by Rasika Elangeswaran, 27 Feb 2023
Aspiring Lawyers! You may be confused about what exactly Magic Circle law firms are, fortunately, this blog will discussall significant details about what they are, what they do and how to prepare for a future to work with them. Context and key Information on Magic circle firms: The Magic Circle (MC) Law firms include the most prestigious and notorious law firms in the UK. They all specialise predominantly in commercial law. At present, there are five firms that belong to the Magic circle, including: • Clifford Chance • Allen and Overy • Linklaters • Slaughter and May • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer You may ask, why are these law firms so highly regarded in the legal field? Well, this is due to a number of factors such as their targeted prospect list, the amount of lawyers working for them and their revenue per partner. These firms are all UK based with other countries possessing their own esteemed firms. For example, in Canada, the most respectable law firms are regarded as the ‘seven sisters ‘. You may have heard of The MC law firms, but have you heard of the UK’s commercial Bar’s magic circle. These are the most successful and most known Barrister’s chambers in London with the majority being centred in the Four Inns of Court. The prominent five are: • Brick Court Chambers • Essex Court Chambers • One Essex Court • Fountain Court • Blackstone Chambers Pros and Cons of MC Law firms: One benefit of a MC law firm is that they offer a rewarding salary with first year trainees earning at least £42,000, depending on the type of MC firm and a newly qualified lawyer earning at least £92,000 also depending on the type of firm. However, with this comes hard and challenging work in a fast – paced working environment for long hours. Another bonus, is that you are given exciting cases and get the chance to work with distinguished clients to develop new experiences and a renowned network. Some trainees have said that employers at an MC firm expect proactiveness and that a lot of responsibility is given right from the start. Not only that, another hindrance may be that to be offered a training contract is very competitive amongst aspiring lawyers when desiring to be employed by a MC firm, therefore, your previous experience should be remarkable, and this is how you can start now. On the other hand, some employees receive the opportunity to travel and so learn and experience law in a foreign country. What to do now, to impress possible MC employers? There are many virtual work experiences available online. One example, is the platform known as Forage which offers 5 -6 hours’ worth of virtual work experience programs. The Magic Circle firms have also provided some programs on this platform which would be very beneficial to develop fundamental skills such as drafting, advising and would look amazing on your CV. From my own experience, I can say Forage is a brilliant platform for you to build skills and achievements. I have completed the Clifford Chance Ready, Set Law program and found it very advantageous for me as I also received a certificate in the end. Do not worry about the cost as many of the programs are free, all you need to do is sign up! Not only that, there are a variety of internships available that are offered by the MC Law firms such as the Clifford Chance ACCESS internship that are aimed towards Year 12 sixth form students with the criteria more detailed on their website. This program can also lead you to a training contract with Clifford Chance. Furthermore, the same firm also offers the internship aimed at university students that can also lead you to a training contract. There are many more opportunities like this that other MC law firms have to offer, which you can research on their own website, but make sure you fit the criteria before applying. Fun Facts about Magic Circle Law Firms! o The term Magic Circle was conceived in the 1990s by legal journalists. o Linklaters, founded in 1838, is the oldest firm that is a part of the MC group. o The main competitors in the UK for MC law firms are the Silver Circle compromised by firms such as Ashurst, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Herbert Smith Freehills, Macfarlanes and Travers Smith. o Main competitors for MC firms outside of the UK are US based global Law firms such as Latham and Watkins. So here is your complete A -Z guide to Magic Circle Law firms. I hope this developed your understanding and has inspired you to work harder to turn your aspirations into achievements. Do not forget that you are not alone and that you have this amazing community of aspiring lawyers in the form of Journey 2 Law. Thank you so much for reading this blog and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to comment down below or message me Via LinkedIn: (1)Rasika Elangeswaran | LinkedIn
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by Imani Sabir , 1st Dec 2022
