What is “URM”? It refers to minorities historically underrepresented in the legal profession. While this may vary depending on which school qualifies as URM, it is generally accepted that this category includes those who identify as Black/African American, Latinx/Hispanic, or Native American. As mentioned above, admission to law school is not just about LSAT, GPA, and URM status. Other factors can have a significant impact. Why is URM status important? While law schools are busy creating a diverse student body and increasing the number of lawyers from historically underrepresented groups, an applicant who identifies as a URM gets a “boost” from their admission chances. Realistically, the most important factors cited in determining the best school for a candidate are that person`s personal and professional goals, chances of admission, and geographic location (especially for schools with a regional reputation). Like others, URMs should apply to a variety of schools. However, because URM cycles are so unpredictable, the need to cast a wide net becomes even more important. At this year`s URM Forum, candidates applied for an average of 4-5 litters, 4 goals and 3-4 collaterals. Now, many people choose where to apply based on how their concrete numbers — i.e.

their LSAT score and GPA — compare to the median numbers of the law schools they are considering. It`s a good start, but the math certainly shouldn`t stop there, especially for URM candidates. I`ll explain why, but first I need you to do something for me. I need you to pause this podcast and grab a pen and a piece of paper. Now that we`ve covered what it means to be a URM and why it`s important in the application process, we`re going to spend the rest of that time talking about special considerations for URM applicants in the process. The first consideration is deciding where to apply. Because there are so many different law schools to choose from, it`s important to understand how they are similar and how they differ. All law schools approved by the American Bar Association are equal in that they offer the opportunity to earn a Juris Doctor degree within two to six years, and upon completion, you are eligible to take the bar exam to become a licensed attorney in any of the 50 states. So, the first step in choosing a law school is to understand how law schools differ from each other and which of these variables are most important to you. Most law schools use “continuous” admissions, which can be casually defined as a kind of “first come, first served” process. Therefore, it is to your advantage to receive your application as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. To understand why this is so emphasized, let`s look at an illustration: “softs” seem to play an even more important role for URM candidates, perhaps because their past experience allows URMs to stand out from the others with similar numbers.

In addition, many members of the URM TLS forum stated that law schools seek not only racial diversity among URM applicants, but also diversity of experiences. If you are part of the URM group, this does not mean that numbers are not important to you. But this means that the LSAT and surrogacy medians published each year by law schools do not represent the medians of URMs admitted to school. If you identify as an URM, you should not be discouraged about your chances of being admitted with an LSAT or a GPA below a school`s reported median or 25th percentile. URM applicants are regularly admitted with LSAT or GPA (or both) among the published 25th percentiles of law schools. The conclusion of these sources is that applicants who actually identify as URM increase their chances of admission. In other words, in a particular school, an URM candidate with a particular LSAT and GPA is likely to have a greater chance of admission than a non-URM candidate with similar numbers. However, strengthening the pipeline to law school will not be enough to address the lack of diversity in law firms.

Companies need to commit to hiring more inclusive categories of new employees and providing them with the career development support they need to stay and grow. Arnold & Porter`s partnership with the National Bar Association to establish an associate advancement academy for black employees is one model. To the extent that law schools are not representative of our population, neither are law firms. While I`ve imagined this scenario, anecdotal evidence shows that there`s actually an advantage to applying early. While this benefit doesn`t have to be a quantifiable increase in points, schools may be more willing to try their luck with a candidate who applies earlier in the process. The discussion forums of the best law schools have shown that this moment of application becomes more important for those who have fairly generic applications, those who have unusual circumstances but questionable numbers and URMs. There is (with rare exceptions) no specific number of points that can be matched to a candidate solely on the basis of race. I`m not usually willing to make any assumptions about this, but to answer the question, I turned to Anna Ivey “The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions: Straight Advice on Essays, Resumes, Interviews, and More.” In it, Ivey (a former dean of admissions at the University of Chicago School of Law) argues that schools can increase the LSAT score for URMs by up to ten points. Unfortunately, it does not specify this number and does not distinguish between different URMs. However, before you count your LSAT points with a boost, I must caution that there is usually little empirical data on a general boost. talk.collegeconfidential.com/law-school/14481-urms-law-school.html At UCSF, our working definition of an underrepresented minority (URM) is someone whose racial or ethnic composition comes from one of the following sources: No. Law schools will select candidates who fall somewhere within a flexible continuum of their respective academic parameters and who also contribute to a diverse classroom.

