Tag Archives: law student

Government Legal Trainee Scheme

The government’s legal solicitor trainee scheme is open now! Please take a look if you’re interested in working within the government. There are roles available within the following departnemts: legal, commercial, HMRC, NCA, and the Competition and Markets Authority! The application deadline is the 18th June 2021, so get going.

Follow the link below for more information and how to apply:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-legal-service-gls-legal-trainee-scheme-how-to-apply

Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession – Free Course

VIA FUTURELEARN

AI is an important and growing feature of the legal profession, becoming integrated into all areas of practice. Whether you are aiming to practice in mergers and aquisitions, real estate, or even criminal law – AI is something you ought to consider.

Being educated on the progress, developments, and application of AI is a hot topic among recruiters. By taking this free course listed below you can advance your understanding of the future of the profession, as well as potientially wow some industry heads in an interview!

Futurelearn: AI for Legal Professionals (I): Law and Policy

Hosted by the National Chiao Tung University, via Futurelearn:

AI for Legal Professionals (I): Law and Policy https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ai-for-legal-professionals-i-


AI for Legal Professionals (II): Tools for Lawyers https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ai-for-legal-professionals-ii-

A free account gives you access to the course content, or for £52 you can claim a certificate (paper or digital) upon completion. While isn’t necessary to pay for the certificate at the end, the course will give you a solid foundation on the topic. It might also be something you use to jazz up your cover letters!

Feel free while you’re there to check out the hundreds of free courses on offer, and subscribe to their newsletter so you never miss out on something potentially worth your while!

NEW: Sky Legal Training Contracts

Sky, the television and cinema giant, is launching a training contract scheme for law students commencing this year (2021).

Follow the link to hear more about the position: https://careers.sky.com/job/12443652/

Application deadlines end on the 11th April 2021. So be quick! It seems like an exciting opportunity for all those who want to enter into the real of law and media.

Good luck!

Cinemas Stepping Up!

Among the many things that we are missing over this lockdown period, going to the cinema is definitely high on my list. As an avid cinemaphile I can’t wait to get back to the smell of popcorn.

As many of us know, the justice system is struggling to cope with an overwhelming backlog of cases. Struggles around social distancing for Juries, courts having to close, and staffing issues have put a strain on our already fragile system. In August of 2020 it was believed that some 750 outstanding High Court cases were still to be heard in Scotland. Access to swift and proper justice is a human right, and ought to be upheld even during a pandemic.

So what if I told you that instead of seats being filled to watch the long-witheld James Bond installment, Juries are now trading in the court benches and courtrooms for the comfort of that cinema experience. Jurors who would usually be sitting in the same seats to watch Tenet, are actually watching courtcases remotely instead.

With the increased uptake in remote technology platforms like Zoom, Juries are able to witness court preceeding happen in real-time from a in a socially distanced capacity – on a 50ft screen. Jurors are based in screens watching the judge and both legal teams who are continuing to work from the courthouse.

As recently as last week Cinema chain ‘Vue’, in their Shiprow site in Aberdeen, Scottland hosted a High Court trial. Other chains such as ODEON are also part of this initiative and have been since October. Around £5.5 million is said to being put into this initiative across Scotland. This features the implimentation of new high-tech cameras allowing for full backwards and forwards coverage.

At the moment, cinema venues remain empty, most not set to open until Summer time. Multiplexes with tens of rooms, thousands of seats are being wasted, and so are the potential opportunities. It’s incredible to see the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service usher in such initiative and even better to hear their plans for branching out.

Uber BV and others (Appellants) v Aslam and others (Respondents)

Case ID: UKSC 2019/0029

Judgment

The judgment emphasises five aspects of the findings made by the employment tribunal which justified its conclusion that the claimants were working for and under contracts with Uber [93].

□ First, where a ride is booked through the Uber app, it is Uber that sets the fare and drivers are not permitted to charge more than the fare calculated by the Uber app. It is therefore Uber which dictates how much drivers are paid for the work they do [94].

