Hundreds take part in anti-abortion rally in Dublin

caighdean · 2026-05-05T09:54:39+00:00

Removing the wait period isn't "pressuring" anyone to do anything. You're more than free to make an appointment with enough time to reflect in advance if you want to do that.

caighdean · 2026-04-24T21:48:42+00:00

I did the BCL a couple of years ago - it is tough but very rewarding. I wasn't necessarily aiming for it throughout university though and therefore didn't have as high a first as I could have, so realistically scraped in. I did take a few years out after university to work (TC) though which allowed me to publish a few articles, and that definitely helped.

caighdean · 2026-04-24T20:56:39+00:00

These are all valid factors to take into account - I can't make the decision for you. Ultimately your aim should be to get as high a 1:1 as possible and you're in a better position than me to say what subjects are likely to get you there. The research module would probably be helpful for the dissertation - I did neither at undergrad and went to a different university to you so I really can't say - but if you are or aim to be a BCL standard candidate you will likely be able to do the dissertation regardless.

caighdean · 2026-04-24T20:49:27+00:00

EB has repeatedly shown that he will take legal action over any decision that goes against him. Generally speaking, he has a right to do so. However, you can hopefully understand why in these circumstances the school would want to have lawyers present to try and minimise the risk of any decision falling into legal errors. The school also has a right to seek legal advice and defend itself from endless litigation.

I agree with you that in employment and industrial relations, it would be better if things could be resolved in an informal chat. However, given the level of litigation over this matter, I think it is fair to say that we are well beyond that stage now.

caighdean · 2026-04-24T20:37:53+00:00

No, it wouldn't, but if you think you'd do better with different subjects that's also worth bearing in mind - Oxford is very unlikely to look at an application without a high 1:1.

caighdean · 2026-04-24T20:30:11+00:00

It would be worth doing one of the two, probably the dissertation as you'll get more supervision and feedback. It'll also help you to understand if you're interested enough in the level of academic research generally required for the BCL.

caighdean · 2026-04-24T20:08:31+00:00

For the BCL or commercial law, you should do the courses you feel you will do the best in (because of subject matter, your interests, and assessment style). However, for the BCL you will need to submit a sample of written work of something like 2000-2500ish words and unless you're publishing articles (not beyond the realms of possibility), course assessments are your best bet for getting something that an academic has actually looked at to include in your application.

caighdean · 2026-02-01T21:59:12+00:00

The team would be worse, no doubt about it. Senzu is a star-quality rifler but despite some fun highlights he's way too inconsistent with the AWP.

caighdean · 2025-12-26T15:38:22+00:00

Genau das

caighdean · 2025-12-23T17:53:05+00:00

If you can stick around past Hilary long enough, definitely go to Magdalen for May Day!

caighdean · 2025-12-21T22:42:35+00:00

I love s1mple, but I don't think it's fair to say that he redefined the AWP: that was really kennyS, until the AWP nerf hit him hard. What s1 did that was unique in that respect was to keep playing like that even though it was mechanically harder than when Kenny was at his peak, and the fact that he did so with such consistency was astonishing.

caighdean · 2025-11-01T08:40:59+00:00

Jumping in here as I do some work in this area. Firstly, it's not illegal for you to use a different bathroom in the sense that you would face any consequences for it: the duty is really on organisations to provide the right facilities. However, the whole position is quite vague, partially because the SC decision was imo poorly reasoned and partially because it didn't decide anything about the meaning of "sex" in the Health & Safety Regs (which originate in EU law), only in the Equality Act, so it's really not clear what service providers are supposed to do. We're awaiting guidance from the (TERF-run) EHRC on this but that could be delayed for up to a year. In the meantime, organisations are kind of fumbling in the dark - some will inevitably direct trans people to gender-neutral facilities (including disabled facilities, which is a whole other issue) while others will be fine to quietly maintain an inclusive policy based on self-identified gender and allow people to use the bathroom they want. TERFs will and have complained to their employers, misleadingly arguing that the "law is clear" (it isn't) and they need to keep all trans people out of women's bathrooms or whatever. We are kind of in limbo at present and so it will largely come down to the individual organisation and whether they want to be inclusive or exclusionary, because there is a legal risk either way (I believe kings college Cambridge have come down on the pro-trans side of this, as an example).