Each candidate may be able to offer something distinctive to a class – diversity (e.g. race or ethnicity) is one factor among many in a review of the entire file. Other factors include your LSAT score and undergraduate GPA, strong letters of recommendation, personal statements, work experience, community service, special interest, or demonstrated strength of character. Each of these factors will contribute to a strong exchange of ideas in the law school community. To improve these discouraging statistics, schools have a few options. We can provide more scholarships to underrepresented groups, especially those graduating from historically black colleges and universities. A significant proportion of black applicants to law school and about 50% of all black lawyers graduated from HBCUs. While it is difficult to obtain official law school data on the impact of URM status on admissions, the existence of this “URM boost” comes from Law School Numbers (a website that collects self-reported admissions data from applicants), as well as admissions counselors and former admissions deans. Law schools are interested in creating an interesting and diverse student body for a rich law degree, so they take into account a candidate`s “soft factors.” “Soft factors” refer to other aspects of your history in addition to URM status. These factors may include, but are not limited to, military service, one-time work, community service research or experience, significant achievements in athletics or the arts, and aspects of identity other than URM status, such as disability. I have taken the trouble to detail all of this so that you understand that you never have access to good information about who has received an offer of admission to a particular law school.

They only have decent—not perfect—information about who accepted offers of admission from a particular law school. So you should never look at those numbers and use them as a reason to say, “Oh, my numbers aren`t good enough. I just shouldn`t apply to this school. Today`s podcast comes from our consultant Sir Williams, former director of admissions at the University of Wisconsin School of Law, where he led the successful implementation of UW`s first Pre-Law Diversity Pipeline summer program.

By law, the Commission must normally issue an opinion within 60 days of receiving a complete notice. However, if the application is made by a federal candidate within 60 days of an election and the application requests a particular transaction or activity related to that election, the commission must respond within 20 days. In addition, it is the Commission`s informal practice to try to respond to certain large and urgent requests within 30 days. An application is not considered a complete opinion if it: Requests for expert advice must be made in writing. The application must contain a full description of all facts relevant to the specific transaction or activity. The Australian Constitution prohibits the High Court of Australia from giving advisory opinions; A binding decision requires controversy between two parties. [1] [2] [3] During certain episodes in Australian legal history, such as the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis, politicians sometimes sought informal advice from Supreme Court justices in their personal capacity. This section has been used six times in the following cases where the Cabinet has sought the opinion of the Supreme Court on hypothetical cases relating to the interpretation of constitutional provisions: three questions under sections 36 and 55 of the Constitution (1977); Four questions under article 55 of the Constitution (1977); reference to the Constitution; Article 55 of the Constitution (2003); reference to the Constitution; On dual nationality and other issues (2004); With regard to articles 55 and 45 (and articles 36 and 40) of the Constitution (2007); and Articles 55 and 45 (and Articles 36 and 40) of the Constitution (2008). [7] “have great legal weight and moral authority.

They are often an instrument of preventive diplomacy and have peacekeeping. In their own way, expert advice also contributes to the clarification and development of international law and thus to the strengthening of peaceful relations between States. Before the meeting at which the Commission is to examine an opinion, the Commission shall make public any draft reply to the request for an opinion. If at least four Commissioners vote in favour of a review of the opinion, the opinion is annulled and the Commission then examines the content of the original application. 1. If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen or is threatened to arise and is of such a public nature and importance as to require the opinion of the Supreme Court, he may refer the matter to that Court for consideration, and the Court may, Having heard: that he considers it expedient to transmit his opinion on this question to the President. In 2017, there were 28 requests for advisory procedures. A Commissioner who has voted by a majority in favour of adopting an opinion may reconsider the opinion. A Commissioner may request a reconsideration: 11 CFR 112.1(a)(f)Request for expert advice Submit a written statement to the Office of the General Counsel within ten days of the publication of the request for expert opinion. Draft opinions are normally discussed at public meetings of the Commission. Applicants or their counsel may appear before the Board to answer questions at this public hearing. Applicants or their lawyers who are unable to attend a public meeting in person may, subject to the technical possibilities of the Commission, attend by telephone.

Article 55 of the Constitution of Nauru provides: “The President or a Minister may, with the consent of the Council of Ministers, refer to the Council of Ministers for his or her opinion any question concerning the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution which has been or may arise in the Council of Ministers, and the Supreme Court shall give its opinion on such matter in open court.” [6] Comments must be made in writing. Comments should refer to the name or number of the opinion (e.g. AO 2011-11 (Colbert)) and the name of the commentator and, if submitted on behalf of another person, the name of the other person. Opinions should not be confused with court-to-court certified questions, which are admissible. U.S. federal courts, when faced with actual cases or controversies in which the federal court`s decision relates in whole or in part to a question of state law (e.g., diversity cases under the Erie Doctrine or matters where federal law incorporates state law by reference, such as exemptions in bankruptcy cases), sometimes ask the highest court of that state for a binding answer to the constitutional question. which the Federal Supreme Court will then apply in the decision of the federal case (see, for example, the Pullman abstention). Where, in such circumstances, the national court delivers an opinion on a specific case, that opinion is not regarded as an opinion.

