The Intellectual Property Office is responsible for granting intellectual property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom. Its website provides information about patents, designs, trade mark, including legislation, official notices, research commissioned by the IPO, procedural forms, guidance and databases of trademarks, registered designs and patents.
The European Scrutiny Committee is a permanent cross-party committee of the House of Commons. It assess draft EU legislation which has been deposited in Parliament by the Government. Its website makes available the Committee's reports from November 1996 to date, minutes from November 2009 to date, ministerial correspondence with the Committee, background papers and details of inquiries by the Committee. There is also a guide to the European scrutiny system and a guide to the EU institutions and EU legislation.
The rightsnet website is designed to provide up to date welfare rights information and news for advice workers. It is managed by lasa (London Advice Services Alliance) [q.v.]. The site provides a news section, training, policy news, an email discussion group and summaries of the latest welfare benefit and tax credit case law from the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal for subscribers.The Toolkit facility of the site provides links to sites offering legislation, case law, current benefit rates and factsheets.
The House of Commons Weekly Information Bulletin was produced b the UK Parliament until July 2011. It provided information on the recent and forthcoming business of the lower chamber, the House of Commons; it also included some coverage of the activities of the House of Lords.The Bulletin is divided into sub-sections which include a list of public and private bills before parliament, information on the progress of individual bills, information on the meetings of Standing and Select Committees, the present state of the parties in Parliament and a listing of EU documents received.
The Bar Council is the professional body representing barristers in England and Wales. The site provides information about the role of the Bar Council, the work of its various committees and copies of its annual reports. There is background information about barristers and their work, circuits, the Inns of Court and specialist bar associations. Details are given of the services the Bar Council provides for barristers, rules and guidance and a link to the online Bar Directory. Guidance is available for people instructing a barrister and shopping for legal services.
The British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL) was formed in 1969 to represent the interests of legal information professionals and others involved in law librarianship. The website has background information about the aims and history of the organisation, membership information and details of events, conferences and courses. There is also careers information relating to legal information work and a 'Job Board'.
The Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) is a forum for socio-legal scholars in the UK and elsewhere to come together and share interests and exchange ideas. This home page gives details of SLSA's aims and objectives, Annual Conference and other meetings, and an online version of Socio-Legal Newsletter.
Website of the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS, a UK professional association aiming to advance legal education, which includes teaching in universities, legal research and the professional training of lawyers. The site provides organisational and membership information and details of conferences, events and SLS publications. There are web pages for the various subject sections giving details of each section's news, events and contact details. SLS newsletters are available going back to 2004 and position papers and consultation responses can be downloaded from the site.
The British and Irish Law, Education and Technology Association (BILETA) was formed in April 1986 with the primary objective of promoting technology in legal education throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. It attempts to achieve this in conjunction with the UK Centre for Legal Education (UKCLE) by promoting research projects, supporting the distribution of software and providing information on technology in law developments. The site provides membership and organisational information and access to an archive of conference papers going back to the 5th BILETA Annual Conference 1990.
The Legal Action Group (LAG) is a legal education charity providing support to lawyers and campaigning for improvements in the law and the administration of justice. Its website gives details of LAG publications, courses and campaigns. Contents and editorials from the Group's magazine, 'Legal Action', are also available, along with indexes back to 2000. The site provides guides to a range of legal topics and links to external resources. Subjects covered include community care, crime, employment, human rights, legal aid and welfare benefits.
