54
votes
Accepted
When speaking to a judge in court, what do barristers mean by "May I take instructions?"
Lawyers cannot act for their client without instructions.
"May I take instructions" is a request by the barrister to have a conversation in confidence with their client about what to do next ...
- 18.2k
53
votes
Is releasing this company's documents illegal?
Given the clarification provided in the comments to the question, the company has a copyright in the material and as such is legally entitled to demand that you cease using it.
- 166k
52
votes
Accepted
Could a British monarch "go full dictator" if they wish to do so?
Parliamentary Supremacy was established by the Glorious Revolution of 1688 in which James II & VII was deposed by Parliament, and the line of succession was changed by Act of Parliament to favor ...
- 112k
49
votes
Accepted
Is it legal for a business to refuse service to a former customer in retribution for them leaving negative online reviews of the business?
A business owner can normally refuse service for any reason unless anti-discrimination law, or some other specific law, applies. "Critic of the business" is not a protected class. Whether a ...
- 112k
48
votes
Accepted
Can Prince Harry wear the uniforms of his former units?
By Army regulations, no, he's not allowed to wear that uniform.
Prince Harry technically isn't a "retired officer". Rather, he resigned his commission in the Army, effective 19 June 2015. ...
- 27k
41
votes
Accepted
What was the original idea behind the practice of courtroom wigs?
The courtroom wig actually dates from an era centuries ago when it was common for the upper classes to shave their heads and wear wigs - a practice that arose for hygiene reasons.
That is, at the time ...
- 703
40
votes
Alice's restaurant profiteering from those with allergies
Is she committing unlawful discrimination or otherwise behaving in an unlawful manner?
No.
She would be — if she was saying like "customers with Celiac disease pay £14, others £10".
But ...
- 23.3k
39
votes
When speaking to a judge in court, what do barristers mean by "May I take instructions?"
It means “We’re going somewhere I didn’t anticipate and I need to ask my client what they want to do”
Quite often it also means “My dickhead client hasn’t given me all the facts and now they’re f#%ked ...
- 176k
39
votes
It is really illegal to plug in a device to watch BBC iPlayer or Live TV in a Starbucks?
I suspect this relates to the UK TV Licencing provisions as listed here,
Specifically :
Can I watch TV on my mobile phone without a TV Licence?
If you’re using a mobile device powered solely by its ...
36
votes
Accepted
Is there anything illegal about working for another party while on paid leave from one's job?
In general, in the US, Bob may do this. If the second company is a competitor of the first and Bob has access to confidential information from his first employer, then there could be an issue.
Some ...
- 112k
35
votes
Legal basis of statement by British Food Standards Agency that companies may label as "sunflower oil" what is not sunflower oil?
What statutory or prerogative authority is the FSA exercising when it allows such false labelling?
As other answers have noted, they have executive discretion to "turn a blind eye" to what ...
- 1,119
34
votes
Is there a law against signing a contract to do something illegal?
it's not illegal to sign a contract that demands illegal things, however, such a contract, in general, is called an illegal contract.
Illegal contracts are null and void.
Contracts that violate public ...
- 23.8k
32
votes
Is there any criminal implication of falsifying documents demanded by a private party?
All fraud is criminal
One of the types of fraud in the UK is “making a dishonest representation for your own advantage”.
Lying to a prospective landlord in order to secure a lease is fraud.
- 176k
30
votes
Is there a way to determine if an email address is personal information?
Treat all email addresses as if they are personal data.
All email addresses that belong to a specific person are personal data of that person, regardless of the specific form of the address.
If your ...
- 2,421
28
votes
Accepted
Is it illegal to turn off someone’s loudspeakers in public?
Not "illegal", but rather a "civil wrong" instead as this sounds like a (minor) case of
Trespass to Chattels, being:
...an intentional interference with another person's lawful ...
- 31.6k
27
votes
Accepted
Legal definitions differentiating 'corporation' and 'private estate' in relation to Duchy of Cornwall
As a matter of law, the Duchy is correct, because a superior court of record agreed, and dismissed the arguments made on the other side.
The cited claims from Republic come from a case in the First-...
- 286
27
votes
Accepted
Why was the house of lords seen to have such supreme legal wisdom as to be designated as the court of last resort in the UK?
The origin of Parliament was from the curia regis, the King's Court. In that early form, the King's Court exercised both judicial and legislative functions. In 1215, with the Magna Carta and the ...
- 18.2k
26
votes
Accepted
Can an American living in the UK become a British citizen without losing American citizenship?
Yes
From the American perspective:
U.S. law does not mention dual nationality1 or require a person to choose one nationality or another. A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any ...
- 31.6k
24
votes
Can a company adopt a child?
In the US, adoptions follow state law. Here is the law for Washington state. RCW 26.33.140 says that "Any person who is legally competent and who is eighteen years of age or older may be an ...
- 190k
24
votes
What are the effects on the Crown appointments following the death of a monarch?
No
See section 1(1) Demise of the Crown Act 1901 :
The holding of any office under the Crown, whether within or without His Majesty’s dominions, shall not be affected, nor shall any fresh appointment ...
- 31.6k
23
votes
Alice's restaurant profiteering from those with allergies
united-states
The courts have shown a willingness to apply the ADA to celiac disease (e.g., Colonial Williamsburg lost a lawsuit when sued for disallowing a guest to bring their own gluten-free food), ...
- 1,338
22
votes
Accepted
Is it legal to pretend to be the British monarch?
It depends where one does this. In the UK, I believe it is a crime to falsely claim to be the monarch. Lady Jane Grey was beheaded for doing so. The charge was treason.
In any other places it is ...
- 112k
21
votes
Alice's restaurant profiteering from those with allergies
Alice replies that the higher price of the gluten-free bases is not the only related cost facing her business. There is also the cost of seeking out additional reputable, high-quality suppliers, of ...
- 227
21
votes
Is there anything illegal about working for another party while on paid leave from one's job?
switzerland (and probably most of Europe)
This can be a breach of work laws, and is only allowed under certain conditions
The law (in particular OR 329a) states that any employee has the right for at ...
- 3,527
21
votes
Law about adult video websites retaining actors' PII
united-states
Are there laws in the United States which obligate adult video
websites to retain personal information (such as first and second
names) of the actors/actresses in the videos uploaded on ...
- 166k
19
votes
Accepted
What UK law would prevent news outlets from allowing people to comment on stories?
Like many other jurisdictions, in the UK sites like the Daily Mail are liable for the content they host. In other words, the legal issue here is they either do not have the staff available to (or ...
- 2,045
19
votes
Can a company adopt a child?
In Germany a legal person can't adopt a person, but can be the legal guardian ("Vormund") if a child has no parents. There are special "Vormundschaftsvereine" (associations for ...
- 952
17
votes
Accepted
What possible penalties can there be for failing to comply with rule 286 of the UK highway code?
Rule 286 states:
If you are involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any other person, vehicle, animal or property, you MUST
stop. If possible, stop in a place of relative safety (...
- 31.6k
17
votes
Legal basis of statement by British Food Standards Agency that companies may label as "sunflower oil" what is not sunflower oil?
Executive discretion
In common law jurisdictions the executive has the prerogative to enforce or not enforce particular laws. The courts will not interfere provided that prerogative is executed for ...
- 176k
17
votes
What is the status of laws that refer to the Queen now we have a King?
What is the status of laws that refer to the Queen now we have a King?
As mentioned in Treason Felony Act 1848 - Wikipedia:
Section 10 of the Interpretation Act 1978 says that references to the ...
- 4,952
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible