication of a
malicious intent. A boy at 17 would be held to possess a more in depth
knowledge of what is racist or not, but this is purely assumption. An understanding
of such concepts as racism or disability will mostly come from experiences. A child
unexposed to such matters will be more likely to say something offensive and
perhaps even, unintentionally. Is it fair for a child or in fact anyone that is
ignorant to breaking the law to be guilty if they do not know what they are
doing is wrong? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I realise that this maxim serves a fundamental function
within the legal system. It encourages knowledge in the law; an understanding
of it and therefore a stricter application leading to more equitable decisions
and therefore transparency of the law. All very important. I don’t dispute that.
But there is food for thought in whether applying this maxim religiously is in
fact serving the best interests of the public. It is a tall feat to ask of
lawyers never mind of the general public to remain up to date in an ever
changing and evolving society with laws being proposed and passed most days. It
is the job of the lawyer to remain up to date, but is it the job of the average
person? Is it the job of the lawyer to educate them? It seems that the
Government may be navigating cleverly around the colossal task of providing a
system whereby before anyone may be subjected to a law; they must be made aware
and understand such a law failing which would result in new laws probably never
being passed. So it is understandable, but is it right?</div>
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It is worth considering that with this maxim cemented within
our legal system, we are bound by any laws that Parliament seek to pass;
anything at all despite not knowing of it or understanding it. I find that thoroughly
disconcerting. I guess we should all have studied Law. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I can’t help but think, though more difficult, looking to
intent in circumstances such as this would serve a better picture of justice
than wholly relying on “ignorance”. Quoting from the infamous case of Cadder,
Lord Hope said “... there is no room... for a decision that favours the status
quo simply on grounds of expediency.” Although this is in reference to another
matter altogether, the same thought process should be applied to that of this
maxim. Simply because it has been rooted in our legal system for years and that
the alternative would require a more rigorous analysis of the matter is not
excuse enough for the blind adherence to customary practice. </div>nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-26369535361372671092012-06-11T18:17:00.000-07:002012-06-11T18:17:08.283-07:00Is the Legal System Failing us?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I attended Angus (or there abouts) today as part of a site
visit alongside a solicitor. The case is concerned with rights of access and
the maintenance of four roads leading to and from the client’s property. Aside
from the fact that the daft lawyer forgot to mention or attend to the
registering of these rights in the appropriate register, this pending case
(that may not even go to proof) highlights, in my opinion, the weaknesses in
our current legal system. A system that is supposed to be help the “little guy”
as well as the “big guy”; a system that is supposed to attend to and treat
equally all those it seeks to protect; a system that promotes justice; a system
that has failed at just that. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The client’s father owned a huge amount of land. It covered acres
and acres of space and a fair few houses including a castle, which in its “hay
day” was open mouth –worthy stunning but now sadly at the hands of the
defendant resembles ruins after a bad storm due to shear lack of maintenance. Upon
the father’s demise, the property was split and sold off in chunks. The defendant’s
“chunk”, as it where, encompassed four roads for which he has a duty to maintain
which he has not done. Entry through one of the roads’ into the client’s
property is covered by greenery and dotted with a car grinding pot holes. We
struggled in a Honda Civic. I wouldn’t stick around if it was snowing; that’s
for sure. This is the best of the 4 roads. The others have been blocked or
deemed too dangerous, that delivery drivers, post men and school buses have
opted for different routes altogether. The client insisted on taking us down
one of the more direct routes to the A90 in his X5. A route he used most
frequently before causing damage to his car. I think I was lucky to
successfully avoid concussion as we paraded through what were more like empty
swimming pools as opposed to pot holes. To say it was a bumpy ride may be an
offense in itself due to shear understatement. Not to mention that the
defendant has ripped out drainage; this is causing more damage and making it
unbearable in heavy downpour due to flooding. The nuisance caused by this
neighbour has been endless: shouting verbal abuse, purposefully blocking entry
to properties the client owns, having timed races in sports cars up and down
these roads (baring in the mind there are children in the area and there was no
pre warning of such a carry on); setting up a fire 4 and a half feet away from
the client’s property door causing his shed to melt... this list was endless
but basically stemmed down to the defendant’s persistent sickening hobby of
making things as difficult as possible for surrounding neighbours</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The client was clearly disheartened. Why has nothing been
done? Why is this man allowed to continue in his shenanigans? The question has
to be asked squarely in the face of our legal system. The defendant has been
clever. When a court date is set, he half heartedly cuts back a bush or two and
sits a large amount of gravel on his property as proof that he intends to fix
drainage; the Sheriff has fallen for this among other ploys. This has gone on
for 9 years to no salvation of the client who has lost faith in the council,
the legal system and the police. This is wrong and so unbelievably shattering
to hear for a law student who sought out to study law to help people like him. Not
only has he been wronged by the authorities but by the very people that took
stance to represent him thoroughly and properly, ie lawyers. I have no idea why
this case wasn’t given the due attention it was; I couldn’t possibly speculate
but it shouldn’t have been. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I watched this man rattle off endless exhausted methods of trying to resolve
this dispute over the 9 years; each time planting his head straight into a brick
wall and no progression of the case by his lawyers saw his faith in the legal
system deteriorate. Practically as knowledgeable in this area as a fully
qualified lawyer, he spewed out Latin maxims and possible arguments for he has
had to rely on himself due to being consistently let down by those that should
have protected him. He drafted his own minute of agreement and watched
helplessly the defendant and his lawyer delete and edit as they pleased as he
was backed by no representation by his firm at that time. Complaints to the Law
Society of Scotland saw them rule that it was not “grave” enough. What is
grave? Death? The very fact that a firm sought to pursue our client’s case then
failed miserably at progressing the case and near enough abandoned it is “grave”.
It’s grave to our client’s case. He stands in a weaker position because of this
firm today and that firm shows no scars unlike this client.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s an apt depiction of our beloved legal profession. The little
guy is still being trampled on as his case shows little hope of achieving
anything. But the man has clearly suffered at the hands of this defendant and
the legal system has remorselessly stood by and watched it happen. The legal
system has failed him, and by failing him has failed me and damages the profession.
More needs to be done to ensure loopholes are tightened within the law and that
representatives of our legal system do a job to their upmost ability. Without this,
the legal system resembles a waiting game. Who will cave first, the little or
big guy?</div>nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-23887509980220278502012-02-05T07:54:00.000-08:002012-02-05T07:54:51.074-08:00The Imbalance of Private School and State School PupilsBased on article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/exam-board-to-penalise-private-school-pupils-2361429.html <br />
<br />
There will be three groups of people in this debate - as there always is in any debate, so that statement wasn't very revolutionary. Firstly - the people that hate private schools and what they stand for which is essentially rich families that can buy their way through the education system. Secondly, there will be the people that see no problem in paying for an education if they can afford and want the best. And thirdly, there will be the people that don't give a hoot.<br />
<br />
Despite coming from a family with many having attended the prestigious Hutcheson's Grammar School, I fall into the first category. Having said that, I am against the new proposal which would see the exam board penalising private school pupils. But is it really penalising? Or is it, simply, balancing the playing field?<br />
<br />
My concrete hatred of private schools stems from not the fact that they achieve better grades; or that their uniform consists of a blazer; or that they are full of "stuck up ferrari comparing yahs" but that these schools after enforcing upon their applicants to sit an exam of a certain standard and level and basing whether that pupil gains entry into the school upon that - they will then boast about having the cleverest pupils in the country. Well.. congratulations. Who would have guessed that by picking the cleverest pupils from a line up, would result in achieving better grades? It's not like a sports captain would be at all surprised if he picked the guy with a limp, the girl with a broken arm and the fat kid with the doughnuts, and thereby lost the match....<br />
<br />
It is not only the above that makes me want to bite bricks out of every private school in the country but it is the mannerisms and behaviour of the pupils within these establishments. It's like they get hit with the pompous stick on their first day and receive regular beatings throughout their education when they start to see sense. I have seen first hand the difference it can make on their attitude. When confronting someone:<br />