All requests for expert advice, comments on proposals, and drafts (including appendices) will be made available to the public online and in the FEC`s Public Archives Room. The Supreme Court set the second precedent against expert opinion in 1793. That year, President George Washington, seeking to determine the legal rights and obligations of the United States with respect to the ongoing conflicts between the European powers, France, and Great Britain, sent a letter to Supreme Court justices through Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.12FootnoteNewsletter from Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State, to Chief Justice Jay, and Associate Justices (July 18, 1793), reprinted in Richard H. Fallon, Jr., et al., Hart and Wechsler`s The Federal Courts and the Federal System 50-51 (7th edition 2015). The letter asked whether judges would be prepared to give advice on a number of very difficult legal issues that are not known to courts across the country.13Footnote Id. The judges declined to answer. Chief Justice John Jay wrote a response to the president, explaining that the divisions established by the Constitution between the three departments . and that we are judges of a court of last resort. are considerations that make a strong case against the relevance of our out-of-court decision on the issues raised.14Footnote Letter from Chief Justice Jay and Associate Justices to President George Washington (August 8, 1793), reproduced in Richard H.

Fallon, Jr., et al., Hart and Wechsler`s The Federal Courts and the Federal System 52 (7th edition 2015). Although the letter is not an official opinion of the Court, it has since cited it as the main source of the rule against advisory opinions.15FootnoteVieth v. Jubelirer, 541 U.S. 267, 302 (2004) (majority) (noting that the 1793 correspondence included a categorical statement by the Court that the issuance of advisory opinions was not within the powers of the judiciary); Flast v. Cohen, 392 U.S. 83, 96 n.14 (1968) (with note that the rule against expert opinions was already established in 1793. and the rule was followed without deviation.). See also Muskrat v.

United States, 219 U.S. 346, 354 (1911) (citing correspondence of 1793 refusing to rely on a case brought under one statute establishing a lawsuit to verify the constitutionality of another statute). The Advisory Opinion provides specific legal protection for any person concerning: Chapter IV, Articles 65 to 68 of the Statute of the ICJ and Part IV, Articles 102 to 109 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice. If the request is not a requirement for expert opinion, the Office of the General Counsel will inform the applicant of the specific deficiencies in the request. An advisory opinion is a legal opinion addressed to the United Nations or to a specialized agency by the International Court of Justice under Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations. Expert opinions are the Commission`s formal responses to questions about the application of the federal Election Finances Act to certain factual situations. 11 CFR 112.4(b), (c) and (g)Submission of advisory opinions The Supreme Court first rendered a decision in 1792 regarding expert opinions (albeit without the use of the term) in Hayburn.6Footnote2 U.S. (2 Dall.) 409 (1792). In that case, the Supreme Court considered an application for a writ of mandamus to order a federal district court to process a federal pension claim. The petitioner argued that the courts had failed to give effect to a congressional bill. The Court noted, however, that the reasons given by judges, including Supreme Court judges, sitting in district courts, for refusing to apply the .

Congressional Act, a Great Constitutional Issue.7FootnoteId. at 410, footnote. Specifically, these judges argued that pension decisions under the Act were not judicial functions that Congress could constitutionally assign to the courts, since the law subjects such decisions to the review and control of the legislature and an executive officer.8FootnoteId.

Commission rates are generally negotiable. However, very few organizations can fall below their standard percentage. Regulations imposed by unions stipulate that licensed agencies must earn no more than 10% of talent income. In addition to commissions, the agency may charge a flat fee, which is a percentage of a project`s license fee or budget. A talent representation agreement is used when a company or individual is hired to work for or represent talent. However, there are what are called exceptions. Curve means all the things that shouldn`t be covered in the Coverage section. For example, an established football player can only seek brand partnerships because they feel comfortable on the team they play for. In this case, the deletion section of the agreement is “Teams”, which means that they do not want jobs from other teams.

Most actors or other entertainment talent retain the services of an agent or manager to represent them. This usually involves signing a talent representation agreement that defines the services provided by the agent and the compensation received in return. Talent agencies use a standard agreement called a general service contract. The rules that govern these agreements vary from state to state, but regulators in California and New York oversee general service contracts in those states. Coverage usually means what the union of both parties should give. These are the kind of gigs the agency should develop to find them for talent. For example, a musical artist will likely seek concerts, collaborations, and tours. All of these things should be discussed in the Reports section.

In most cases, these individuals receive their share of the talent income. If these are the conditions, you need to specify the percentage of the personal lawyer`s discount (often 5%) and what the personal manager should earn. These are subject to negotiation and are not dictated by government approvals or union protection. Some actors may choose to hire a talent manager and advocate, as well as an agent. Agreements with managers are similar to agency contracts. However, they are not regulated by the state or controlled by a trade union. Meanwhile, “talented lawyers” help actors review any legal agreements they sign, rather than actively seeking work for the actor. The agreements with these lawyers are similar to other legal representation agreements. A talented lawyer may receive an income commission instead of the standard hourly fee. There are essential details in a talent representation that both parties should consider: Besides talent representation, some artists have personal managers and lawyers. These are people who have helped them along the way, both in individual decisions and in legal matters. For talents with such inclusions, it is imperative to mention them in a talent representation agreement.

This is the agreement between _____ This is a binding contract with clear terms on how an artist and an agency will work together. The agency signs the agreement that they agree to find jobs and negotiate contracts on behalf of the talent and earn a commission in return. Influence Agreement This Agreement is entered into on [Date] (Effective Date) Parts 1 [insert company name], a company incorporated in [England and Wales] under [insert registered number] and having its registered office at [insert address] (Company); and 2 [insert name], [insert address] (talent). Background (A) The company owns the mark [insert]. (B) Talent is [insert details of talent context]. (C) The Company engages the Talent to promote the Company`s products in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. THE PARTIES AGREE: 1 Definitions and interpretation 1.1 In this Agreement: Business Day • means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or a bank holiday or bank holiday in England; Fees • means the amounts specified in the respective project task; Project Mission • means a document (essentially in the form set out in the Annex) to be agreed in writing by the Parties and which sets out the details of the Services to be provided by the Talent, including the fees payable for the Services; Services • means the services to be provided by the Talent as defined in the relevant Project Assignment(s). The initial assignment of the project is attached to the schedule. Talent Channels • means the platform and channels controlled by the talent in respect of which the talent agrees to distribute talent materials as further described in the relevant project engagement; Talent Material • refers to all content The duration of talent representation is typically one to five years. However, Equity and AFTRA limit the duration of the initial representation of the actors to one year. You can extend the period to a longer period if you want to extend the contract with them.

Most talent representation contracts have a duration of between one and five years. (The Actors` Equity Association and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists each limit the duration of an initial performance agreement to one year.) Contracts may be extended for a longer period. In many cases, general service contracts and union agency contracts can be terminated if the actor does not receive a minimum number of commitments or a minimum income for a period provided for in the agreement, which is often a few months. This allows the actor to end an unproductive relationship and look for alternatives. This Agreement is binding and enforced for the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, licensees and assigns, except that the Artist`s obligations may not be delegated. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and no waiver, modification or amendment to this Agreement shall be valid unless executed in writing by the parties. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Agreements must be formal and documented to be legal and effective. And for that to happen, a talent representation agreement would have to be the limiting factor. As an artist or artist, you want the best performance possible.

By signing a talent contract, you help ensure that the agency you hire works hard for you and only gets its fair share of your revenue. As a talent agency, you want the clients you sign to make your job as easy as possible. A talent contract allows you to describe your expectations of the artist in terms of behavior and remuneration so that the relationship goes smoothly. If you need legal documents outside of the talent contract, please check out our full list of customizable service contracts. A talent agent may attempt to charge a commission for work done by the actor after an agreement expires or is terminated. However, both general service contracts and union agency contracts should allow an agent to charge a commission only for projects that have been essentially negotiated by the agent. While general service contracts tend to define the services provided broadly, an actor might be able to negotiate exclusions from an agreement. These may be projects already underway or working in another area. For example, an actor who signs an agreement on representation in television projects may want to exclude theatrical work. Another interesting fact is that a talent representation contract can be terminated if artists have not received the minimum income or the number of engagements within a period of three or four months. It is important to ask for such a provision to terminate the agreement if your relationship with your agency is not going well.

An agency designated as a franchise by the Actors` Equity Association or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists may require an actor to sign a collective agreement. If the general service contract and the union agency contract cover different types of services, the actor may need to sign both agreements. Union agency contracts benefit the actor more than a standard contract for general services, because the union regulates its provisions. It doesn`t matter if you`re a rising star or an agency that represents talent, a talent contract defines your working relationship in a way that leaves little room for misunderstanding. Use. Read more Dive into our 1 precedents related to the talent contract (b) The artist agrees to use the name, likeness and likeness of the artist in up to two different versions of the advertisement under the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement in connection with the advertisement for ____ Scope and duration of talent representation agreements (a) The initial period for the use of the name; of the artist`s image or image is one year from the date of the session. “LexisPSL and other Lexis solutions support our business exactly as we want it to. They allow us to work quickly and offer the best possible service to our customers. (a) The artist will be on ____.

