Blog
Keeping the peace at Christmas – top tips for shared parenting over the festive season
Lauren Evans
27 April 2023
Will the rise in students using ChatGPT lead to an increase in academic misconduct proceedings?
In a recent survey of over 400 students at the University of Cambridge, nearly half said they had used ChatGPT to help with work for their degrees.
The online survey was conducted by Varsity, the University’s independent newspaper, and found that 47.3% of the respondents admitted to using ChatGPT, or other similar Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots, for their academic work.
26 April 2023
Medical Cannabis is Once Again up for Debate
The medical cannabis sector has seen a steady upward trend since the medical use of cannabis was legalised in the United Kingdom (UK) in November 2018. Despite this legislation (recreational remains illegal), the parameters for prescribing are somewhat narrow in that it must be prescribed by a registered specialist doctor, and only in respect of patients with specific conditions.
21 April 2023
Record High University Complaints in England and Wales: An Overview of the Ongoing Trend and Its Causes
Since the dawn of the #MeToo campaign, we have noted an upwards trend in complaints being made against students.
Whilst the majority of our work on behalf of students relates to allegations of misconduct (sexual, harassment, violence), the upward trend also relates to academic misconduct (cheating, plagiarism, collusion).
On the 20th of April 2023, the BBC has reported that university complaints from students hit a record high in England and Wales in 2022 for the fourth year running, thereby confirming what we have noted on the ground regarding the sector.
21 April 2023
Fair treatment of colleagues: what you need to know about the SRA’s updated Codes of Conduct
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been given the green light by the Legal Services Board (LSB) to amend the SRA Codes of Conduct in respect of treating colleagues fairly and with respect.
The LSB’s Decision Notice states the SRA’s intention to update the Codes immediately, “without further publicity or allowing [firms and individuals] time to prepare for the alterations”.
Indeed, these changes have already taken effect, introducing in the Codes explicit requirements for individuals to treat colleagues fairly and with respect, for managers to challenge behaviour that does not meet this standard, and for firms to treat those who work for and with them fairly and with respect, and to require their employees to meet that standard.
29 March 2023
Should ‘good’ barristers be allowed to decline to act for ‘bad’ clients? Client selection and the impact on the rule of law (long read)
More than 120 lawyers announced last week that they will not take briefs to prosecute peaceful climate protestors or act for companies pursuing fossil fuel projects. The group (‘Lawyers are Responsible’) called upon the government to act urgently to address the climate crisis and to promote sustainability. Twelve junior barristers and six king’s counsel have signed a Declaration of Conscience (‘the Declaration’), launched today outside the Royal Courts of Justice, declaring their intention to act in breach of the ‘cab rank’ rule. Some barristers have already referred themselves to the Bar Standards Board (‘BSB’) for this ‘breach’.