Trying to navigate that creaky bridge between your teen years and adulthood can be tough, right? I’m sure sixth form students across the country are feeling that same stress and pressure to perform, to make whoever it is you want to make proud, even if it is just yourself. And whilst getting caught up in the conundrum of academic life, you tend to forget to look after yourself. These final years of secondary school can be tricky and I empathise greatly, so, here are some key lessons (& maybe some hard truths) that I’ve learned that may help you along the way. 1. It’s okay to be selfish. While it’s perfectly admirable to want to help your friends & your peers, getting too lost in that helpfulness will start to become a problem. Constantly accepting to offer your support to others can mean that you forget about your own needs, even neglecting them completely at times. Now is the time where you get to write your next chapter; I definitely advise being selfish and putting yourself as a priority since you’re the only one in charge of your own future and what you do with it. 2. Failure does not make you inadequate. If you’ve just completed a test and didn’t get 30/30 on that essay, or you didn’t complete that graph question correctly, don’t panic. Especially in the beginning, it is expected that you won’t nail each task from the get go since it is such a big jump from GCSEs and KS3. After all, A-Levels are called Advanced Levels for a good reason, it takes a lot of practice and mistakes before you perfect the skills for when May comes around. It’s the bridge between secondary school and university, so don’t be disheartened if you don’t achieve perfection as quick as you’d anticipated. 3. Everything is what YOU want. Still wondering what lies next for you after sixth form? A word of advice; it’s what lies ahead for YOU, not the people around you. A lot of people tend to let their parents influence their chosen route, be it university, work, travel, a degree apprenticeship or anything else. And most of the time, they end up completely regretting being swayed to pick something that doesn’t align with what they can truly see themselves enjoying and thriving in. So, make sure, when you do make that choice, that you know it’s what’s in your heart, not just what’ll please everyone around you. 4. You don’t need to know who you are yet. The human brain doesn’t fully develop to its full capacity until you’re 25 years old. That should be a clear indication that it’s okay if you’re still learning things about yourself, even grown adults that I know learn more about themselves every day and are still growing as people. A life plan does not need to be definitive and definitely does not even need to be made at this stage, all that matters is living in the moment and doing yourself justice the way you see fit. 5. Don’t be afraid to let people go. Some people are cemented in the idea that their secondary school friendships will last forever, especially when that time is coming to an end and you’re thinking of when you’ll see them again. And while you may have an amazing group of friends, it’s natural for people to drift apart from each other. It’s not always worth trying to solidify who your friends are when you’ve still got a full life to live and you may meet even more amazing people down the line. You’re still growing and realising what you really want. You may become a new version of yourself that might want to surround yourself with different company, so don’t be scared to let those changes happen. 6. If it makes you happy, it’s not a waste of time. You can often get caught up with the immense workload you’ll receive once you start sixth form, probably feeling like there shouldn’t be time for anything else. But, it’s so important to have a balance. Particularly in Year 12, when you don’t make time for what you enjoy & what helps you unwind after stressful periods, you’ll only end up with one thing: burnout. And trust me, the last thing you want is burnout when you’re trying to stay motivated. It’ll only drag you down and de-incentivise you to do anything productive. 7. The only person you’re in competition with is yourself. Nobody cares if you’re not the smartest person in the room. If the person next to you is getting full marks and you’re missing that 100% by a few, that shouldn’t dampen your day. Comparing yourself to others will only deepen any insecurities you have about your own worth as a student. The only thing that should matter is whether or not you’re improving your own work and seeking academic validation from yourself and your teachers; even then, your teachers may suggest something to you that may not always work. So, only worry about what you’re doing, you’re not in a race with anybody for first place. 8. You can, you will. If things start getting difficult and you feel like you have to regroup, sure, you can set things aside and come back to them when you feel calmer. But, pretending like your priorities don’t exist and escaping from what you need to face at hand will only increase your hardships. So put yourself at ease, and have faith in yourself because all of your efforts will not go in vain if they’re consistent and you persist. You can and you will, do it. Hopefully, reading these resonated with anything you’re facing at the moment and were able to alleviate some of your worries, concerns or doubts with some words of support. These 8 things helped strengthen me as a student in the last couple of years, 2021-22 especially, and I’ve learned a lot from this. If you have any more questions you’d like to air out to me, you can drop me an email, LinkedIn message or comment down below! @[email protected] http://linkedin.com/in/i-sabir by Kalkidan Dereje , 21st Nov 2022
Writing a CV and cover letter can be quite difficult. Personally, I have struggled in the past when writing my own CV and cover letter, but I feel quite confident now so here are some tips to help you write and structure your CV and cover letter. This approach is quite general, but you can make it more specific to the industry that you are interested in. CV - 'curriculum vitae'
