The fat lady has begun her sweet song...

So today was my Professional Conduct Exam blogwatchers. 1 and a half hours of sheer brain busting Conduct and Financial Services related trivia. I'm glad it's over now. I know it is probably minor in the grand scheme of LPC things but it's the one exam in which things could either be hit or miss. So that's that...the examinations are over BUT the game is only just beginning. Now it's just a question of waiting for the results.

However, a most ironic thing occurred after said exam. I was having a 'thank goodness that exam is over' catch up drink with my old pal from university and after drinks on the way to the Tube station, my friend was having a quick cigarette and absent-mindedly dropped her butt on the ground.

*Cue jaws music *

Just her luck...the enviro squad and police were standing behind us and landed her with an on-the-spot fine of £50! Eeek! Poor thing...that's going to hurt her in the pocket department. The crazy thing is that she had been smoking earlier on in the day and had done the same thing but there was no one there to bust her. Damn and blast!

As law students and potential lawyers, we really really should know better!

Stay out of trouble kids...

CBC

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Returning to the Code of Conduct

Yes dear blogwatchers,

I am going to have to get my head down and get studying for Professional Conduct, the exam which is on the 8th of September! More updates will be coming soon. I really have to get it right this time...

CBC

"A deep-seated attitudinal problem" (?)

Well hello there www. As you probably know, I was away for a few days swotting up for my Professional Conduct exam; my last exam. As the law of the sod would go, several things occurred during that exam to make me feel less confident about the outcome:

• I got writer's cramp about 5 minutes in


• It was an hour and a half exam and although visiting the ladies just before it started, I became desperate to go about 30 minutes from the end so thus lost 10 minutes


• I had 2 minutes to do 14 marks' worth of multiple choice questions


• I ran out of time and bullet-pointed 2 whole questions (just about)


• There were two questions which I could not identify the issues which were being tested UNTIL THE END (see the previous point)

So after feeling relatively confident prior to the exam as I had prepared, read over everything, practised questions, walked around my house talking to MYSELF about 'Regulated activities' and s.327 FSMA and Scope Rule compliance...it all went (for lack of a better word) "teets up".

Pah.

So last night, after watching another exhilarating episode of Eastenders (I was not being sarcastic...much) I caught an episode of Panorama, entitled 'A Very Dangerous Doctor' about paediatrician David Southall. I had not been aware of this story prior to this but it really caught my attention. Evidently, Southall had used secret filming of his patients and managed to uncover a ridiculous number of cases of child abuse. Now of course in learning about Family Law, you become familiar with the concept that the safety/ best interests of the child are of paramount importance etc (Apologies if my wording is a bit off; I haven't looked through my family law things for about a year...)

So why were so many people up in arms about the findings of Southall's research? Perhaps it's because several people have been accused of child abuse due to the findings of it? But in my head, all I can think about is the fact that children are possibly being abused and that this research/ surveillance may save a few children from this. Sadly for their parents though, it may mean false accusations of abuse.

Where is the balance?

Now, in reading a follow up article (because CBC likes to do her research) Southall has been described as having 'a deep-seated attitudinal problem' by a disciplinary panel. It seems a shame that the focus is now on his personality than the issue in hand; the safety of the children. However, I am not looking at this through 'rose tinted' glasses and ignoring the fact the he may have had an agenda which had nothing to do with the children and more to do with a 'power trip'.

As the judge ruling that the decision to strike him off was justified said,

"He was speculating on non-medical matters in an offensive manner entirely inconsistent with the status of an independent expert."

But what about this Münchausen's syndrome? The article describes it as, "... a condition which means parents deliberately induce or fabricate illnesses in their children to get attention for themselves."

Are Southall's accusations justified in some way? Obviously every case is different but isn't it better to be safe than sorry?

Interesting stuff. So many questions...so few right answers.

*sigh* I love the law

CBC

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(p.s I really need to discover once and for all the issue regarding copyright and images in this blog. Although there are links to all the photos and otherwise I have obtained permission from folks for certain cartoons, I am still a little concerned. All in good time.)

"Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining..."

...courtesy of Judge Judy during one of her verdicts. I do think this rather crude sounding phrase sums up how I feel about a lot of things; in other words, don't take me for a fool. Nuff said.

Had an interesting day yesterday helping a friend campaign at London Universities on behalf of a political party for the European elections. Surprisingly, I found myself really getting excited by politics of late. Hmm. I wonder whether a career as an MP is on the horizon...

*coughnewminicooperyippeecough*

"Mr Speaker, I beg to differ..."

Poor Mr Speaker...he couldn't even read his own statement without stumbling over his words. I'm not surprised with all the heckling going on round him.

Just for information, the party is called Libertas and is a relatively new party working towards a democratic, accountable and transparent Europe and you can find more information about the party here. Don't forget to register to vote on June 4th!

Now to commence revising for Professional Conduct on June 1st!

CBC

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On the up!

It seems my positivity is paying off a bit www as I have had quite an interesting day today. Firstly, I have passed my re-take LPC exams...HURRAH! That just leaves me with Professional Conduct and Financial Services to sit on June 1st! Also, my exam results spurring me on, I have made ...wait for it...12 applications and enquiries for legal jobs today and have a whole long list more to do tomorrow! Surely one of these must reply...right? AND, I have a day of girly catching up to look forward to with T tomorrow. All in all a successful day me thinks!

Purr

CBC

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Another quiet day

It's been the second day in a row of quiet reflection at home. I don't know why really. It wasn't a conscious choice to. I've been having a lot of headaches lately so I guess it's making me recluse-like.

So I've gotten through the exams and lived to tell the tale! After months or nervously waiting, revising and imagining worse case scenarios, finally they are all over. I haven't the results yet but I've got a lot riding on these.

Not a lot has happened lately and I've barely been out in yonks. I do however, know how to make sushi now so that's one more thing ticked off my 'To Do' list!

CBC is still single and training contract-less so watch this space!

Better be off to to some handwashing so till next entry

CBC

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Procrastination at its finest?

Well after having spent an entire 2 hours on facebook this morning, I can confidently announce that this has not been my most productive morning yet. However, it quickly dawned on me that I no longer need to be particularly productive as I've finished my exams and have no more studying to do.

I feel the past 15 years or so of studying has been a sort of comfort blanket for me. I seem to take solace in my work and studying; though I often grumble to myself about how tired I am. I think I'm feeling slightly at loss with what to do with myself now that Im finished. That is, provided I pass all these exams! Eeepenema!

Anyway, I think it's fair (in a paranoid woman's mind) to say that Mr Literary was a 'one-off'. Not one of my most intelligent moves ever but all in a growing woman's day huh? I think that's possibly ruined a perfectly civilised friendship now but I may just be growing in paranoia; we'll see the outcome of that.

LEGAL RANT TIME!

I remember during the LPC whilst studying Advanced Criminal Litigation and doing Road Traffic Offences and I came across something which, at the time, really annoyed me. I think it was something to do with the different penalities for Death by Dangerous Driving and Death by Careless Driving. As far as I can remember, the penalties for death by dangerous driving were far higher than that for careless driving. (Though I think that the offence of death by careless driving was relatively new or being reviewed). Anyway, my argument in class was that surely if the outcome is the same, i.e. DEATH, then what does it matter whether the driver of the car was driving carelessly or dangerously?!

I suppose in a really pedantic legal-brained way of looking at it would be to take the two terms 'dangerous' and 'careless' and consider their meanings. The term 'careless' seems to suggest that there was no intention to cause harm whereas 'dangerous' in this context seems to suggest that the person knew that the manner in which they were driving would cause some harm. I really don't know...I think as long as someone is killed the penalties should more or less be the same but I know it's not as simple as that.

The law is indeed "...a ass..."