Me: "Well of course Hutchy has the highest achievement levels, they pick what students they want!"<br />
Someone: "That's not true! They have to let thick people in, as well".<br />
<br />
"Thick people"? It's quite hilarious and extremely sickening to hear that this is the way pupils will differentitate people based entirely upon an exam. Some of the smartest people I know don't perform well in exams - does that make them "thick"? Having said that, I am not implying that such attitudes do not exist in state schools - they exist everywhere but where it exists in such a fundamental divide (such as the ability or non ability to cough up lungs to sell for education every year) then the attitude has a more detrimental effect. Anyway, I digress. DISCLAIMER: I did not kill "someone" but I wanted to. A lot. And time and time again.<br />
<br />
Perhaps private schools should first teach their pupils how to socially interact. They charge enough. Or just teach them not to be stuck up farts.<br />
<br />
The new system is to essentially balance things up again. With the common but unproven theory that private school pupils are essentially handed everything to them on a silver platter rested on a bed of rose petals; it provides state school pupils that bit of an edge in order to provide a fairer ground for establishing an education.<br />
<br />
It seems great, in theory, but where do you draw the line? What about families that can afford to provide extra tutoring for their children? Or buy books for extra work for their children? (poor kid) Or send their kids to extra classes? These are all unbalancing features of the rich/poor divide with regards to education. What can be done about these? Very little, or in fact, nothing. By regulating any of these, is regulating the expenditure of a family which is ridiculous. So what is the difference between hiring a tutor and sending your kid to private school? Not much. Should you penalise someone for having an iPhone over a Nokia 3330? If you can afford it, what's the problem?<br />
<br />
It is therefore impractical and unjust to base this penalising system purely on the fact one pupil attends a private school and the other doesn't. It will not be an accurate representation of what is actually happening. It won't provide a comprehensive balancing at all. The factors aforementioned are all relevant to varying degrees and will all have some sort of effect on the achievement of grades. <br />
<br />
Nothing can be done of the rich/poor divide in education. Let people do as they please. If a private school education is what people believe will stand them in better stead, so be it but penalising private school students in this way is not going to make things "fairer"; there are too many external considerations which haven't had regard for. What I do advocate is the non comparing of private schools to public schools. They are not comparable. It is acutely unjust to compare them. If the government is so concerned with the possibility of "unfair advantage" to private schools - then why don't they just scrap private schools altogether? While they're at it, why don't they give everyone the same mobile phone, clothes, car and house? I believe that universities, employers etc should make up their own minds regarding the matter instead of arbitrarily enforcing a points system based on what school you attended.nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-61491385215975244792011-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:002011-10-16T13:55:55.618-07:00Bring back QML.So the new bloody library has finally opened their fancy revolving doors in the University of Aberdeen and thus we have gained entry into a stupidly impressive building. But it just doesn't feel right.<br />
<br />
Yes, they have cool lamps on every desk (on some floors.. they still do not work); it has a massive hole in the middle of the floor; impressive views; comfy chairs; cafe area completed with a coffee machine; a glass elevator rivalling that of Willy Wonka; seven floors of tidy bookshelves and seating; a modern exterior design and <br />
Star Wars - esque passage doors upon entry... But it's no longer a library.<br />
<br />
<br />
The novelty of the new library is clearly at an all time high .... annoyingly so when the regular go-ers are subjected to inconvenient library tours; the public and students awe-ing and ah-ing. I have been there twice to study and have found myself wanting to stab something. On the first occasion, the receiver of my homicidal anger was going to be a rather loud American girl who found it perfectly reasonable to talk at length, and at volume about herself. On the second occasion, I was on the seventh floor, quite happily reading something mundane and occasionally looking out on to the sun shining happily on to the city, when I felt my life was going to end with the attack of what sounded like a JCB.<br />
<br />
It wasn't. It was the coffee machine. Seven floors down. <br />
<br />
Which begs the question why on earth there is a giant hole in the middle of the floors? Everything can be heard from the floor above and around lunch time, everything can be heard from every floor from the cafe. How is this conducive to a studying environment?<br />