Cover Letter I have covered advice for CVs, but I find CVs are much easier to write, whilst cover letters are much more complicated and subjective so here is my advice for cover letters:
For your cover letter it should be divided into 3 important sections: → Why the sector/organisation? - why are you interested in a sector e.g., law, and then specifically the organisation you are applying for - known as your ‘I love you’ line - you do not want to be very general with this but rather specific to an industry or organisation → Why the internship/ job/ position/ role - what about this specific role interests you and you can link this back to your accomplishments or experience as well, but if not, that’s fine as you’ll do this more in the last section → Why you - this is where you say what you will bring to the role and how you would benefit that specific organisation - evidence that you fulfil the application profile requirement and more - the way to do this best is to use the job criteria of a specific job/internship etc and use that to structure your cover letter and what you bring - hiring managers, when going through, will see you pass all the requirements when you do this - helps you secure said role or internship
If you have any further tips for everyone, drop them down below in the comment section! 11/15/2022 0 Comments UNIVERSITY PREP AS A YEAR 12 STUDENTby Havin, 15 Nov 2022
Starting sixth form has a lot of pressures including preparing for universities, getting work experience, and getting the grades you may require for future studies. As a current year 12 student you get told you have to do so many things at the same time that it can become increasingly overwhelming to balance and complete in time. Personally, I am currently studying for my A-levels, participate in 2 courses, do work experience whenever possible and I am a Journey 2 Law Brand Ambassador all at the same time along with doing general revision. This also includes researching the universities that I’m interested in that I would be applying for next year, whilst trying to balance everything and meet all deadlines. As students we are not provided with a lot of help. For example, which universities to look at and how to apply, until we get to Year 13 and this can put us students at a disadvantage as Year 13 may be too late to do things that may benefit us in our applications. Additionally, the workload you receive is a lot more than what you would’ve had at GCSE level. Therefore, you must be as organised as possible and manage your time effectively in order to make the most of your time and meet the deadlines required. How to Prepare: What I’ve done to prepare in advance, is that I have researched my top universities. All universities that provided a postal service for prospectuses, I had signed up for! Some universities that offer this service were, University of Southampton and Durham University. This enables me to read about the university and gain more knowledge in studying law at that specific university. Alongside this, I have started looking at additional exams thatI will be required to sit, such as, the LNAT for law courses. This will allow me to prepare in summer and also sit the exam before deadlines that the universities want the results for. I have also checked for contextual offers at universities such as UCL or LSE, and my eligibility. Lastly, checking ahead for any open days that the universities are hosting is beneficial! Other things you could do:
These would be useful to write about when applying to university! So, before it's too late to apply, have a look now and note down deadlines for closing and opening applications. If you have any more tips or work experience recommendations, drop them down below in the comments section! 10/27/2022 0 Comments PREPARING FOR SIXTH FORM: a guideby Havin, 27 Oct 2022
Preparations for Sixth form and subject choices: Beginning sixth form can be really intimidating, especially if you are changing schools for sixth form like myself. The step into sixth form was harder than I had anticipated, and the workload multiplied quickly. However, sixth form is a time that matters so its difficulty should motivate and push you to strive to minimise your stress. It is also a time and experience that should be enjoyed! A bit about me and my subjects: I am a Year 12 student, currently studying History, Politics and Sociology. My main reason in choosing these subjects was that they interlink very well and they are all something I enjoy learning about. They also linked into law quite well, although law has no requirements for studying it at university. I also took int consideration that History includes coursework as an examination method, which is something I'd thrive at as I enjoy writing and having a longer period of time to be assessed. Subject choices: Furthermore, if you are considering going into law in the future, some universities mention they prefer for you to have one essay-based subject as a qualification e.g. A-levels, but it is never mandatory so you can do whatever you know you will enjoy and do well in. If you wanted to do an essay-based subject it could be a subject like English Literature, English Literature and Language combined, History or other subjects such as Sociology, Politics, Law and Philosophy and Ethics. You are also welcome to choose stem subjects if this is something that you are passionate about. However, taking one subject that has some link into the law degree could help you see if this is the right career path for you before you enrol into higher education in law. This will perhaps give you an insight