Well I had better scuttle off and make myself more useful today. I suppose seeing as I have less work to do I can be more dedicated to my blogging now

CBC

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I really could do with a nice tea!

Wheezy like Sunday morning...

Heh, well this morning I am -a procrastinating...unintentionally mind. I've woken up with a banging headache after my day of fasting yesterday. Think I ate something a bit dodgy and it soon made an appearance! I appreciate this is a little too much information for which I apologise profusedly- I'm in a sharing mood.

I'm working on Business Law at the moment which is my final retake exam! Hurrah. It takes place on Tuesday so that just leaves me today and tomorrow to swot up for it. I'm getting there slowly, just really need to focus on my Revenue Law now and be able to distinguish my Tex/Mex shootout from my Russian Roulette...(you can tell Ive been revising Joint Ventures right?!) Also it's been fantastic to have Blonde Crime Fighter* helping me along the way by kicking me up the derriere to work. I've never studied with anyone before in this way and it's unbelievable how productive it has been to do so...I shall miss her dearly (Can tell Tuesday after exam will end up in pub...but I digress!)

No updates as such on Mr Literary apart from to say that he has decided that he needs time alone to be himself after being tied up in relationship after relationship. Whether that is a 'cop-out' or not, I guess I'll just have to wait it out. Och.

Back to the SGSs I go

Till next post

CBC

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* A lurvely law school bud who I've nicknamed

Business Accounts...again

So I am NYC in Business Accounts and so have to do the exam again this Saturday! Getting to grips with the format and I'm slightly reluctant to say that I am enjoying it...bar Company Accounts. That ruddy Analysis of Reserves 'calculation' is driving me slightly loopy but I'll get there, eventually.

I thought it would be a good idea to pop into law school to revise today (which is where I am now) and it's deadly quiet except for the occasional BVC student popping in for their results. I unfortunately have a banging headache and just can't concentrate for very long. See how much longer I last here today.

Elective exams are finally over. I am a bit worried about Private Client law to be very honest, partly because of the life interest trust created by will and the taxation of that estate in that exam. I suspect that I may have gotten my trusts a bit muddled up but I shall not dwell.

Didn't post before but managed to get myself a week's work experience with a Legal Magazine in London which I am very excited about. This may be my bit on the side if and when I qualify; Legal Journalism. I just can't get enough of writing, albeit the fact that I may not be particularly good at it or that anyone reads my writing! But anyway, I am really really excited and may need to buy myself a new pair of trousers and a new blouse for next week (any excuse to go shopping of course!)

Well now that I am finished with the SGS prep and so on, I can get cracking with my applications for training contracts seeing as I don't have one yet. I have seen a few firms which I am really interested in so it's just a matter of sitting down and getting on with the applications now. That and getting a part time job. How hard is it to get a job folding and selling clothes and shoes...I'm training to become a solicitor for goodness sake!

My motto is nothing before it's time and that everything happens for a reason so who knows what the coming months will bring...

Till next post

CBC

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I say "Yell-o", you say "Yell-er"...

So had my Family Law exam today. Thank goodness that's over but it wasn't half bad. That ancillary relief stuff really got me a bit today. There's just so much information to go through with those Form Es and then applying that to the fact pattern as well as making up a package for the client and calculating whether or not there was a 50/50 'Yardstick of equality' split. Oh my goodness. That was just one of four collossal questions! Hmm.

If only I had applied this study method to all my other exams.I think going through all the SGS's and redoing exercises really does help the information to stick. I arrived 2 minutes before the start of the exam today! What a close shave! I don't intend to repeat that performance.

I think I've found my store of choice to shop in when I start working...TM Lewin! Popped in there in passing today and I'm in love with the gorgeous stripey shirts and the like. In particular, I would love a couple of those shirts with the cuffs to add cufflinks to. *sigh* So many pretty cufflinks to invest in!

I'm so mentally tired...1 down, 3 more to go this month!

Aieeeeee. Back to the PC (WPEP) encore.

Till next post

CBC

xx