□ Second, the contract terms on which drivers perform their services are imposed by Uber and drivers have no say in them [95].

□ Third, once a driver has logged onto the Uber app, the driver’s choice about whether to accept requests for rides is constrained by Uber [96]. One way in which this is done is by monitoring the driver’s rate of acceptance (and cancellation) of trip requests and imposing what amounts to a penalty if too many trip requests are declined or cancelled by automatically logging the driver off the Uber app for ten minutes, thereby preventing the driver from working until allowed to log back on [97].

□ Fourth, Uber also exercises significant control over the way in which drivers deliver their services. One of several methods mentioned in the judgment is the use of a ratings system whereby passengers are asked to rate the driver on a scale of 1 to 5 after each trip. Any driver who fails to maintain a required average rating will receive a series of warnings and, if their average rating does not improve, eventually have their relationship with Uber terminated [98 – 99].

□ A fifth significant factor is that Uber restricts communications between passenger and driver to the minimum necessary to perform the particular trip and takes active steps to prevent drivers from establishing any relationship with a passenger capable of extending beyond an individual ride [100].

Taking these factors together, the transportation service performed by drivers and offered to passengers through the Uber app is very tightly defined and controlled by Uber. Drivers are in a position of subordination and dependency in relation to Uber such that they have little or no ability to improve their economic position through professional or entrepreneurial skill. In practice the only way in which they can increase their earnings is by working longer hours while constantly meeting Uber’s measures of performance [101].

The Supreme Court considers that comparisons made by Uber with digital platforms which act as booking agents for hotels and other accommodation [103 – 108] and with minicab drivers [109 – 117] do not advance its case. The drivers were rightly found to be “workers” [119].

What does this mean?

Well Uber drivers being classed as employees may inevitably mean they will enjoy the same rights as those not working in the ride-share industry. This includes earning a minimum wage and holiday pay entitlements.

Under these new financial obligations, Uber will inevitably increase customer fares to cover the burden. As well as limit further the flexible nature of working when you want under Uber’s current business model.

Could this set a precedent that will apply to other casual workers, working for companies such as Bolt and Lyft?

What will this mean for for future of Uber, in an already hostile climate? Facing challenges with Black-cab agencies and tough regulations set by TFL. Will Uber persevere and change their practice or will they admit defeat? Some 40,000 drivers in the UK and millions of consumers would like to know.

Click to access uksc-2019-0029-judgment.pdf

Learning From Home

Lots of us have taken up online learning this year, some say it’s a game changer while other’s can’t wait to return to the classroom.

I have been doing distanced learning since December, having only spent about 6 weeks in the classroom. Lots of my peers have also elected to do the same. There are many reasons why people have had to learn from home;

  • Local lockdowns an restrictions
  • Reduction of risk
  • Loss of income – travel and rent can be incredibly expensive!
  • It beats sitting in a freezing classroom with windows wide open, fans blowing, and doors open

Just to name a few!

Are there any benefits to distance learning?

  • You learn from the comfort of your home. In troubling times like these, a little bit of comfort can work wonders for our mental health.
  • You have more time for studying! By switching to online classes I gained an extra 10 hours per week not having to travel from my home in SE London, all the way to Surrey.
  • I’m taking care of myself better, simply by getting adequate sleep and eating well which I wasn’t doing while out of the house.
  • I can still effectively engage and communicate with my tutors and peers. Despite being scattered across the UK, it still feels very much like I’m in class. In fact I probably communicate with a wider range of people than I otherwise would have during face-to-face teaching.
  • I’m saving money. Being on furlough has impacted me greatly. I couldn’t possibly even think about attending university on such a tight budget. Travel from my bedroom to the fridge is free, and I’m loving it.
  • Online exams – at least the upcoming online exams don’t feel as scary. At least for me, anyway.

