Simple English v Singular Latin It’s all well and good that Plain English exponents world over are lobbying for the use of less Latin and more simple English terms in substitution for legalese, but has it occurred to anyone how difficult it is to convey the meaning of some of these terms, for example, ‘ex parte’ or even ‘obiter dicta’, (which incidentally inspired this column), in as economic a phrase in Plain English? Go on, we dare you.

 

Getting into a Real State As the Law Society of Singapore consolidates final views on whether lawyers should be allowed to double up as real estate agents in conveyancing transactions, at least one skeptic was overheard musing, ‘If they can’t even make it as lawyers, what makes them think they are going to make it as real estate agents?’ Ouch!

 

Mars Attack Quick off the mark in publicity terms was on-line barrister clerking service Clerksroom, which sent the UK Law Gazette this picture that it claims was the first picture of Mars sent back by the NASA probe Spirit. Needless to say, any lawyer worth his wig will know that it must come second to the Bar Room, thus our claim — at least on Mars — to being the oldest profession!