into studying such a heavy-content based degree at university. How to prepare before beginning: What helped me prepare before I began was the transition work set by my school. This allowed me to learn background knowledge into the course and to get ahead for the year alongside showing if I will enjoy this subject for the next two years. You should also research into your subjects to see what examination methods it may consist of, such as coursework, which you may prefer, or full written examinations. Knowing your subjects well not just content wise but also examination and background content would also help you not only choose the subjects but learn the content. Choosing your subjects: Additionally, choosing subjects could be difficult as they would help you get into a career path you choose, whether you know right now or not. Therefore, you would need to choose subjects that you know you will enjoy so you could enjoy the revision and lessons and so you are able to achieve a higher grade. This is because, if you enjoy it, you will put more work and effort into studying. If you choose subjects that interlink and cover the same content in some parts, it could help you later with revision as you would then cover less which might be easier for people who struggle in learning content in a short period before exams. This is not mandatory, and you could do 3 subjects that do not interlink at all, and this could also show how well-rounded you are and the skills you possess in a mixture of areas. Therefore, choose the subjects that interest you and you know you would be able to progress and excel in as then you would reach the best outcomes. Final Advice:
If you have any further questions or are intrigued by the subjects I study, drop a comment down below or send us a message on : INSTAGRAM: @JOURNEY2LAW_ TIKTOK: @JOURNEY2LAW LINKEDIN: @JOURNEY2LAW by Donat Szotak, 08 Apr 2022
Hi guys! Hope you are all well and not feeling too stressed about the summer exams whether that is A-levels or GCSE. I am preparing myself for a couple of exams! I would just like to explore and share resources, my experience with choosing your GCSEs for engineering. What subjects do you enjoy? – DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR INTERESTS! I think one misconception is giving up your passions for pursuing engineering as it’s just physics and maths. I find that I enjoy photography, writing or sports such as tennis or wall climbing. That is one disclaimer I would like to make clear; you do not have to give up on your other passions, it is vital there is a wide range of backgrounds and thinking that you can pull from and be creative to solve problems. I highly encourage you to brainstorm YOU with your name in the middle of the page and your interests surrounding you and everything about you, like sports and hobbies to get an understanding! Which subjects to pick at GCSE? I found a variety of aspects to be very useful that employers were looking for in my experience alongside the physics and maths which was largely filled with imposter syndrome for me – practise is essential, it is OK not to know. My rule of thumb is 2 humanitarian subjects and 2 STEM related just to have a broad variety and options available to you. Product design or sometimes called DT (design and technology) takes engineering principles for manufacturing, design work and not really maths or physics based, but rather to improve hands on skills bringing a product to life. Computer Science also relates very well with the insight as a subject and builds on those logical problem-solving skills alongside programming, which is useful as an inspiration of mine says: Why programming is useful? (Ali Abdal): ‘Why? Two reasons. Firstly, knowing how to code opens up possibilities for business ideas in your mind. It helps you notice problems in day-to-day life that can be solved by technology. And secondly, knowing how to code helps you execute your ideas much, much faster than everyone else’. Why and how you should learn to code (aliabdaal.com) What did I choose? In all honesty, to give you the broadest options within STEM, English language, Maths and Physics are essential and anything else is really just desirable to have e.g. DT, Computer Science, perhaps subjects such as GCSE engineering if your school offers it. But really the rest are your options, I personally chosen History, DT, Art and Design. I would have chosen Computer science instead of History perhaps! Really just make sure to have a look at A-level, vocational or an apprenticeship requirements, to get an idea of what schools are asking for! What extra-curriculars/super-curriculars can I do at secondary? First, what is the difference? – Well, super-curriculars are directly related to the subject of what you want to study and spend time on in your spare time, showing your direct interest in the field. This very much depends on your school. For example, the ‘obvious’ super-curricular clubs that are related may be:
Well, these are activities that are not directly related to the field of your interest and are pretty ‘random’. Now this doesn’t mean do not do extra-curriculars, they are an excellent way to show off the well-rounded individual that you are! These can include anything and demonstrate your wider interests, such as:
How do I know if engineering is really for me? The beauty of it is, we never know what we enjoy, I noticed particular skills that may be a common theme for engineering enthusiasts among my engineering peers and myself:
SpringPod engineering work experience (13+): Engineering Work Experience (springpod.com) Whatever your interests are, it may seem very far off engineering, but you would be surprised how many options there are and need for engineers for the future, examples include:
And everything in between surrounding these 3 main branches, for example, Robotics (which is my choice of degree, combines some aspects of each of those categories! Different engineering fields: Feel free to research any of these that may sound of interest to you! If you are looking to blog and write about your student experiences or find out more on engineering, check my blog out: Blog Website (destinationengineering): MYDESTINATIONENGINNEERING - Home (weebly.com) Thank you! Donat GET IN TOUCH Instagram: Personal Instagram: Donat Szotak (@donnyszotak) • Instagram photos and videos My blog Instagram: @destinationengineering • Instagram photos and videos LinkedIn; (5) Donat Szotak | LinkedIn Youtube: (550) Donat Szotak - YouTube by Lorraine Tan, 19 Apr 2022 Introduction The coronavirus continues to spread today due to low vaccination rates. Individuals who are unvaccinated against Covid are more likely to contract the virus, suffer life-threatening complications, and transmit the infection to others. In light of such public health concerns, should governments make Covid vaccines compulsory for its citizens? 1. Vaccine mandates: an analysis At its core, the vaccine mandate debate is a tradeoff between public welfare and individual rights. While the freedom of choice and bodily autonomy are crucial rights that should be respected by the law, they are not absolute. In public health crises like the current pandemic, moderate interventionist policies which override these rights may be justified to protect the health and safety interests of the wider population. In other words, the legitimacy of a vaccine mandate depends heavily on its scope of enforcement. Socio-economic considerations also have to be taken into account when implementing the mandates. Should religious exemptions be granted? How severe is vaccine hesitancy in the country? If workers who do not comply with the mandates are laid off, will there be mass unemployment and labour shortages? Are private companies already requiring their employees to get vaccinated? There are no standard answers to these questions because they have to be evaluated based on varying contexts in different jurisdictions. 2. Case study 1: the USA In 2021, the Biden administration ordered the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to enforce vaccine mandates among large businesses by requiring employees to either be vaccinated or tested weekly for Covid. They also mandated vaccines for healthcare workers at federal, publicly funded medical facilities. In January 2022, the Supreme Court blocked the president’s former order, but allowed the latter. In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled that OSHA could not implement the mandates because they did not have the legal right to address matters outside workplace safety. This decision was made based on the argument that employees were exposed to Covid in their daily lives; it was not a risk that was mutually exclusive to, or heightened in most workplaces. The vaccine rule, which included all workplaces, was considered too broad. It was deemed a “significant encroachment on the lives of a vast number of employees”. The Court argued these concerns did not apply to the other mandate, which was more limited and targeted. Therefore, vaccine mandates that are proportionate in managing health risks are constitutional. This is further proven by the leading American precedent Jacobson v Massachusetts, which upheld a state’s compulsory smallpox vaccine programme over a pastor who claimed it violated his liberty. The judge stated that “the rights of the individual may be subjected to such restraint to be enforced by reasonable regulations as the safety of the general public may demand.” 3. Case study 2: the UK Previously, the British government amended the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to mandate vaccines for NHS and care home workers. However, in January 2022, the health secretary revealed that the mandate will be revoked in case of a successful consultation and parliamentary approval. The justifications given were that (1) many had already contracted Omicron, a milder variant which typically did not require hospitalisation and (2) the UK’s vaccination rate and vaccine confidence was relatively high in the world, rendering a mandate unnecessary. 4. Case study 3: Europe In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg published a press release stating that it will not suspend such mandates for medical professionals in Greece. While the Court did not provide reasons for its decision, this implies that it did not consider vaccine mandates to be irreversibly harmful to individuals and their right to private life, which is protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. However, the litigation is still in its initial stages, and the Court may eventually find the case to be a violation of human rights. 5. Conclusion Vaccine mandates usually apply to a specific group of high risk stakeholders. Most vaccine mandates have largely been deemed legal amidst the Covid pandemic. But if the government oversteps its boundaries and attempts to enact disproportionately harsh vaccine policies, they may be struck down by the judiciary. Overall, it is up to governments to tread lightly in order to balance the interests of individual citizens as well as that of the wider community. 6. References https://theconversation.com/compulsory-vaccination-what-does-human-rights-law-say-167735 https://youtu.be/iyVrqtWbV3A https://law.stanford.edu/2022/01/20/a-look-at-the-supreme-court-ruling-on-vaccination-mandates https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/vaccine-mandates https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-59989476 by Havin Sorgucu, 18 Mar 2022