– 1. Preventive, eliminatory or mitigating remedies are those that can be provided by acts of the injured party or by the intervention of legal proceedings; As in the case of violations of the. person, or to personal or real property, defence, resistance, representation, elimination of harassment and maintenance of peace or order in equity and perhaps some others. There are two general categories of remedies: legal and equitable. In the category of remedies, damages are sums paid by one party to another to meet liability. Compensation is an amount paid by one party to another; There are different types of damage. In the category of equitable remedies, these three remedies are: specific enforcementAn order that orders a person to deliver the single thing contracted by the other party, meaning that a person is responsible for delivering a single thing (land or unique personal property, such as a painting or an antique car); InjunctionA court order that orders a person to refrain from doing what they should not do, a court order that orders a person to refrain from doing what they should not do (e.g., compete with a former employer in breach of a non-compete obligation); and restitution of refunds; Returning goods or money to put the non-infringing party in the state in which the contract was not concluded, meaning that the parties are put back in the position they were in before the conclusion of the contract. Both general categories of remedies are legal and fair. In the first category are damages, consequential, incidental, nominal, liquat and (rarely) punitive damages. The latter category includes, where remedies are inadequate, specific enforcement, injunction and reimbursement. For example, Juan buys ten bags of concrete to build a countertop and stand for his expensive new grill. The bags have this lettering in large lettering: “Attention. Our sole responsibility in the event that this product is defective is to provide you with a similar amount of material without error.

We will not be liable for any other damage, direct or indirect, express or implied. That`s ok. If the concrete is broken, the concrete slab breaks, and Juan`s new grate is damaged, he only gets a few new bags of good concrete. He could have looked around to find someone who would deliver concrete without limitation of liability. As it stands, his remedies are limited by the agreement he has concluded. – 3. Remedies concerning sanctions or compensation and penalties are either summary proceedings before judges, prosecution, etc. In many cases of private harm that is also a public offense, such as assault and defamation, the aggrieved party may have both legal remedies, a public charge for the offense, and a civil action for the private injustice.

Once students understand the basic idea of a particular achievement, they often want to jump into it to resolve almost any breach of contract. It seems reasonable that the non-offending party could ask a court to simply compel the promisor to do what he promised. However, a certain service is a very limited recourse: it is only possible to sell a single object in case of breach of contract, i.e. a single personal property (the samovar) or land (all real estate is unique). But if the item is not unique, so that the non-infringing party can go out and buy another one, then the action for monetary damages will solve the problem. And a certain service will never be used to force a person to provide services against their will, which would be involuntary servitude. A person may be forced to stop doing what they should not do (injunction), but not be forced to do what they will not do. 1. Private remedies, since they aim to prevent crimes, compensate for their commission and punish their perpetrators. The acceptor, whom we will refer to below as the non-breaching party, is entitled to compensation (an allowance of money) if necessary to make it complete if the other party has breached the contract, unless the contract itself or other circumstances suspend or satisfy this right. Damages refer to money paid from one side to the other; It is a legal remedy.

For historical and political reasons in the development of the English legal system, the courts could originally only award monetary compensation. If an applicant wanted anything other than money, a separate justice system had to be used. Courtrooms and hearings were separate. This real separation is long gone, but the distinction is still recognized; A judge may be described as “sitting in the law” or “sitting in equity,” or a case may involve both monetary claims and actions. We are seeking compensation for damages first. There are three types of equitable remedies: specific benefit, injunction and restitution. Corrective actions are specific and cumulative; The former are those that can be used only to restore a right or punish a crime; For example, if a law makes what was previously legal illegal and provides for a specific remedy, it is specific and must be prosecuted, not another. However, if an offence has already been punished by a common law proceeding, such as an indictment, and a statute requires a particular remedy, that particular remedy is cumulative and the proceeding may be conducted under the common law or the statute. Quantum Meruit: A court may award a party payment for what they earn for any work they did before the other party broke the contract.

For example, in the example above, if the cleaner cleaned half the house and then you decided you didn`t want him finished, he might charge $50 as a quantum meruit. Translated from Latin, the term means “as much as he has won”. Finally, we come to the question of remedies. a valid agreement has been reached, the obligations of the promisor have not been fulfilled; He breached the contract. What are the rights of the parties if a party has not performed? Or if the contract has been cancelled due to incompetence or misrepresentations, etc., what are the rights of the parties after termination? These questions are at the centre of this chapter. If the law provides for more than one remedy, the party entitled to do so may choose the one that best suits its objectives. In crimes and in some other cases, the private harm merges with the public offense to such an extent that no charges against it can be sustained, at least until the prosecution is completed.

HCSC is the fifth largest health insurer in the United States, employing more than 23,000 people. In 2019, it turned out to be the third largest commercial health insurer in the United States. [1] It serves nearly 16 million members. HCSC offers group, disability and dental insurance policies, as well as a number of other individual policies. The company also offers a variety of care management and wellness resources. “Our reserves serve a different purpose, which is to protect our nearly 15 million HCSC members and get early and unexpected claims from our members,” said Carl McDonald, the company`s senior vice president of treasury and business development. “A nonprofit [health insurance] organization exists, not to make money, but to make health care affordable,” he said. “He should use his reserves to smooth out the ups and downs.” Ruth McCambridge HCSC`s membership was approximately 16 million as of December 31, 2019. HCSC`s revenue remains concentrated in Illinois and Texas, accounting for 83% of fiscal 2017 premiums.

The company`s second-largest state in terms of premiums is Oklahoma, with about 9% of premiums. [3] Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) is a member-owned health insurance company in the United States. HCSC was previously known as Hospital Service Corporation and changed its name to Health Care Service Corporation in 1975. The company was founded in 1936 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with a network of offices in the United States. Health Care Service Corporation is licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association for five states. It focuses its activities in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In 2010, HCSC nearly doubled its revenue to $1.09 billion and began “a streak of billions of dollars in profits for 4 consecutive years.” [7] Between 2009 and 2013, HCSC`s average return on investment was 10.5% over five years. In 2014, HCSC`s profit declined “due to medical losses and expenses related to the company`s aggressive addition of ACA scholarship members.” But in 2015, Fitch Ratings still rated its financial strength “A+,” giving it an “A” for probability of default and senior unsecured rating.

Finch stated that “the lack of geographic diversification has historically kept HCSC out of the `AA` rating category and that HCSC would be downgraded if it stopped selling itself as a blues plan. [2] Health Care Service Corp., based in Chicago. is the parent company of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Montana and states that its reserves are not intended to facilitate the transition to ACA procurement. Instead, in Texas, the company is cutting off its PPO customers and raising rates by 20%. HCSC reported a strong underwriting gain in 2017 after losses related to its publicly traded operations under the Affordable Care Act (ABA) in 2014 and 2015. The company reported an annualized return on invested capital of over 40% in the first half of 2018, with high single-digit ROC in line with Fitch`s mid-line guideline for the current rating category. An $833 million tax benefit related to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act contributed to the substantial ROC ratio in the first half of 2018. Results are expected to weaken somewhat in the second half of 2018 as policyholders exhaust their deductibles and HCSC pays a higher percentage of claims. [3] The New Mexico and Illinois HCSC divisions also eliminated coverage instead of plunging into reserves. According to Michael Johnson, the whistleblower in the California Blue Shield case, this is where rubber meets the path to non-profitness.

As NPQ readers know, in a recent court decision, a New Jersey judge called the modern nonprofit hospital a “legal fiction,” which immediately called into question its property tax status. This decision highlights the question: “When is a not-for-profit organization not a not-for-profit organization?” Part of what is questioned in this lawsuit is the fact that when the company is doing well, it does not reward its members/stakeholders, but provides pay rates to senior executives that suggest that a common cause is the last thing anyone is thinking about. Patricia Hemingway Hall, now retired CEO of HCSC, earned about $11.7 million in 2014 alone, including $10 million in bonuses. That salary was about four times higher than any other CEO of a nonprofit or mutual insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and he was the sixth highest insurance CEO in the country. Everyone who earns more controls for-profit companies. “That`s why companies have reserves for rainy days. Well, guess what? It`s raining,” said John Rowe, professor of health policy at Columbia University`s Mailman School of Public Health and former CEO of Aetna, Inc. Founded in 1936, HCSC holds an independent license from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and acts as a “reciprocal legal reserve society.” However, a lawsuit against HCSC in 2014 alleges that the company broke its promise to “operate on a charitable basis for the mutual benefit of its members.” HCSC exceeded the previous year`s revenue by 22% in 2015 and is now sitting on $9.9 billion in excess funds, so why not reward the CEO with a $10 million bonus? Perhaps because it is a mutual company. It operates through non-profit insurers, but as Rick Cohen described here in 2013, it is by no means a charity. In 2014, HCSC was the largest non-public health insurer in the country and the fifth largest health insurer overall, with over 16 million members. [2] The HCSC had approximately 16 million members as of December 31, 2019.

HCSC`s revenue remains concentrated in Illinois and Texas, accounting for 83% of fiscal 2017 premiums. [3] “We don`t measure success by the money we make. Instead, we are committed to meeting the health needs of our members and making it easier for them to use the health system,” the statement said.

