Wednesday 23 November 2011

Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens wrote a few times about greedy bankers, and how their greed affected friends, family and the local community. A bit like what we have/are experiencing with our present day bankers. The only difference between then and now is there were a few bankers back then that did put money back into the local community. If a few took a leaf from their books then maybe they wouldn't be villainised quite so much. Dont get me wrong, I believe that people should be able to make as much money as they can, but not at the expense of the local community. There are a few companies (large and small) that have made it big from the .com era, and have given back both locally and globally. Its a shame that some of the older companies haven't done so yet.

How to make money online

How to make money online every one wants to but only a small amount of people manage it here are only a few ways to make money online
1./ Become a YouTube Partner, Partner Programme allows creators and producers to earn money from their videos on YouTube through revenue sharing. You can earn revenue by allowing relevant advertisements to be displayed with your videos or by making them available for rental via streaming.
2./ Online Surveys, UK companies need your opinions to help them improve their products and provide you with best service possible  
3./ sell on ebay, Find a niche market or some thing you can get your hands on regularly and cheap then sell for a small profits
4./start a blog. One of the best ways to start your own online business. It requires minimal start up costs, you can build an impressive and loyal readership over time and once you know how to monetize your blog it can also bring in a decent income that will keep on coming even on the days when you don't update your blog
HERE ARE 4 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE MORE TO FOLLOW GOOD LUCK !!   

Tuesday 8 November 2011

How to become an English lawyer

Do you know what working as a lawyer actually involves? And are you sure of the steps you have to take to qualify as a solicitor or barrister?
                                                   
So you want to be a lawyer? Do you know what working as a lawyer actually involves? And are you sure of the steps you have to take to qualify as a solicitor or barrister? If not, then read on because this, the fourth edition of The Lawyer Guide to a Career in Law, contains all you need to know about securing your dream job in the legal profession. In England and Wales the legal profession is split into two: solicitors and barristers. The term lawyer captures both. Traditionally, the type of work handled by solicitors and barristers was very distinct. Solicitors were always the first point of contact for clients, while barristers represented the clients in court.
These days, however, the work of solicitors and barristers is becoming more difficult to distinguish, with some solicitors being permitted to stand up in court. Some law firms, such as Eversheds and Herbert Smith, now even have their own in-house barristers chambers.
You need to decide at quite an early stage which profession you want to join, because although both solicitors and barristers need to complete either a law degree or conversion course, the routes to qualification diverge following the academic stage. Aspiring solicitors have to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and a two-year period of work-based learning known as a training contract. In contrast, those who want to become barristers must take the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) followed by a year-long apprenticeship at one or more barristers chambers, known as a pupillage.
The legal profession: facts and fictions
There are a number of misunderstandings surrounding the legal profession. For instance, when students are asked why they want to become lawyers they often say they want to help people. But this is simply not always the reality, especially in the commercial arena where the clients are typically large, faceless corporations. Also, lawyers are not only called in when things go wrong: legal advice is needed when two multinational companies merge, or on something as simple as buying a house.
Working as a lawyer is also not as glamorous as the media might suggest. Whats more, with the exception of the City, where salaries for newly qualified solicitors can reach in excess of 90,000, the pay is not always as high as you might think. Indeed, some firms only pay their trainees the minimum salary set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of 18,420.
Areas of expertise
Most peoples knowledge of what solicitors do is usually associated with the work handled by high street firms, such as advising on the purchase of a new house or on a divorce, or representing someone being prosecuted for a crime.
However, solicitors work in a variety of firms, ranging from two-partner niche practices to those with hundreds of partners and offices in several different countries. They also specialise in many different areas of law. Some are also employed by companies or charities, while others work for the Government. These individuals are known as in-house lawyers, while those who work in a law firm are known as private practice solicitors.
Lawyer 2B and The Lawyer (www.thelawyer.com) focus on commercial law. This guide is, therefore, aimed mainly at those who want to work as business lawyers.
Commercial lawyers work is split into different areas, such as banking, corporate, employment, litigation and media and sport. As a corporate lawyer you may be advising on a multibillion-pound, headline-grabbing deal, such as the recent takeover of supermarket chain Somerfield by the Co-op. As a sports and media lawyer you could act for a world-famous footballer or rock star.
Barriers to entry
Wherever you are heading the City, a high street practice, a sleepy market town or the bar the route to qualification is lengthy and hard work. Once you have completed your A-levels you need to study for at least another four years, and then spend an extra two years as a trainee before you can receive your practising certificate. Following qualification it takes a minimum of six years to be promoted into a partnership.
The importance of a stellar academic record cannot be stressed enough. A number of law schools at top universities insist on three A grades and the minimum requirement for securing a training contract at a reputable commercial law firm is typically a 2:1 degree.
Historically, City law firms were notorious for their bias towards graduates from Oxford and Cambridge universities. Thankfully, nowadays firms are making a concerted effort to cast their nets wider. Nevertheless, some snobbery still exists. And with some top City firms receiving on average more than 2,000 applications for around 50 training contracts, they can be as fussy as they like. So if you do not make the grade, then getting beyond the dreaded rejection letter is unlikely.
Firms are not just after the most academically able. After all, what is the point in hiring someone with three A grades and a first-class degree in astrophysics if their knees turn to jelly when interacting with clients? Firms want candidates with additional qualities, such as good interpersonal skills, a second language and work experience. You must also be flexible and able to deal with a high and unpredictable workload.
Another obstacle is the cost of qualifying. A typical student accumulates as much as 20,000 of debt while studying for a degree but this may be more as tuition fees have gone up in the U.K  . And do not forget that most universities now charge 3,000 per year in tuition fees.
Finally, there are the fees for the postgraduate courses, the Graduate Diploma in Law, the LPC and the BVC, which can be as much as 7,000, 10,000 and 12,000 respectivelybut this may be more as tuition fees have gone up in the U.K . Thankfully, though, those who secure training contracts with large commercial firms receive sponsorship and will not have to worry about paying for such fees themselves.


