Westlaw – Index of Legal Terms

Westlaw have now made their “Index of Legal Terms” free to academic subscribers. This service provides definitions from 3 legal dictionaries, as well as links to key cases or journals which may also be of interest. I’ve recorded a short demo of how it works, in case you want to watch before you try!

“Data protection law & policy”, “E-commerce law & policy” and “World sports law report”

This is just to remind you that we are now subscribing to these 3 titles, published by Cecile Park Publishing. Our print holdings begin in 2012, but we also have online access to the full archives. These titles require a resource-specific username and password, (so not your normal NTU ID). I’ve recorded a short demo to remind you how to get to our “resource-specific username and password page”. Once you get there, scroll down to see the appropriate title and details – you can then follow the link to the relevant resource. Once at the journal’s online home page, look for the login button and enter the details you’ve just written down – simple!

“Representing the Bar: how the barristers’ profession sells itself to prospective members” – article in the latest issue of Legal Studies

This is an interesting article, written by Justine Rogers, in the latest issue of Legal Studies, June 2012, 32(3), pp202-225. We have the journal in print in Boots and also electronically via the Wiley Online service (although we have other online subs to this title, only the Wiley site gives us the current issue). In case you’re interested in reading it, I’ve recorded a short demo to remind you how to access the ejournals.

More 4 programme – Accused: the 74 stone babysitter

I’m not sure about this one, (and not just because it’s being shown on More4), so you’ll need to make your own minds up.  The Radio Times website says “An insight into a high-profile American murder trial in which Mayra Rosales, a 74st Texan woman, confessed to beating her two-year-old nephew to death. As the only person in the company of the youngster when he died, Mayra became the prime suspect, and the programme follows the twists and turns of the trial, discovering how a bed-ridden, immobile woman appeared to be admitting to a crime it seemed unlikely she was able to commit. Includes testimonies from Mayra, her family and friends, and the doctors, lawyers and investigators involved in the case.”

I’m not planning to record it for stock, but if you would like to me to, then just ask.  Also, don’t forget that you can request your own copies of programmes for teaching purposes by filling in the form on our Off-Air Recording page on the website.

DPP publishes interim guidelines on cases affecting the media

Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has today published interim guidelines on the approach prosecutors should take when assessing the public interest in cases affecting the media.

The guidelines are likely to be relevant when prosecutors are considering whether to charge journalists – or those who interact with journalists – with criminal offences that may have been committed in the course of their work as journalists. The publication also marks the start of a public consultation. 

To read more, or participate in the public consultation, visit the DPP website.

The Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales : 2011 report and accounts published

The Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales Report and Accounts 2011 is now available via the Official Documents website.

Jury trials – interesting post by Edward Cole on the Halsburys Law Exchange blog

Edward Cole’s post about jury trials on the Halsburys Law Exchange blog raises some interesting points – he suggests that the four mainstream arguments commonly advanced to support jury trials do not stand serious scrutiny. Check it out for yourself.

CPS Charging Announcement in relation to Rebekah Brooks and others

The official CPS Charging Announcement can be found on the CPS website.

HEFCE publishes its Annual Report & Accounts 2011-12…

…which you can read on the Official Documents website.

Quality and Standards in a Liberalised Market – speech by David Edmonds, Chairman, Legal Services Board

On the 10th May, David Edmonds, Chairman of the Legal Services Board, addressed an invited audience at the Russell Cooke forum on “Quality and standards in a liberalised market‟.

You can read the full speech on the Legal Services Board website.