Mixed Set 1 [FLK1] Flashcards
A criminal case in Mag. Court - what kind of judges are sitting at trial?
Either a District Judge OR bench of lay mag.
To recover damages in contract law, what do you need? or what can you claim for?
Either one:
(i) direct loss (i.e., they must arise naturally from the breach)
(ii) indirect or consequential loss (i.e., must be in contemplation of both parties as a probable result of the breach at the time the contract was formed, thus being reasonably foreseeable)
What is the “cab rank” rule?
Barrister must accept a case immediately as long as it is:
(a) in the field of his work
(b) at a court which he normally practices in
(c) fee is their usual rate
Note: they cannot discriminate based on the nature of case/ client
If a proposed Welsh legislation is outside the scope of competence, what will happen next?
UK AG/ Welsh Counsel General may refer the Bill to the UKSC OR Secretary of State can prevent the Bill from receiving Royal Assent by making an Order (note: HoL or HoC can vote for it to be annulled in 40 days).
Tort (negligence)
- What is causation in fact?
- What is causation in law?
- Loss resulted directly from D’s negligence (loss must be a foreseeable result of the breach ie direct and proximate consequence)
- Damage is not too remotely connected to the negligence (but for test)
Contract
What does an auction advert stating “without reserve” mean?
It establishes a unilateral offer. Thus, creating a legal obligation (binding effect) for the auctioneer to accept the highest bid.
What is Wednesbury unreasonableness?
A reasoning or decision is so unreasonable that no reasonable person acting reasonably could have made it.
Disputes
What kind of hearings will be conducted by telephone?
(a) allocation hearings
(b) listing hearings
(c) CCMC
(d) pre-trial interviews
(e) interim applications
(c) - (e) will be held via telephone if the duration is under an hour.
What happens when a company has 50+ SH? What are the filing requirements?
(a) company must keep an index with names SH unless the Register of Members already contains an index itself
(b) changes to index must be made within 14 days of the change to the Register of Members
(c) Index must be kept available for inspection at all times in the same place as the Register of Members
(d) new SH should be reported on the next annual Confirmation Statement to CH
Ethics (35)
What is a solicitor’s service level and time frame?
Service level - competent
Time frame - timely manner
CFA
(a) What is the max. success fee?
(b) How is the success fee rate calculated?
(c) What is the cap for PI?
(d) Who pays the success fee?
(e) What is the format of CFA?
(a) 100% of the solicitor’s charging rate
(b) hourly rate + success fee
(c) 25% of general damages (pain, suffering and loss of amenity)
(d) legal fees by the losing party and success fee by the client
(e) in writing with the success fee stated
DBA
(a) What is the cap?
(b) What is the cap for PI?
(c) What is the cap for employment?
(d) What is the format of DBA?
(a) max. 50% of damages recovered
(b) 25% of damages (excluding future damages)
(c) 35%
(d) in writing + specify proceedings + specify payment arrangement + when it is payable + why payment is set at that level
When is a solicitor prohibited to accept referral fees?
(a) Criminal proceedings
(b) Claims for damages, death or PI
PII Rules
(a) What is the EIP period?
(b) What is the cessation period?
(c) What happens after the cessation period?
(a) 30-day extended indemnity period. Try to obtain a qualifying PII because it just expired.
(b) Cannot take new instructions. Can work on matters engaged in before the cessation period only.
(c) At the end of 90 days - close the business.
Contract
(a) Is there a legal presumption of force majeure under English law?
(b) Will the court imply it into the contract?
(a) No
(b) No, but instead, the Doctrine of Frustration will apply by default unless the parties agree otherwise. It is strict and narrow. Under it, the whole contract is automatically terminated and each of the parties is discharged from further performance.
Contract
(a) Under common law, who can make a contract voidable by reason of mental abnormality?
(b) Who needs to prove mental abnormality?
(c) What do they need to prove?
(a) Mentally abnormal person
(b) Mentally abnormal person
(c)
(i) he did not understand the nature of the contract; and
(ii) other party was aware of his impairment
Contract
Following a breach of contract, what can you do?
(a) affirm the contract and claim damages/ specific performance; or
(b) rescind the contract and claim restitution for unjust enrichment (if the company obtains benefits without payment)
3 ways a third party can sue?