It might seem desirable, but there are downsides to this sudden, and for some, involuntary shift.

  • Sometimes you can be too comfortable. So comfortable that standards slip. You might opt for scrolling through Instagram rather than listening to the tutor. Even if the ‘awa awa’ chihuahua is more interesting than income tax, our attention is too easily traded.
  • You miss out on bonding with your personal tutor or academic advisor. This mean that you might inevitably feel awkward about asking a relative stranger to write you a reference in an application. For this reason, it’s a good idea to drop them a catch-up email or arrange a call/video chat.
  • You lose structure, and for some it’s hard to replicate at home. Let’s face it, unless you’re dragging yourself up for a morning lecture, most early mornings are spent asleep.
  • We’re missing out on a lot of potential networking events that would have otherwise taken place.
  • New proctored exams are still nerve-wracking. Knowing that you’re being filmed/recorded is unsettling, and for some technology is not our most reliable ally.

Everything we’re experiencing this year is new and unprecedented. We’re all doing the best we can with what we’re being given. So give yourself a round of applause! 👏 👏

The future of legal services – are we going to see a shift towards virtual relationships? Probably. Already we see hosts of firms, institutions, businesses, and more reaching out online. Holding virtual networking events, talks, insight days, vac schemes, interviews…and much more, seems to be what we ought to look forward to.

Motivational Blues

For lots of us, exams are looming. You might be stressed with how much work you have but find little motivation to actually sit down and begin to tackle this mountain. For some, this can make pre-exam stress worse. By ‘some’, let me tell you, I am also included.

As an avid career crammer, I’ve come to the realisation that my Legal Practice Course exams are not going to sit themselves. For the most part, my cramming bows down to a serial lack of motivation and for those of you like me, the urge to procrastinate is incredibly enticing.

So, let me give you some pointers on how to keep the flow and manage those periods of ‘meh’.

  • Chose a method that works for you. Be it flash cards, mind-maps, lists, thought clouds, or memory games. By experimenting with different ways to study, you will find a way to encourage yourself to revise. For me, I settled on mind-maps. They’re easy to make, you can include as little or as much information as possible, you can add pictures, colour, and make important information pop in a way that’s attractive to you! I will definitely be sharing my notes with you guys to help anyone who needs them. Just head to the Gallery.
  • Reward yourself! Given that most aspiring solicitors don’t qualify until the ripe ole’ age of 29, we can often feel like it’s a distant achievement that can’t and won’t bother us now. Well…that’s not the case. By treating yourself often; with a good book, your favourite movie, taking a long hot bubble bath – you get the picture – we can settle our need for automatic gratification. You put in a few solid hours, you get a snack reward. You have a dedicated week, take Sunday off and put your feet up. You’e more likely to get back on the horse if you know there’s some sort of appreciation for the effort in the here and now!
  • Treat yourself often. That is sometimes something we forget to do in the thick of it. We do deserve to relax and appreciate life. Working too long and too hard without respite can cause metal fatigue or burn-out! Keep a look out for further information on how to avoid burn-out and what to do if you suspect that you’re spent. You always deserve that cup of tea.
  • If you’re struggling reach out to others. Take some time to appreciate where you are and what steps you can take to get back on track. Most university professors can be found at the end of an email. Trust me. Just ask for help. They aren’t here to berrate you or make you feel useless, their job is to teach you. Don’t waste this precious resource. Likewise, it might be wise, if you haven’t already, to set up a class group chat over social media! You might feel more comfortable asking questions this way because they’re your peers.
  • Don’t be hard on yourself. Nothing knocks confidence like self doubt and feelings of inadequacy. If you’ve not passed a test or didn’t achieve the score you wanted, take it easy. Most universities offer the chance to resit (with or without a fee). There’s no shame in needing a second chance. Nobody is perfect. Yes, even that one person in your class who seems to know everything and is always prepared.