Hi all, I am a year 11 student and due to the pandemic, I was unable to do any work experience during my school year last year. Therefore, I began to research work experience opportunities for myself as it would be beneficial and help make me stand out. At the time I had recently figured that I wanted to go into a career in law and more specifically I wanted to become a criminal barrister. I had a huge passion to become a barrister and this pushed me to look for great work experiences. One way in which you could find work experience is by researching law firms or chambers and seeing if they have any positions available - this can be done through emailing or researching their websites. I personally emailed chambers and through this, I secured a mini pupillage for the upcoming year. Other ways you could find work experience is by signing up to places like SpringPod or The Forage, which partner up with different companies to help bring various work experience opportunities virtually. In addition, another useful way is to use LinkedIn and message people who are in the industry you are interested in and ask if they have anything they could offer for you. Law is a very competitive field, therefore, work experience provides a good way to get ahead and get an insight into the sector. Some places you can look at are law firms such as Clifford Chance, Kennedys Law Firm and Slaughter & May. When applying or emailing these firms you should mention your current year group or education status and what type of work experience you are seeking. Trying to get successful work experience placements can be difficult as law is an extremely populated career and therefore, many students will be applying for the same roles so do not get disheartened if you are rejected. I had been rejected three times before I finally received a successful result on any of my applications. After being told by multiple places they had nothing to offer for me or that it was full, I was finally able to secure a position for a mini pupillage for summer 2023. Therefore, always keep in mind that rejection is not always a bad thing and it can help you grow and improve for your next applications. You could also always email your local law firms to see if they have any work experiences. Some work experience I completed alongside my studies was at SpringPod and Kennedys Law Firm which were both virtual alongside my studies. When completing the SpringPod work experience I had carried out various roles such as joining webinars with current solicitors and barristers and reading through case files and making notes and summarising the information. This experience allowed me to see that I really wanted to pursue a career in law and that I had key skills to become a barrister like research, public speaking, and organisation skills. On the other hand, my work experience at Kennedys consisted of me making a witness statement, leaving a voicemail for clients, and helping with a client pitch presentation for the firm. Both of these experiences allowed me to see how a career in law was right for me and how I would truly excel and enjoy becoming a barrister. Therefore, my top tips for finding work experience are to always research ahead and do not be scared to email or phone up law firms and chambers. If you are interested in Law and are unsure where to start, drop us a comment down below or an email in the enquiry section and we will happily send over a list of all the opportunities available! by Gabriella Dupratt, 07 Mar 2022
What is this blog about? If you’re having trouble in your English literature lessons because you notice yourself not having as many good ideas of what the extract could mean, then you've come to the right place. Here you'll gather all the tools in order for you to become an analytical master-mind and turn up to class with the most intriguing and obscure ideas! My experience in trying to improve my analysis skills Throughout all of secondary school, my English lessons felt fluid and easy - I never thought about needing to work on my analytical skills. That was until I began my English literature A Levels… I was finding I wasn’t picking up on as much as I thought I was: connotations, authorial intention, the more intricate details in general. Writers and poets suddenly seemed a lot deeper than I initially thought and I decided I needed to get my backside in gear to improve on deciphering them all. Connotations This aspect of analysis is the most commonly used technique. However not everyone can connote as extensively and it's definitely something you should be working towards. First of all, what are ‘connotations’? A connotation is something that has been implied by a word or thing. Here is an example: The connotations Time, place, culture, language or lack of it Next you have to acknowledge the time and place the author wrote this piece. The time and place has such significance when it comes to analysis of literature. For example when it comes to Shakespeare's works, there may be mention of flower names. This would be important because in the Jacobean period, it was common for most people to understand the abstract