A general power of attorney acts on behalf of the client in all matters permitted by the state. The agent under a general power of attorney agreement may be authorized to handle matters such as managing bank accounts, signing checks, selling real estate and assets such as stocks, tax return, etc. The client can sign a standing power of attorney for health care or a power of attorney for health if they want a substitute decision-maker to have the authority to make health decisions. This document, also known as a power of attorney for health, describes the client`s consent to grant power of attorney privileges to the agent in the event of an unfortunate health problem. The continuing power of attorney for health care is required by law to oversee medical care decisions on behalf of the client. Some key competencies cannot be delegated. This includes the power to do the following: children have different characters, abilities and circumstances, and careful selection of children as agents and the powers assigned to them can avoid these dangers. The good news is that you can have multiple powers of attorney that appoint separate agents and tailor them to each child`s skills, temperament, and ability to act on your behalf. If the delegation of powers is effected by the (private) designer of a system, his role in determining the nature of the power may not be consistent with the constraints imposed on the legislator by the principle of legality in creating secondary legal norms.9 This “sovereign designer” creates a playing field distinct from the legal “game”. 10 with obligations that might be unrelated to legal protection and powers (as affordances in the geography of the system) granted to the “user” that are not of an institutional nature, with all the associated normative structures that this mode of existence implies. Legal protection by design consists in limiting such a system to maintain this link with the institutional world and in ensuring that a technological instantiation of a power reflects the institutional affordances of its textual counterpart. Not all powers of attorney need to be officially registered by the county to be legal.

However, registration is a common practice for many estate planners and individuals who want to create a document attesting to the existence of the document. The Office of the Public Guardian offers an online procedure for registering a continuing power of attorney. [20] It is a bureaucratic minefield, full of traps for the unwary; [citation needed] and the end result can be disappointing, as many financial institutions don`t trust permanent powers, simply view the lawyer as a potential scammer, and in practice tend to be very uncooperative. Many states require powers of attorney to be notarized. Even in states that don`t, it can be much easier for the agent if the seal and signature of a notary are on the document. The exact legal term for this type of “erasure” varies by jurisdiction and area of law, as well as the exact consequences in terms of legal effect, but for the purposes in question, the term erasure is sufficient. ↩ A better way to start the process of creating a power of attorney is to find a family law attorney in your state. If legal fees are higher than you can afford, there are legal aid firms with accredited lawyers in virtually every region of the United States. Visit the Société des services juridiques website, which has a “Find Legal Help” search function. Eligible customers receive pro bono support (free of charge). Given the institutional nature of legal powers, they can never be the exercise of brute force or mere sovereign power, because the mode of existence of textual law inherently resists it. Legal powers are affordance relationships between legal entities and the broader normative order, which in turn are configured pragmatically and co-constitutively by what is actually necessary for such a system to function in practice.

In this way, the parties embrace the whole and vice versa: a system that attempts to allow for the exercise of binding powers when necessary, but always subject to mutual control, cannot be a system that allows brute force. It follows that the reverse is also true. A power of attorney can provide both convenience and protection by giving a trusted person the legal authority to act on your behalf and in your interest. Adult children who are both completely trustworthy and able to fulfill your wishes can file the best agent under your power of attorney. But don`t call someone the agent just because they`re your child. Make sure your agent is trustworthy and capable, as a first requirement, regardless of the person you appoint. A power of attorney exists when a person has an estate on land with a right of revocation and appointment, the execution of which is part of his succession; as if a tenant for life had the power to enter into leases in possession. The creator of a power of attorney can and should be concerned about the risk that the agent will abuse the powers obtained under a power of attorney.

Make sure by requiring that the power of attorney regularly report all actions to a trusted third party that family members agree to, such as the family`s lawyer or accountant. Or ask them to appoint two agents and require them to agree on important transactions, such as selling a home. You can revoke your power of attorney at any time as long as you are mentally competent. You must do this in writing. It`s also a good idea to notify financial institutions and other companies your lawyer has dealt with. Previously, the term “power of attorney” referred to a document signed under seal, while a “letter” was a handy deed, meaning it was simply signed by the parties, but today, a power of attorney does not need to be signed under seal. Some countries require powers of attorney to be notarized or attested, but others will execute a power of attorney as long as it is signed by the grantor. For a power of attorney to become a legally enforceable document, it must at least be signed and dated by the client. [7] Some jurisdictions also require a power of attorney to be attested, notarized, or both.

[8] Even if not necessary, verification and signing of the document by a notary can increase the likelihood of resisting a court challenge. [9] Never appoint a child as your agent for reasons of “fairness,” to avoid hurt feelings, or to maintain family harmony if you lack confidence.