<br />
Not only that, but due to the popularity of this zebra cuboid, there are no spaces during a normal week day. Meaning it's even noisier! Perhaps this is a good thing. The shiny new toy is worth playing with therefore there has been a fluctuation of students to the library who sit there with their shiny MacBooks, typing ferociously on Facebook chat to the person next to them and laughing uncontrollably at the absurdity of what they are doing. *sigh*... GO HOME!<br />
<br />
QML was a sore sight. It was dark, dingey, smelled odd (normally of B.O) but it was quiet and quaint. I liked the mysteriousness about it and lack of lighting; it struck fear and motivation into me to study. I enjoyed the mismatched furniture where you would exchange chairs with the table next to you for a comfier study stint. And more importantly there wasn't a giant hole in the ground where you could hear the vending machines rattle out a twix. <br />
<br />
QML was packed to the brim during exam weeks and I fear that even with the increased seating in the "New Library" (why doesn't it have a name?), this won't make a difference given the library's current state of popularity. All of a sudden it's cool to be studying in the library.<br />
<br />
It's a brilliant building and worth a see but it's not a library. It's a museum and a waste of money. If they didn't have the stupid hole, they could have fitted considerably more books in and more seating (to accommodate for the band wagon-ers). Instead, the University has foolishly opted for style over substance.nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-4969620461947104992011-06-15T16:24:00.000-07:002011-06-16T04:14:13.781-07:00Using one as a means to another's end<div style="font-family: inherit;">I realise this post slightly coincides with my last post but here, I seek to establish whether it is at all justifiable to torture a terrorist only in the most exceptional of circumstances.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">I concede that the absolute nature of article 3 is a great thing but this is not without its criticisms. The main arguments revolve around the idea of the “Ticking Bomb Scenario” (TBS), the context of which can be demonstrated by the following example: say, for instance, a man has a bomb located in a public space. This man knows where this bomb is and has been captured and detained by police. It has a timer ticking down from 3 hours; therefore the police have 3 hours to attempt to extract the information locating the bomb and potentially save thousands of lives. How far should the police go to extract this information that they believe this man to have? Are the rights of the wrongdoer greater than that of the innocents whose lives would be lost as a result of the wrongdoer? Most would argue that the police should go as far as possible and of course no to the latter question. However, the same people will then argue how sure can one be that the person they have detained and are willing to torture, are really the culprit behind the offence? In reality we cannot be sure and this is the reason article 3 remains non derogable. For those avid fans of 24 will know that Jack Bauer does not always get it right and sometimes stabs and screams in the face of the wrong person, says sorry and walks away a hero because he always finds the bad guy in the end.... good times. However, in reality, we don't even get away with torturing the actual terrorist.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">The TBS scenario presented itself in the recent case of Gäfgen<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> where an 11 year old went missing. Gäfgen had abducted and murdered him before delivering a letter to the family claiming he had been abducted by a gang and asking for 1 million pounds in ransom. It was unknown to the police that the child was dead so were presented with a difficult situation to extract information from Gafgen as quickly as possible. The police shook him and hit his head off the wall; struck his chest causing bruising and threatened to have him sexually abused. They hardly, and somewhat disappointingly, did not go all Jack Bauer on his ass. He subsequently disclosed the whereabouts of the child and confessed to the crime. The majority of the Grand Chamber held that such violations should always be severely punished even when motivated, as here, by the urgent imperative of rescuing a kidnapped child. Although the police, had in this case, overstepped the boundaries of article 3, it is hard to imagine that anyone in a similar situation would not have instinctively acted in the same way. Although it is admirable police officers are not allowed to exercise discretion in such cases (as this could lead to arbitrary treatment), exceptional circumstances cannot be catered for. Steven Greer<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> said: “The 8 judge majority would rather the child died than the abductor is subjected to 10 minutes of anxiety from being tortured”. This bleak outlook by Greer shows how hard the courts have worked to keep the article 3 right absolute but this has not meant that fair results have been obtained. The child’s human rights were not considered in full depth but instead Gäfgen’s; the murderer’s rights prevailed and this can only be perceived as an injustice. The Kantian principle of “not using anyone as a means to another’s end” is deeply flawed in situations such as Gäfgen. If the individual is the conscious cause of the other’s “end” then there should be no hesitancy in using him to change the other’s end. In other words, there should be nothing justifiably wrong with using Gäfgen to find the child since he was the root cause of the child’s position.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">However, the Grand Chamber seemed set in their ways stating that “[t]orture, inhuman or degrading treatment cannot be inflicted even in circumstances where the life of an individual is at risk” and then further went on to say "...there can be no weighing of other interests against article 3. In the Court’s view, neither the protection of human life nor the securing of a criminal conviction may be obtained at the cost of compromising the protection of the absolute right not to be subjected to ill-treatment proscribed by Article 3.”</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">I agree that there are many problems associated with allowing torture even in exceptional circumstances but I see no other way of dealing with the TBS. We have to realise that these scenarios will be few and far between and preparing for them will not be the end of human rights as we know it. It is still possible to retain the effectiveness of article 3 even after qualifying it to the exception of "in a war or other public emergency" (similar to that of article 2, right to life). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;">Even if this right was to become qualified, there would be the issue of the admittance of evidence obtained by torture.<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In the case of </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Secretary of State for the Home Department (No.2) [2005] UKHL 71</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> , <span style="font-size: small;">the majority of the law lords decided that the immigration tribunal in question should refuse to admit any evidence if it is determined that such evidence was, more probably than not, obtained by torture. The same issue was brought up in G</span></span>ä<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">fgen but they concluded that there had been no breach of article 6, right to a fair trial, because the applicant had been convicted entirely on the confession made at the trial which was not tainted by the treatment he received in the police station. This makes little sense in the context of G</span></span>ä<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">fgen where he lead the police to where he had hidden the body (if we put to one side that he later gave a full confession), then surely on that evidence alone (whether it is obtained through torture or not) it is completely sound to convict him. It is reasonable to assume the opposite if the confessions they have given have not provided any leads or results. Where is the logic in disregarding evidence obtained through torture when proven by results?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">It seems the ECHR is working very hard to protect the rights of the terrorist whilst forgetting about the rights of the victim. It is absurd, and frankly, extremely disappointing, to find that police will be punished for trying to the save the life of the innocent. As if the police need another incentive not to do their jobs. </span></span> </div><div><br />
</div><div><br clear="all" /></div>nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-63477896711619579932011-06-14T21:02:00.000-07:002011-06-14T21:03:52.889-07:00Osama Bin Laden's "Death" - The implications?BBC has now reported that Bill Warren, a salvage diver, is going to go looking for Osama Bin Laden's body. Now.. without meaning to sound patronizing, my initial thought process was "Aww, bless him!". Here's a guy that is going to try to prove whether Bin Laden actually is dead or not. It is going to cost him 245 K and it seems that he is prepared to find nothing. All I have to say to this man is "Why bother?" According to about ten different news stories over the last few years, Bin Laden has died more times than a cat has lives. So what has made this time any different? The amount of power America and thus Obama has over the rest of the world is insane. This is the fundamental difference. And it is this power that is what has allowed America to get away with such a cold blooded kill (that is .. if what America has said really happened).<br />
<br />
Yes, I am one of those sceptical people that believes this whole thing is a hoax. Roll your eyes, laugh, do as you please (but tread lightly, I have feelings), but this will not change the fact that Mr Warren will spend and search in vain and find nothing other than some sticks and stones, the odd coat hanger and a decomposing dead cat. However, the hoax, is not my focus today. My focus is from the human rights perspective.<br />
<br />
With the amount of power America has, they have somehow managed to escape what the UK has fought so hard to protect and that is the protection of human rights. Where has the mention of Osama's human rights been? To date, there has been no evidence put forth of Osama's involvement in the attacks of 9/11 and in fact Osama, has himself denied any such involvement. So where have these accusations come from? Food for thought by Alexander Solzhenitsyn:<br />
"Such as it is, the press has become the greatest power within the Western World, more powerful than the legislature, the executive and judiciary. One would like to ask: by whom has it been elected, and to whom is it responsible?"<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, I digress. Due to the recent death of Osama Bin Laden, the Republicans have proposed new legislation in America. The Detainee Security Act 2011, which would allow the detention of anyone suspected of terrorist activity to be detained for as long as they feel necessary. Whatever happened to that genius little concept of proportionality? Perhaps we can relent and somewhat reluctantly accept that in some cases interrogation with torture may be necessary for national security but the proposed legislation would support grounds for detention for an indefinite period of time based on mere suspicion. This forces us to combat terrorism with extremism which is in some cases may be considered the one and same. It is fair to say that America are losing the war on terror. This Act is worrying and I fear the UK is not far behind. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The situation in the UK is thus: the right not to be subjected to torture or inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment is the focus of article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. As emphasised in Chahal<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2787167313466148880#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></a>, article 3 is an absolute right: “…unlike most of the substantive clauses of the convention… article 3 provides no provisions for exceptions and no derogation is permissible even in the event of a public emergency threatening the life of the nation…”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">So on paper, or in statute, it is evident that the absolute nature of article 3 is emphasised and this concept has been upheld on more than a few occasions. It is what Lord Nichols has described as a “bedrock moral principle”<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> in the case of A (FC) and Others (FC) (Appellants) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent) and this is an absoluteness the court strives to maintain. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">However, the government has been forced to reconsider the unconditional nature of this human right. Mr Tony Blair said “let no one be in doubt, the rules of the game are changing”. By “changing”, he alluded to modifying the Human Rights Act to make it easier to remove or exclude suspected terrorists. His suggested amendments to the HRA meant courts would be required to balance the absolute prohibition of torture against national security, although, nothing has been implemented relating to this as of yet. Instead the focus has turned to article 5, the right to liberty. The introduction of the Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 imposed an inconsistency with the ECHR. The fact that the right to liberty is not absolute means that it provides for exceptional circumstances. The Act proposes detention without trial is permissible which is clearly inconsistent with article 5 of the ECHR, which states that deprivation of liberty is permissible only in limited circumstances. Unlike article 3, article 5 can be derogated from by state parties under the ECHR if the conditions of a “war or other public emergency threatening the life of the nation” are met and the derogation must not be greater than that “strictly required by the exigencies of the situation”. From this development as demonstrated by article 5, the right to liberty is weakened meaning national security has precedence over human rights. It was initially published that Osama was armed and therefore America shot him dead. It later emerged that he was in fact unarmed. *Sigh*. So where was the proportionate response of America to an unarmed man? My belief is that America never had the intention of giving this man a chance to defend himself within a fair trial. Could it be that they were too scared that there would not in fact be enough evidence to put him away?</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">However, the absolute nature of article 3, in the UK, still stands. In the Wellington<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> case, the European Court of Human Rights made it clear that article 3 remains an absolute right in the sense that, once ill treatment crosses the relevant threshold, it cannot be justified by public policy. Another situation where the absolute nature of this right can be seen is in the extraterritorial effects of the article. This is demonstrated in the case of Soering<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span> where the Strasbourg court recognised that a contracting party may violate the obligations in article 3 if its action exposes a person to the likelihood of ill treatment in a place outside the jurisdiction of the contracting parties. The case concerned the possible deportation to the US where the “death row phenomenon” was regarded as inhumane punishment. The court made it clear that the violation of the convention in such circumstances is that of the deporting states, and by implication, the court is not seeking to pass any judgment on a state which is not party to the convention. So while the UK is avoiding sending suspected terrorists back home; America feels the need to shoot them all or lock them in a box until further notice.