(a) tort - negligence
(b) contract under Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (but only if they are mentioned in the contract/ the supplier knows it is for the benefit of the third party)
(c) CPA 1987 (strict liability) - only for death, PI and damage to property (cannot claim for the defective product itself).
4 remedies for CRA 2015 breach?
(a) short term right to reject (30 days)
(b) right to repair/ replacement
(c) right to price reduction
(d) final right to reject (with refund)
Contract - Discharge of Contract (171)
(a) repudiatory/ anticipatory repudiatory breach remedies
(b) condition
(c) warranty
(d) innominate term
(a) discharge or affirm contract (this is not automatic and it is the choice of the non-breaching party)
(b) major essential term. Breach = repudiation or affirm + damages.
(c) non-essential term and breach is considered a non-repudiatory breach.
(d) not a condition or warranty and can only be repudiated if its effect goes to the root/ benefit of the contract.
(a) What is a representation?
(b) What is a term?
(a) It induces a party to enter into a contract. The statement is NOT guaranteed by the maker. Thus, it is NOT a contractual term.
(b) It is part of a contract. If an express or implied term is breached then you can obtain a remedy.
Contract (137)
(a) What is innocent misrepresentation?
(b) What are the remedies?
(a) Statement that is not made negligently or fraudulently. The representator had reasonable grounds to make the statement.
(b) Rescission or damages
Note: damages are the courts’ discretion under the Misrepresentation Act 1967.
Contract - Negligent Misrepresentation (135)
(a) What are the 2 types?
(b) What is negligent misrepresentation?
(a)
(i) at common law (tort)
(ii) Misrepresentation Act 1967
(b) The representator was honest and believed his statement to be true. He has been careless in his duty of care towards the representee. Thus, there was no reasonable care and skill.
Contract - Negligent Misrepresentation at common law (135)
(a) What do you need to establish it?
(b) Remedies?
(a) Special relationship (BOP on representee)
(b) Rescission and damages (can obtain damages for direct loss provided it was foreseeable)
Contract - Negligent Misrepresentation under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 (135)
(a) What do you need to establish it?
(b) Remedies?
(a) BOP on representator to prove that he had reasonable grounds to make the statement and that it was true till the contract ended (no special relationship required or duty of care)
(b) Rescission and damages (can obtain damages for direct loss due to the statement)
Contract - Fraudulent Misrepresentation (135)
(a) How to establish it?
(b) Remedies?
(a) Representee must establish that representator knew:
(i) statement was false
(ii) did not believe that the statement which was made knowingly was true OR was reckless in making that statement
(b) Rescission and damages (can obtain damages for all direct loss irrespective of foreseeability)
Contract (135)
Give 3 scenarios where rescission is n/a for misrepresentation.
(a) if you affirm the contract through words/ actions once you are aware of the misrepresentation
(b) once the property that has been acquired through misrepresentation is destroyed
(c) once the property that has been acquired through misrepresentation is passed to a third party who is innocent and without notice
Contract (134)
Types of misrepresentation and their remedies.
(a) Fraudulent - Rescission and damages
(b) Negligent
(i) common law (needs special relationship and DOC) - rescission and damages
(ii) statute (needs reasonable grounds to make the statement) - rescission and damages
(c) Innocent - rescission (damages at the courts’ discretion under the Act instead of rescission)
Contract (193)
(a) 2 breach of contract remedies?
(b) 3 types of loss of expectation?
(c) what is wasted expenditure?
(a) damages:
(i) loss of expectation
(ii) wasted expenditure
(b)
(i) loss of profit - amount of profit lost
(ii) difference in value - less valuable
(iii) cost of cure - to fix breach of contract
(c) expenses incurred when performing obligations under a contract
Contract
(a) What is a guarantee?
(b) What is an indemnity?
(c) Which is a primary or secondary obligation?
(a) Promise to fulfil obligations of a third party if the third party fails to do XYZ. It is a secondary obligation that supports the primary obligation of the third party.
(b) Promise to be responsible for another’s loss. It is a primary obligation imposed on the party giving the promise.
What is the similarity between a termination clause and an exclusion clause?
Both can be held to be unfair to consumers under CRA.
Eg: Unilateral termination of contract. This will be found to be unfair and not legally binding on consumers.
