Chocolate Wars, Delivery Disruption and Apprentice Appraisal

Catching up on the last week

Author

Charlie Keast
February 26, 2024

Welcome to weekly legal/business updates, sharing the latest developments and noteworthy events in the legal and business sectors.

In today's fast-paced world, it's overwhelming to keep up. That's why I've curated a weekly round-up of articles that interest me. This newsletter provides a concise overview of important updates. Stay informed, enhance your commercial awareness, and gain valuable insights. Sit back, relax, and let this newsletter be your trusted companion in navigating news and knowledge. Let's embark on this exciting journey together and uncover hidden gems.

Tony’s Chocolonely sued by Milka

We all know the classic Milka chocolate, purple with mountains and an alpine cow. Toney’s Chocolonely have launched a campaign in Germany and Austria using temporary wrappers on their chocolate mimicking other brands, to bring to light the use of child labour in the cocoa industry. They have used household chocolate bars such as Mars, KitKat and Ferrero Rocher. Milka have since taken legal action for trademark infringement against Tony’s after they have used the Milka design as one of their temporary wrappers. Tony’s have since replaced the purple colour with a grey as they do not want to lose the importance of what their campaign is trying to say.

You can read more about this story here —> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68375750

Royal Mail sued by delivery drivers

Employment rights have long been debated, especially after the Uber case held that the drivers are self-employed. Now Royal Mail drivers are alleging that Parcelforce (Royal Mail’s subsidiary) are wrongfully classing their delivery drivers as being self-employed. This is because the drivers do not get to choose the days or hours or the routes that they drive. They feel that Royal Mail are deliberately trying to avoid paying the drivers sick and holiday pay.

SQE2 results

The fifth round of SQE2 results have been released and there has been a significant drop in the pass rate, from 79% to 64%. SQE2 is the second part of the SQE exams that examines the practical skills of students such as advocacy, legal writing, and drafting. The SQE replaces the LPC which is being phased out and only an option for those students who started studying law before 2020. More and more firms now require candidates to have passed SQE2 even if they have successfully passed the LPC.

You can read more about this story here —> https://www.legalcheek.com/2024/02/sqe2-pass-rate-drops-to-64/

Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route

Find out how to qualify through the SQE route

www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe

‘Mr Bates vs Post Office’ new law on the horizon…

You might have seen the ITV drama ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’ which aired earlier this year, portraying the Post Office scandal in which the software Horizon provided false accounts on many occasions and caused the convictions of more than 700 post office branch managers that were prosecuted. It has been a major catalyst for the inquiry into the case, the former CEO of the Post Office presiding over it during her tenure, Paula Vennells, gave up her CBE and the Prime Minister is set to introduce a law to compensate the victims.

Uptake in Solicitor apprenticeships

There are many routes to qualifying as a solicitor but the freshest route champions working in the industry and studying alongside for 7 years. After being introduced by the governments Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme in 2016, the uptake has been huge from law firms of all sizes, many expressing it as a preferable option. Gaining invaluable work experience from day one, earning a wage, and studying - the apprenticeship can offer a lot. It is thought that more and more firms will open up this route and take on more apprentices as an alternative route to going to university.

Fun facts for your friends…

The name of this newsletter is based on a well known law for being slightly bizarre. The Salmon Act 1986 makes it illegal for someone to hold a salmon in suspicious circumstances. With some context it does make more rational sense, with the aim to stop people selling salmon illegally on the black market.

Salmon Act 1986

An Act to make fresh provision for the administration of salmon fisheries in Scotland; to provide as to the licensing and regulation of salmon dealing in Scotland and in England and Wales; to provide for, and as respects, certain offences in the law of Scotland and in the law of England and Wales in connection with salmon; to amend the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 and section 9 of the Diseases of Fish Act 1983; to provide for the review of salmon fishing by means of nets; and for connected purposes.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/62/contents

Thanks for catching up! Don’t forget to share with friends and colleagues!