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Credit must be given to the UK on their strict interpretation of article 3 but my fear is that with the recent "death" of Bin Laden, and with America believing they require the Detainee Security Act, and with the UK weakening article 5, that we may end up following America like remote controlled Daleks like we did with the war in Afghanistan. I hope the UK continues to avidly protect our human rights but cannot help being frightened of the possible repercussions of this legislation if it is enacted in America.</div><div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2787167313466148880.post-29166448637649849612011-06-14T19:15:00.000-07:002011-06-14T21:05:13.206-07:00France's ban of the Burka - right or wrong?So Sarkozy has finally done it... he has finally banned the wearing of the burka BUT only in public spaces. Well thank God for that caveat; I'm sure Muslim women are over the moon by this; they can wear what they want in the comfort of their own homes. How lovely. His generosity shows no boundaries.<br />
<br />
What annoys me is the reasons behind the ban. It seems Sarko's warped reasoning stems from a warped belief inside his warped mind that Muslim women who wear the burka must be oppressed. This is supported with Fadela Amara, the Algerian-born former housing minister in Sarkozy’s government, calling the burka “a kind of tomb, a horror for those trapped within it”, and André Gerin, the Communist MP who headed the commission investigating the grounds for a ban, describing it as “the tip of an iceberg of oppression”. I concede, in some Islamic cultures, this is probably the case but does that mean it is completely justified in violating every other burka wearer's right to freedom of religion? How can such a narrow minded view of something so important to Muslims be enough to justify this ban? With a society who is most definitely moving with the times, it can safely be assumed that most Muslims that wear any form of Islamic clothing are doing it out of choice. A choice that has been influenced purely by their upbringing and their interpretation of their religion. Calling a person's upbringing "oppressive" or even "indoctrinating" is an unfair assumption to make. After all, we are all victims of what society believes to be wrong or right; pretty or ugly; smart or thick. For example, it is a popular assumption that if you are fat, you are ugly but if you are slim, you are pretty. Yet, this is not always the case. Is it then fair for Sarko to ban chocolate because it is causing fat people to become oppressed in their coats of extra insulation? (Honestly? I am not even sure myself if that last sentence makes sense). The point I am trying to make is why on earth are France trying to control the way people live? Isn't that in itself oppressive?<br />
<br />
It seems rather absurd, also, that a girl or guy can walk down the street pretty much naked and apart from a few rolling of the eyes from the older generation and a couple of wolf whistles from some creepy people, this is perfectly "normal" and regarded as nothing to shout home about (unless they're hot). However, suddenly, when a woman walks down the street covered modestly because she feels no need to show her body to anyone other than to whom it matters, that woman apparently, in her mind, is shouting "Help! help!!! .. I am trapped inside what appears to be a black post box that I put on myself this morning" *rolls eyes*. What is to say that the women who walks down the street half naked is not oppressed by the traditions and acceptances of society? Just because society accepts something does not make it "acceptable" to everyone. What has to be had regard for is that everyone has their own belief system and whilst it may be influenced by certain aspects of their lives; upbringings etc, it does not justify Sarko jumping the gun and assuming that a person's upbringing is oppressive just because it is different to that of the "norm".<br />
<br />
As brilliantly put by John Stuart Mill:<br />
"If all of Mankind minus one were of one opinion, Mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one man, than he, if he had the power, would be in silencing all Mankind".<br />
And we can't silence the minority just because they are different, how else would we have got anywhere without being different? People were happy with Rice Krispies, then a genius came along and added chocolate ergo without difference we would not have Coco Pops!<br />
I can't see this ban succeeding for long, however, according to William Langley, Sarko's "brave step" is both popular and right. This is worrying... but I have faith in the intelligence of non - ignorant people.nks1990http://www.blogger.com/profile/06750980551812475416noreply@blogger.com0