What is the remedy for breach of warranty?
Damages
Past consideration is not valid consideration.
What is the exception?
The common law exception is:
(i) if it was requested by the promisor; and
(ii) both parties contemplated that payment would be made; and
(iii) features of a valid contract existed.
Lampleigh v Braithwait
When is a binding contract formed?
(a) the general rule
(b) email
(c) email outside business hours
(d) postal rule
(a) when offeree’s acceptance is communicated to the offeror
(b) when email is delivered to the recipient’s server even if it is not read
(c) next working day
(d) acceptance takes effect as soon as the letter of acceptance is posted (opposite to the general rule)
Contract (179)
What 3 events result in frustration?
(a) where performance is impossible
- subject matter is destroyed
- where person is ill/ dies
- means of performance become unavailable
(b) where performance is illegal
(c) main purpose of both parties to the contract is lost
(a) - (c) is automatic discharge.
You cannot discharge a contract simply because it becomes more difficult to perform.
If a restraint of trade clause is unreasonable, is the whole contract void/ voidable? Can the court change the clause?
Only the clause becomes void, not the whole contract.
The court cannot change it as the court cannot sever parts of a contract.
Unfair terms
(a) For B2C, which Act?
(b) For B2B, which Act?
(a) CRA 2015 (s.9 - s.16 cannot be excluded)
(b) UCTA for negligence and death and SGA 1979 for implied terms s.13 - s.15 which can only be excluded if reasonable.
(a) What is executory consideration?
(b) What is executed consideration?
(a) payment and performance at a future date.
(b) an act that represents consideration has already been performed (payment or performance). Once consideration is executed, it cannot be withdrawn or revoked.
What are 2 kinds of applications to ECtHR for alleged breach of convention or protocol?
(a) interstate (Article 33)
Eg France v UK
(b) applications from individuals/ companies/ non govt orgs (Article 34)
Should a retainer be in writing?
No
Should information about costs on a retainer be in writing?
No
Should the complaints handling procedure of a firm be in writing?
Yes
(a) on a regular fixed fee proposal, can you charge a success fee?
(b) what is the success fee cap?
(a) yes
(b) no cap
Can freelance solicitors provide reserved legal services?
Yes, if qualified for more than 3 years
Is breach of peace a criminal offence?
No, thus cannot fine/imprison. Can only hold on remand i.e “binding over” power by Mag. Court w/ fine if remand is breached. But can imprison if they refuse to be bound over.
Note: it is a civil offence but there is power of arrest when there are reasonable grounds to believe that a breach of peace is taking place/ imminent.
What is collective ministerial responsibility?
It is a constitutional convention
Ministers are expected to support govt policy in parliament and in public. If they do not, they must resign. Else, PM can fire them.
Judicial review claim timeline
3 months from when the claim first arose (ie the date of the decision to be challenged was made)*
Timeline can be extended by the court
6 weeks for planning decisions
*not when claimant was informed of the decision
ELS (5)
How do you address the following judges?
(a) Circuit Judge in the Crown Court
(b) HC Judge in the Crown Court
(c) Magistrate Court Judge
(a) Your Honour
(b) My Lord
(c) Sir/ Madam (if lay, then Your Worship)
To be eligible for legal aid, what do you have to show?
Means Test ($) and Merits Test (50/50 prospect of success)
ELS (168)
When is a person eligible for legal aid in civil proceedings?
(a) domestic abuse
(b) care proceedings
(c) homelessness (eg possession proceedings)
(d) discrimination
(e) immigration
Conditions for a search order?
(i) extremely strong prima facie case
(ii) R’s actions have resulted in v serious damage to C’s interests
(iii) clear evidence that R has incriminating docs + real possibility of destruction
Who all swear an oath of allegiance to the Monarch?
HoL
HoC
Members of the Welsh Assembly
Members of the Scottish Assembly
*Not N. Ireland
What does the Family Court deal with?
Child arrangement orders
Parental disputes
Child support
Adoption
Who are the judges in a Family Court?
Mag. Court Judge/ District Judge/ Judges of HC level
Which family matters are dealt with at the HC level?