Thursday 3 November 2011

Boy racers .. a harmless pastime or a deadly menace ?



                                                                                                  
There are lots of young men and women who love their cars. However, when a young man fits a body-kit to his car and drives very fast, he will inevitably be labelled a "boy racer".
Favourite cars for boy racers to do up include the Citroen Saxo, Seat Leon, and Peugeot 206, and alloy wheels, spoilers, and under-car neon lighting are amongst the must-have modifications for these cars.
It is generally a Friday or Saturday night when groups of boy racers will go for a cruise around the streets of their local town. Some towns seem to attract more boy racers than others, with Brighton, Southend, and Guildford being particular boy racer havens.
However snazzy these cars may look, boy racers are criticised by many for their pastime which, it is claimed, puts themselves and others in danger.
Boy racers criticised for dangerous driving
Critics of boy racers say that when they go cruising around town they often break speed limits and other traffic laws, creating a real hazard for other drivers. Statistics show that one in four drivers under 21 who have a car accident did so due to a loss of control. This is an all too common occurrence for boy racers, or anti social drivers, as the police term them.
Inspector Hughes of North Wales Police comments on boy racers: "We have seen a dramatic decrease in KSIs [killed or seriously injured] but there has been an increase in 17 to 25 year-olds involved in KSIs.
"Young anti-social drivers don't necessarily drive high-performance cars, they normally have small hatchbacks, which are more affordable. It's how they drive that causes the problem. They are inexperienced, driving inappropriately for the conditions and disobeying the basic rules of the road."
It has been found that one in three young male drivers will write off a car within the first three years of driving, over double the rate of new female drivers. Boy racers are thought to account for a sizeable portion of these write offs, with many "souped-up" cars frequently becoming involved in crashes with lampposts, walls, and other cars as a result of pulling hand brake turns, doughnuts, and wheelspins.
The car accidents in which boy racers are involved cause many injuries and fatalities each year, as well as higher car insurance premiums for other young male drivers. This effect can be seen by comparing car insurance quotes for a fictional 18 year old man with that of a woman of equivalent age and driving experience.Car insurance for an 18 year old male driving a Vauxhall Corsa starts from around £1,200 from most insurers, whereas for a woman it costs just £750.
There are far more men than women involved in boy racing, although observers note that "girl racing" is becoming more popular amongst girls in their late teens, which could see motor insurance for young women also becoming more expensive.
Boy racers defend themselves
However, many boy racers feel that they are misunderstood, and say it is just a minority of people who turn up to their cruises that cause the trouble. They are passionate about their cars, and say that crashing them is the last thing they want to do.
One 22 year old man who had spent £10,000 on modifying his car said: "I have to drive responsibly. I don't want to wrap it round a lamppost when I've spent so much.Some come here and they want to make a scene and want to look cool. We are all getting branded the same."
Another man who liked to cruise with his modified car commented that speeding is not confined to boy racing: "I admit that like any other person, boy racers do speed, but its only to boost their macho image and to pit themselves against other boy racers' (or girls!). Everybody speeds, it's just that boy racers are victimised because they drive fast at nighttimes, which keeps people awake."
Whether boy racers are a deadly menace or just partaking in a harmless pastime, their presence affects all who live around the areas that they cruise. Their reception is mixed; some people gather in crowds to admire the souped up cars, whilst others lose sleep to the noise of their engines.Is boy racers car insurance just to much to get  you on the road ?
please comment and follow thanks

young drivers and insurance


Insurance costs for young drivers have spiralled over the past decade, leading to more driving uninsured or committing fraud by getting parents to insure their car.
The insurance industry has been quick to point the finger but made little real progress in helping to bring down costs, despite the fact that cars are safer and the driving test harder.
So is it time that something was done?
Last year, we highlighted the issue with the story of one young motorist quoted £17,000 for a £2,000 Vauxhall Corsa.
Read more about the issues and join the debate on young drivers and whether insurers should do more here just add you comments and please follow thanks.

Followers