Podcast

The podcast I did with Charon QC for the College of Law series is now up and can be found here. I hope it helps.

Garden Parties and High Living

This is from Counsel magazine but I think it deserves the widest possible circulation.

Derek Wood QC is conducting the review of pupillage. He is having a drinks reception on Monday 13th July in Lincoln’s Inn at 530pm. If you are a pupil, or a recently completed pupil, you should have had an invitation. If not then get in touch with Andrea Clerk at the BSB – aclerk@barstandardsboard.org.uk – and go along.

The review is genuinely interested in your experiences and your thoughts. So make sure that those conducting it know what they are. And ask for an amnesty for pupil bloggers…

Interesting Non-Law Blogs

According to Charon QC I am now supposed to recommend 5 non-law blogs. I would not normally do this, but anything that expands the reading of the average law student is worth a try. Having just insulted my audience, let me give the recommendations to which they will now, I am sure, be receptive.

Strangely, I don’t actually spend all that much time looking at blogs, still less non-legal ones. But browsing the web, like anything else, reflects my individual interests. Therefore, for those who are interested in other legal systems I recommend Hirhurim. This is a moderate view of my religion (really) and is interesting for the range of subject matter upon which Jewish Law, or halacha, impacts.

Then there is English Cut. My grandfather was a tailor, as were so many Jewish immigrants to this country. I don’t think I can afford a suit from Mr Mahon, but the site is interesting about a difficult job and how to do it supremely well.

I don’t know if this is a site really, but I collect old watches (the other grandfather was a Jeweller) and this is a consistently interesting collection of exactly that. Don’t buy a Rolex – they’re hugely overrated.

Then there is the world’s greatest cartoon, delivered to my inbox every day and available here. Doonesbury has made me laugh for over 25 years, ever since my flatmate – who had taken the then remarkably adventurous step of spending a year at Georgetown University – introduced me to it.

Finally there is wine. I know, I know – it’s a sterotypical barrister thing. But I do like it and the endless variety, occasional disappointments and the ability to get a bargain is both seductive and reminiscent of life at the Bar. Robert Parker isn’t my thing – scores out of 100 with a minimum of 50 and a preference for blockbuster fruit over interest and subtlety. Jancis Robinson is excellent, but you have to pay. The best free site is Bordoverview. This has every critic’s score for every Bordeaux vintage since 2005. If you find something you like then enter it here and you’ll see if you can afford it – or not. Bordeaux is actually overpriced at the moment, but I haven’t been able to find a similar facility for Italien wine which is very good value. If you know of one, please tell me.

Have a nice weekend.