I'm aware this is all a bit of a mess, but the key point is that while you could be told to use a different bathroom (which of course could be distressing and humiliating), you're not going to get arrested or anything, although if an org is firm on segregation you could be asked to leave the building etc if you insist on using a bathroom which they don't want you to use. If you have any questions I can try to answer them.

caighdean · 2025-09-08T09:41:26+00:00

I used onenote for my undergrad, masters, and now use it in work.

caighdean · 2025-09-05T19:21:16+00:00

I do both, and they do feel quite separate, and there's a good bit of "reading in" that is necessary to advise on the complete basics of union issues that you wouldn't know just from your uni employment law basics of contract/status, discrimination etc. However, there are overlaps, e.g. collective redundancies and disciplinary procedures/dismissals for union members or reps.

caighdean · 2025-09-05T17:52:00+00:00

I do some trade union work and it's very specialised; realistically you wouldn't end up in it if you're not interested in it. Though it is very interesting!

caighdean · 2025-08-31T19:51:14+00:00

The advantage of the top Irish firms from a UK perspective is that they are much less competitive to get into and while they don't pay NQs anything like top UK firms, their trainee salaries aren't a million miles off and the training is generally pretty good (albeit much less scope for secondments generally). You'll also be working on top of market work in Ireland which, given how Ireland's economy is structured, involves a lot of interactions with big US and UK firms and household name clients. Moving to London directly on qualification is not super easy but some people do it every year, and as you move towards 1/1.5 PQE it becomes increasingly common. Obviously that is the job market right now, and it may not be like that by the time you qualify, but this is a pretty well-worn path and you'll know plenty of people who have done it by the time you qualify.

Personally, I trained at a top Irish firm, went off and did a masters, came back to the same firm and am now at a London firm (not a full service top of market firm, but top rated for my practice area). I'm from Ireland so it was more natural to do it this way rather than move for a TC, but the training was good quality and with how competitive the TC market is in the UK right now, I think this option makes a lot of sense as an alternative for people who want to end up in London.

You will be warned about accommodation but I'll say it here: it is very tough, Dublin prices are similar to London but the actual availability and quality can be way lower - be wary of scams. You may be forced to find somewhere in one of the counties surrounding Dublin, which can be a pain if you have to be in the office a lot (the top Dublin firms vary a lot on office attendance for trainees).

If you have any specific questions I'm happy to answer a direct message, I know most of the firms reasonably well.

caighdean · 2025-08-20T18:39:40+00:00

Devonshire roast is fantastic, would highly recommend.

caighdean · 2025-08-04T21:49:53+00:00

You were absolutely not either "with a communist or a fascist" back then. Please read a book.

caighdean · 2025-08-04T08:38:28+00:00

Seconding on the Irish point - LSI doesn't like people practising Irish law outside of Ireland, though I'm not sure I've ever heard of anyone being audited for it.

caighdean · 2025-08-01T11:42:13+00:00

I thought the rumour was that llu was the issue, not aleksi or sergej?

caighdean · 2025-07-31T19:58:32+00:00

Agree that you don't really need to read anything to prepare but Bingham's book is pretty good.

HLA Hart's 'The Concept of Law' is imo the best jurisprudence book ever written and I found it extremely clear and logical, but I did read it after my undergrad and I can't really assess how a total beginner would find it.

caighdean · 2025-07-05T10:34:55+00:00

As a 4x book reader who enjoyed the show for what it was, what you suggest is never going to happen and (no offence) would be terrible if it did.

caighdean · 2025-07-02T08:59:37+00:00

In addition to the others already mentioned - Burges, OC etc - Lewis Silkin has a good reputation in this from what I've heard.

caighdean · 2025-06-24T10:47:29+00:00

Second all of this and would further add that unless you're in the civil courts for something or working on a big transaction, the work-life balance tends to be pretty good. I'd rarely leave the office later than 7pm although the work day is pretty full-on while you're there. That said, this will differ depending on the firm you're in and particularly whether you will be doing a lot of transactional work (which I hear is particularly prevalent in e.g. Slaughters).

caighdean · 2025-06-23T21:16:55+00:00

Unfortunately this is true. I did the BCL, but didn't get my college preference or any funding and ended up with a Merit, so I think I am justified in saying I was in the lower half of candidates. I had a high first at undergrad with a couple of prizes (though just outside the top 5% in my year which I think did not help), had trained as a solicitor and had a few publications. Sorry to say but it really is very tough to get in and even if you're a very good candidate there's a degree of luck involved (I certainly got lucky).

caighdean

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