Abduction
Wardship
Senedd (Wales) making secondary legislation
(a) No procedure
(b) Negative resolution
(c) Affirmative resolution
(d) Super affirmativee resolution
(a) Legislation is published. It only requires approval from Ministers.
(b) Legislation is published but within 40 days Senedd can annul/ cancel legislation if a member tables the motion requesting for it.
(c) Legislation is published in draft. Requires approval of Senedd to come into force.
(d) Legislation is published in draft. Requires approval of Senedd to come into force + consultation period before legislation can be put before Senedd for approval.
Who has parliamentary privilege?
Any person speaking in parliament (MP or otherwise eg an official)
What situations does parliamentary privilege cover?
Parliamentary proceedings, debates, committee hearings, and published reports.
Till what extent is the parliamentary privilege immunity?
It is absolute. They can say things knowing it is false and with the intent of causing damage.
Con Law - March
(a) Do you have to give notice?
(b) When is it required to give notice?
(c) When is it exempt from notice?
(a) Yes because it is a public procession
(b)
(i) if demonstrating support/ opposition to the views of any group
(ii) to publicise a cause/ campaign
(iii) to commemorate an event
(c)
(i) spontaneous event
(ii) funeral
Who has sufficient standing to apply for judicial review?
Any persons/organisations/ trade unions etc. Anyone who is affected by the decision or policy.
What happens if a motion of no confidence is passed in HoC?
A general election is NOT triggered immediately and PM is NOT mandated by law to advise the King to dissolve parliament.
Dissolution of parliament is a Royal Prerogative of the King and it can be exercised on the advice of PM.
What is Sailsbury convention?
It ensures that HoL shall not oppose the legislation (eg Govt Bills) from HoC which was part of the govts election manifesto.
To amd AOA - what docs do you need to submit to CH?
Amd AOA + resolution to adopt amd AOA + statement of compliance (this will certify that the amd has been made in accordance with the company’s AOA). This must be filed at CH within 15 days.
Failure to file = crim. offence for company + officers liable to a fine.
Amd to company AOA - what resolution and when does it become effective?
Must be passed by special resolution (not less than 75%). The amended AOA is effective upon execution of the resolution.
When you send a PT 36 offer to the opposing side to accept by X days, but want to withdraw or make it less advantageous before the end of X days - what can you do?
(i) If the opposing side did not yet accept - serve notice to change the terms of the offer
(ii) If the opposing side accepts - the offer is effective. You have to apply to the court for permission to change terms/ withdraw the offer within 7 days from acceptance from offeree or before the 1st day of trial. Court will only grant permission if there has been a change in circumstances + it’s in the IOJ.
What can you recover under OLA 1957?
death, personal injury and property damage
If you establish DOC, then causation and remoteness of damage must be considered (like standard negligence cases). So, if you in our yourself then you can recover expenses related to the injury and loss of work too as it flows from the injury itself (it’s foreseeable)
What can you recover under OLA 1984?
personal injury only
Arrest for breach of the peace, conditions?
- clear circumstances + imminent (sufficiently real and present) threat to the peace to justify arrest. The breach has to come from lawful conduct.
- threat must come from the person being arrested.
- the conduct must clearly interfere with the rights of others.
- natural consequence of the conduct must be violence from 3rd party (violence must not be wholly unreasonable).
- the conduct of the person to be arrested must be unreasonable.
If 2 clients are bidding on the same project, can you act for both of them?
Yes
This is because it will come under the exception of “competing for the same objective”. You need written informed consent from both clients + must put safeguards in place re client’s confidential info + you must be satisfied that it is reasonable for you to act.
When you want to issue a claim against a partnership, how can you do it?
(i) Sue the partner in their individual name (you do not need to join every partner, as the liability of partners is generally joint and several); or
(ii) Sue the partnership (D) as “a firm”. Following that, if you do not know the names of all the partners – make an application for disclosure of the partners’ names + addresses.
What res do you need for the appointment & removal of directors?
i. ordinary res; or
ii. res. of directors; or
iii. court order.
Where is dividend paid from?
company’s post-tax profits to shareholders
What res do you need for interim dividend payment and when is it paid?
no need for members resolution and can be paid at any time
What res do you need for final dividend payment and when is it paid?
It is discretionary & paid after the final accounts are approved & needs ordinary resolution (e.g., vote at AGM or written resolution).
