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22 October 2020 / John Cooper KC
Issue: 7907 / Categories: Features , Profession
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The show(s) must go on

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John Cooper QC ‘attends’ this year’s BFI London Film Festival & reviews an opening film heavily laced with law

This year’s BFI London Film Festival, which ran from 7 October to 18 October 2020, was delivered in unusual circumstances, with all the films online and networking being confined to virtual chatrooms. But among all these COVID driven changes, there were still some high-class offerings for those who like their movies heavily laced with the law.

Much anticipated Mangrove

The Festival opened with Steve McQueen’s much anticipated Mangrove. McQueen directed this drama and based it upon the notorious trial in the 1970s when nine black people were arrested and charged with incitement to riot.

The seminal trial was held over 55 days after which the so-called Mangrove Nine were all acquitted. This December marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the trial.

The trial was based upon an incident between a group of black radicals and allegations brought against them arising from violent clashes with the police during a protest

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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