meanings behind flowers. You also need to think about the culture of the place and language - certain gestures or words could have different effects on people. Using the Jacobean era as an example again, if one was to bite their thumb up at someone it would be viewed as a challenge to their honour. If this gesture was left without a response the victim would be viewed as a coward. Sometimes when analysing old extracts you may come across a view that is outdated; that could be solely due to the time that the piece was written. half of the time the author didn't even realise that this view could be considered incorrect as it was a way of life in the time that they produced that work. Authorial intent What do we mean by authorial intent? This is what the author intended to communicate to us as a reader. When taking authorial intentions into consideration we must know a decent amount about their background life. This will help us understand their values and experiences that will shine through their work. Within this we could take various features of a piece of literature into perspective. This could be structure, language, What deeper meaning does it strike within you? Now you have to take a step back from all other factors and ask yourself how you interpret this piece. This is the most creative step of the process and personally, my favourite! You have the freedom to explore the extract in whatever way you see fit - How does the writing impact you? What does it remind you of? Things you can do to build your analysis muscle:
Thanks for reading, I hope you continue to exercise those analyst muscles and have fun with it! <3 by Lorraine Tan, 25 Mar 2022 Introduction: The GDPR, or General Data Protection Regulation, is a regulation on data privacy and protection in the European Union. When it went into effect in May 2018, it was directly legally binding on all EU member states. Now that Britain has officially left the EU, does the GDPR still apply in the UK? What are the relevant changes in data protection law in our jurisdiction? EU-GDPR: Before the GDPR, the EU relied on Article 8 of the ECHR (the right to respect for private and family life) for data protection, but realised there were inconsistencies in the implementation of relevant guidelines across member states. The GDPR was drafted to overcome the unnecessary restrictions on cross-border data flows and to create a centralised system of legislation. Article 5 of the EU-GDPR outlines 7 key data protection principles, including: (1) Lawfulness, fairness and transparency, (2) Purpose limitation (organisations should only collect data for legitimate purposes), (3) Data minimisation (only process data necessary for the purpose), (4) Accuracy (individuals have the right to request erasure of inaccurate data), (5) Storage limitation (deleting data after it is no longer needed for its intended purpose), (6) Integrity and confidentiality, (7) Accountability (organisations providing documentation/proof of compliance). Article 6 of the EU-GDPR states 6 legal grounds for data processing, including: (1) Consent given by data subject, (2) Performance of a contract, (3) Compliance with a legal obligation (e.g. testifying in court), (4) Protecting the vital interests of a person in instances such as a medical emergency (5) Performance of a task in the interest of the public (e.g. safeguard public health/security), (6) For any other legitimate interest. UK-GDPR: Following Brexit in 2020, the EU-GDPR no longer applies in the UK. However, the House of Commons modified existing domestic data protection laws by merging EU-GDPR regulations with the Data Protection Act 2018, creating the UK-GDPR which came into effect on 1 Jan 2021. Its content and language is largely identical to the EU-GDPR. However, it is governed and enforced by UK agencies. EU authorities cannot hold the UK accountable for any violations. The UK-GDPR may be subject to change by the UK Parliament in the future. It is expected that UK authorities will review the UK-GDPR and change certain regulations. For example, the UK’s ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) has proposed that instead of requiring individuals to select “I agree” on cookie pop-ups every time they visit a website, they should be able to select a long-term privacy preference on their computers for data collection. Impact of the transfer on businesses based in the UK: Data can still be transferred easily between the EU and the UK. Data can also be transferred to third countries (countries outside the EU) if the country is considered to have appropriate data safeguards in place. In addition, UK businesses must appoint an EU representative dealing with EU data matters if: (1) they are monitoring the behaviour of EU residents, or (2) they don’t have a branch/office in the EU. Any violations of the UK-GDPR so far? A man who used his Amazon Ring doorbell system to capture data of his neighbour was fined under the UK-GDPR. In response, Amazon issued a statement calling for buyers to “respect their neighbours’ privacy and comply with any applicable laws”. References: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blogs/uk-gdpr-brexit-need-to-know/ https://www.itgovernance.eu/blog/en/the-gdpr-understanding-the-6-data-protection-principles https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/26/uk-to-overhaul-privacy-rules-in-post-brexit-departure-from-gdpr https://gdpr-info.eu/art-6-gdpr/ https://www.webhosting.uk.com/blog/15-essential-facts-about-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/ |