What res do you need for name change?
special resolution
When should ADR be attempted?
ADR can be attempted at all stages! I.e., both, pre and during the proceedings. A party can request for a stay of proceedings for at least a month so that ADR may be attempted. The court will be likely to order the stay if the other party CANNOT show a. good reason why ADR would be unlikely to work.
Who can be an expert witness?
Anyone with relevant experience
Who can get a copy of the Reg of Members? Is it paid?
It must be given on payment of fee (no fee for members)/ apply to the court to refuse the request. This should be given within 5 working days
What is an interlocutory injection?
interim injunction (temp. injunction)
When is quia timet injunction used?
Where injury is certain/ imminent, or mischief is likely
What can you pay a witness for?
travel expenses + loss of time
Is there stamp duty on shares? Who pays it?
No stamp duty on shares of GBP 1,000 and under.
Paid by the purchaser.
Is a convention enforceable by the court?
No, but may still create legal obligations that the court can enforce.
In B2B contract, you can exclude satisfactory quality term?
Yes, if it is reasonable (e.g., second-hand clothes). This exclusion is n/a for consumer contracts.
What should you do if you are dissatisfied by legal services?
Complain to Legal Ombudsman
Who is a public authority?
Someone who performs public functions (not parliament).
E.g., of public sector public authority: courts, tribunal, govt. hospitals, govt. dept.
E.g., of private sector (public) authority: charities, private prisons.
If there is a clerical error on the judgment/ order and you want to apply to the court to rectify it, do you notify the other party of the application?
No need. There is not time limit either on such applications either.
If the firm wants to carry insurance distribution activities, what should they do?
Notify SRA in the prescribed form. Once SRA approves, submit info to FCA and then register with the Financial Services Register. Then, appoint an insurance distribution officer.
If an advert is an ITT, when you respond with another amount to the advert, is it an offer or counter offer?
The amount you propose is a first OFFER (not a counteroffer).
Does a statement of truth need a witness?
No
If your fixed charge does not cover the value of the debt, what do you do?
You can get the rest of your monies as an ordinary unsecured creditor.
What are the records a firm must keep?
(i) Name of client
(ii) Terms of transaction/ instruction
(iii) Date of instruction
(iv) Commissions received (for reg. activities)
(v) How the firm accounted for the commissions
(NO NEED TO KEEP A RECORD OF THE LAWYER DETAILS or NOTIFY SRA)
Records to be kept for 6 years.
What is non-justiciability (ouster clause)?
Certain types of executive decisions should be protected and not subject to judicial review. These decisions should be decided by Parliament/ executive, not the court.
When do you use EDD?
- transaction is complex
- transaction is unusually large
- unusual pattern of transactions
What does the DOC for doctors include?
informing patients of all material risks and reasonable alternative treatment
What effect does resolutions made by House of Commons have?
They are not law (thus no legal effect) and not binding
What is the effect of damages in tort?
to restore the C to a position that they were in before the tort was committed
In Rylands, when will you be eligible to get damages?
if the damage was be foreseeable, it will be recoverable
What is the effect of a submission of a Declaration of Incompatibility?
Upon submission of DOI, it is not mandatory to amend legislation and make it compatible with ECHR (they courts MAY do it). Thus the DOI is not binding on the parties.
What should the PII cover be?
- cover should be adequate and appropriate
- must be 2mil per 1 claim
- must be 3 mil per 1 claim for limited liability law firms and ABS.
Who can get dividend income allowance?
Available to everyone who has income from dividends, irrespective of their tax band. No tax is payable on the first 2K.
Will the address of SH appear on the public register?
It will appear, and it is mandatory.
It’s the responsibility of the director and company sec (if appointed) to maintain the register.
What details appear on the public register for a company?
Details in the register: name, address of each member, date of appt., date of end of appt.
Alternatively: private company can opt to keep the info. on their own statutory register.
By what timeline should a client comply with a court judgement re costs?
Within 14 days from the date the judgement/ order for the payment of the money (incl. costs) was given, unless CPR specifies a different date or court has stayed the proceedings.
Application for permission to appeal:
(a) County Court and High Court
(b) COA
County/ High Court – 21 days from original judgement decision.
COA – 28 days
*the day on which the period begins is not counted.