The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee

The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) is a comprehensive assessment for lawyers from other jurisdictions and barristers from England and Wales to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. Three new assessments have been developed which make up the QLTS, in part drawing on testing experience in medicine and in other jurisdictions: the multiple choice test (MCT); the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) which involves assessment of oral skills (interviewing and advocacy) and which uses Standardised Clients; and the technical legal skills test (TLST) which involves assessment of written skills (legal research, writing and drafting). Some of the assessment methodologies used in the QLTS are discussed, including the use of standardised clients. An explanation is given of how reliability and accuracy of the assessments are calculated and how pass marks are set. The paper presents and reviews the very encouraging statistics from the first major delivery of the three assessments, including success by jurisdiction, ethnic group, gender and disability, and routine quality statistics on reliability and accuracy, as well as a statistical review of the use of standardised clients. QLTS reflects the regulatory aims of the SRA and is a radical departure for assessment of law in England and Wales. It is to be hoped its assessment methodologies will have a substantial influence on the future.     

Der Haftrücklass im Bauträgervertrag

Das BMJ hat vor Kurzem den Begutachtungsentwurf für eine Novelle zum Bautr?gervertragsgesetz vorgelegt. Ein zentrales Regelungsanliegen des Entwurfs ist die Einführung eines zwingenden Haftrücklasses zur Sicherung allf?lliger Gew?hrleistungs- und Schadenersatzansprüche des Erwerbers auf Grund mangelhafter Leistung des Bautr?gers. Der vorliegende Beitrag setzt sich mit diesem Vorschlag kritisch auseinander.     

Involvement of Amphetamines in Sudden and Unexpected Death

Abstract:  In the present study, the effects of amphetamine-class drugs were examined in cases reported to the Victorian coroner from 2001 to 2005 to determine if death can occur from the use of amphetamine-class drugs alone. A total of 169 cases were reviewed where a forensic autopsy detected amphetamine(s) in the blood. Pathology, toxicology, and police reports were analyzed in all cases to ascertain the involvement of amphetamine-class drugs in these deaths. In Victoria, methamphetamine (MA) is the principal abused amphetamine-class followed by methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). There were six cases in which a cerebral hemorrhage caused death and three cases in which serotonin syndrome was established as being caused by the interaction of MDMA and moclobemide. There were 19 cases in which long-term use of amphetamines was associated with heart disease. There were three cases where amphetamine-class drugs alone were regarded as the cause of death, of which two cases exhibited high levels of MDMA and lesser amounts of MA and/or amphetamine. There were no cases in which significant natural disease was absent and death was regarded as caused by the use of MA. There was no correlation between blood concentration of drug and outcome.     

A NEW FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION AND AUDIT ACT FOR QUEENSLAND

Queensland's new Financial Administration and Audit Act received Royal Assent on 14th April, 1977 and replaces a law passed by Parliament some 103 years ago. Before the Act could be brought into force by Proclamation, a number of preliminary measures had to be taken. Hence, the target date for commencement of the Bill was 1st July, 1978.     

The effect of psychotherapy on self-awareness in incarcerated and nonincarcerated alcoholics: a pilot study

Changes in self-awareness in incarcerated and nonincarcerated male alcoholics are measured before and after disaccustoming therapy based on Alcoholics Anonymous principles. The four-mode conception of self-awareness of Zaborowski is employed. The results show significant and expected changes in incarcerated participants (in defensive, individual, and reflective modes of self-awareness) and almost no changes in nonincarcerated individuals. An effect of motivation on therapy is also identified. Incarceration appears to be more conducive to recovery than to conditions outside the prison.