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Law Brief Update is a general law newsletter covering important case summaries each month in all the major areas of law. It goes out free by email to over 10,000 UK based lawyers. It is written by a team of around twenty barristers.
Sian Williams's naked plea fails to convince taxman
The BBC presenter Sian Williams loves her job so much that she would do it naked. Or so she told the taxman. It was all to no avail, however. She claimed that because clothing was required by BBC bosses, who also asked for regular wardrobe rotation, it should be deductible from her tax bill. It was rejected – The Times
Sian William's argument seemed to hone in on the possibility that she would be sacked by the BBC is she wore the sameclothes too often. The taxman did not buy into this and repeated the rule that expenses can only be deducted for tax if they are “wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of employment duties”.
Inevitably, it would not bother me at all if the newsreaders started reading the news in the nude and, indeed, some people are so enthusaistic about the idea they have started a Facebook group to encourage this. “Let Sian Williams read the TV News NAKED!”
Lawcast164: The legal basis for the Iraq War and Lord Goldsmith's opinion with Carl Gardner
Today I am talking to Carl Gardner, a former government lawyer in Tony Blair's administration and author of the Head of Legal blog, about the legality of the War in Iraq.
The legal analysis turns on United Nations Special Resolution 1441. Yesterday Sir Michael Wood, Legal Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was quite specific in his view that war would be unlawful without a second resolution. The Foreign secretary, Jack Straw, rejected Sir Michael's advice. Elizabeth Wilmshurst, a deputy legal adviser at the FCO, was of the same view as Sir Michael Wood and, indeed resigned, so strong was her conviction that the war was unlawful.
Philippe Sands QC of Matrix Chambers and professor of International Law at University College London has long been of the view that the war in Iraq was illegal and published a book to that effect some time ago. There are few supporters of the revivalist theory put forward by Lord Goldsmith at the Iraq Inquiry hearing today – but Carl Gardner is one lawyer who does and I am going to discuss his reasoning shortly.
Today I am talking to 'Gideon', a US public defender and the author of the A Public defender blog. We look at the death penalty issue in the United states, the increasing use of surveillance in our respective jurisdictions, the latest on President Obama's plan to close Guantanamo and even find time to discuss whether a tweet is copyrightable.
Lawcast 162: Law News round up with Matthew Taylor
Today I am talking to Matthew Taylor, a solicitor, who is also author of the MTPT blog. In the last week two important legal issues have caught my eye – the motion granted to John Hemming MP about contempt of parliament by a law firm and the European Court of Human Rights decision that s44 stop and search powers are illegal. In fact, there has been a lot of law news this week and we'll be exploring some of these issues in the podcast today..
We consider also Trial by judge alone, Marco Pierre White case against Withers, television in court and the Iraq Inquiry.
I talk to Jonathan Goldsmith about the role of the CCBE, the Akzo Nobel case on in-house counsel, the new Justice Commissioner and the opportunities for lawyers in Europe.
Jonathan Goldsmith is the Secretary General of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents over 700,000 European lawyers through its member bars and law societies. The CCBE deals with a wide range of EU and global issues, such as anti-money-laundering legislation, an EU-wide Code of Conduct, competition matters affecting the legal profession, and human rights. He is an English solicitor. | Listen to the podcas
Law Society Gazette Podcast: Robert Heslett, President of The Law Society
Today I am talking To Robert Heslett. We cover a wide range of topics from the rule of law, the opportunities and threats to the solicitors profession, human rights and Twitter and other forms of social media and how they could be of benefit to lawyers.
College of Law Inside Track Podcast: Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty
Today I talk to Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty. Shami Chakrabarti gives her thoughts on why the Human Rights Act is so important and outlines Liberty's key role in the successful campaign to defeat proposals to increase the period that terror suspects could be held without charge to 42 days. She also discusses the role of the judiciary in upholding democratic values and gives advice to young lawyers interested in working within the field of human rights and civil liberties.
Lawcast 161: Geoffrey Woollard, a prospective parliamentary candidate
Today I am talking to Geoffrey Woollard, a farmer of many years standing who describes himself as an ex-Tory and is planning to stand for Parliament as an independent for South East Cambridgeshire. . Geoffrey responded to my new parody series The Huntsman's View and I thought it would be an excellent opportunity in the run up to the 2010 election to get a handle on matters political and in particular the process of standing for Parliament by inviting Geoffrey to do a podcast with me. I am delighted that he agreed to do so... so without further ado...
Today I am talking to paul and Jack, the founders of All About Law - a law careers oriented site for law students with independent reviews of law schools and much much more..
College of Law Inside Track Podcast: Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions
I talk to Keir Starmer QC the Director of Public Prosecutions about the role of the DPP, the recently issued guidelines on assisted suicide, the future of the Public Prosecution Service, the relationship with the independent Bar and opportunities for students and qualified lawyers in the service.
Law Society Gazette Podcast: Christina Blacklaws on the state of Family Law today.
Today I talk to Christina Blacklaws who specialises in child care law and mediation. A founding partner of Blacklaws Davis LLP, she is a member of the Children Panel, a Law Society Council member, serving as child care representative for the Council.
College of Law Inside Track podcast: Professor Stephen Mayson on the legal landscape.
Today I talk to Professor Stephen Mayson. He considers the future of the legal profession and the legal landscape following the opportunities for alternate business structures and the opportunities for young lawyers coming into the profession over the next few years. Listen to the podcast
Law Society Gazette Podcast: Roger Smith, Director of Justice - The POCA extension and the erosion of human rights and civil liberties.
I am now doing two podcasts a month for The Law Society Gazette. The second podcast is now up
I talk to Roger Smith, director of Justice, about the POCA extension and the erosion of human rights and civil liberties. Roger Smith is director of the law reform and human rights organisation Justice, he is a solicitor who has worked for organisations including the Law Society, the Legal Action Group and the Child Poverty Action Group.
We are building what will be the most extensive range of course materials, recorded lectures and updaters available for UK law students - completely FREE - leaving you free to spend your money on the detailed leading text books recommended by your university.
By 1st October we will have the following subjects covered:
Ex-government lawyer Carl Gardner for Constitutional Law and European Law, Andrew Keogh, Barrister, for Criminal law, Solomon Solaka of Liverpool John Moores University for Evidence | Dr John Birchall for Equity & Trusts and Land Law, Dr Peter Groves, a solicitor for Intellectual Property and Competition Law, Michael Scutt, partner in City Law firm Dale Langley for Employment, John Bolch, Solicitor and leading Family Law blogger for Family Law and I will be doing Contract, Sale, Tort and assisting Peter Groves with Competition Law. The project is Free under a creative commons licence for personal use - authors retain copyright - and is being sponsored by leading law schools, some law firms and publishers to enable us to provide a very extensive and up to date service. Recorded lectures will accompany the text and casenotes material - and it is all FREE.
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We have been advising barristers across the country for over 40 years. To find out how we can help you, please call us or visit www.cassonsforcounsel.co.uk
Will my pupillage awards be taxed?
There are differences in the tax treatments of pupillage awards from Inns as opposed to those from Chambers. Read here for more details.
HMRC clampdown on barristers!
A specialist unit has been set up by HMRC to conduct investigations into barristers' tax affairs. See here for the areas in which they are most likely to be investigating.
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