The Bachelor LL.B. may deviate from this structure. According to the university, the program includes only legal subjects[34] or human subjects in order to prepare graduates for a “broad” legal education. [33] Some undergraduate programs do not offer electives. Credits in English and Afrikaans are also often included. [34] Along with Latin, these were “subjects prescribed by law,”[35] and were generally entry requirements for the LL.B., as they were studied as undergraduate modules. Similarly, Roman law was once a preliminary course, whereas it is now offered as an option in postal and undergraduate studies. LLB law degrees are offered by hundreds of universities across the UK. So it`s important that you do your research and make sure you choose the one that`s right for you. Program Outcomes: After earning this degree and developing expertise in their chosen topic, LLM graduates typically pursue their careers as lawyers, but serve a more specialized clientele. These highly competitive areas may include international law, human rights, intellectual property law and health law. Various universities in the UK and Australia will provide a degree that combines study with a non-legal discipline. For example, some universities in the United Kingdom offer a combined study of law and history, leading to a B.A.

degree, which is recognized by the Law Society and Inns of Court as equivalent to an LL.B. The baccalaureate comes from the University of Paris, whose system has been set up at Oxford and Cambridge. [9] The term “art” of the degree traditionally means that the student has undertaken some degree of study of the classics. [10] In continental Europe, the baccalaureate was phased out in the 18th or early 19th century, but continued at Oxford and Cambridge. A Master of Laws degree is designed for non-lawyers who might benefit from a deeper understanding of the law, but don`t want to go the path of a practicing lawyer. A law degree is generally suitable for professionals who wish to engage in legal proceedings or concepts in their day-to-day role and advance their career. Although the programs of each degree focus on legal practice, the LL.B. is academic in nature. The recipient of an LL.B.

Depending on the country, additional accreditation may be required prior to admission to practice. This may not apply in countries where the LL.B. as a postgraduate degree. In such cases, LL.B. and J.D. may be treated equally. To be eligible for a doctoral program in legal sciences, an individual must hold a Doctor of Laws or Master of Laws degree. Some law schools have a preference for the type of degree a person has before entering the program. Most programs expect an individual to submit their thesis proposals when applying. Most people who apply to these programs have several years of experience as lawyers. Although the J.D.

degree is technically a PhD, recipients are not referred to as “Dr.” This is reserved for a more advanced law degree, for example, a doctorate in law or a doctorate in law. An eligible law degree for admission to the Australian Bar is either the Bachelor of Laws at accredited higher education institutions recognised by the admissions authority of the respective country, or the J.D. (Juris Doctor) graduate. Each recognised qualification of each accreditation body shall be mutually recognised. However, before degrees, there was an alternative to the diploma to become a solicitor in Australia, which was either the Barrister`s Admission Board or the Solicitor`s Admission Board, whose licensing examinations, the successor to these councils, which still operates this alternative, is the Legal Profession Admission Board, which awards the various degrees in law. either an LL.B. or JD Law degree typically lasts 4 years for admission to undergraduate studies or 3 years for university graduates. Program Outcomes: SJD graduates typically pursue careers such as law professor or lawyer. LLB Programs An LLB or Bachelor of Laws is the professional law degree awarded at the end of the basic training. In most countries, possession of an LLB with additional accreditation allows the practice of law. LLB programs provide students with a solid understanding of the law as well as the critical, analytical, and strategic thinking skills required for the field of law.

In most civil cases, if a reasonable person had acted more carefully than the defendant, the defendant probably failed in his duty. However, the majority of states rely on multifactor analysis to determine whether a tariff exists. While states have different factors, most include: Some states have laws or rules that specifically define the steps required as part of a duty of care. A state may have a law or regulation that sets out the actions that must be taken by specific individuals or companies. For example, states have regulations that explosives manufacturers must follow to protect the community. The deep-rooted tradition of duty in Asian and Latin American cultures contributes in large part to the strong sense of duty that exists in relation to Western cultures. Michael Peletz discusses the concept of duty in his book Gender, Sexuality, and Body Politics in Modern Asia: In some states, predictability is the only test required to create due diligence. This means that if a jury finds that the actor acted negligently, if the damage was foreseeable. So, for example, it is foreseeable that the decision to drive drunk will result in a car accident – the person who decided to drive drunk was negligent. You may not be able to prove exactly what happened. Maybe the company didn`t maintain its generators, or maybe it set the controls incorrectly, or maybe it used a flamethrower on your wine. No matter what actually happened, they had a duty to keep your wine safe, and the condition of your wine speaks for itself.

A duty of care exists only if there is a relationship that justifies it. Your doctor has no duty of care to help you manage your finances. Your accountant has no duty of care to ensure that you receive treatment for your chronic condition. Since each state has its own laws on dereliction of duty and negligence, there are different standards and interpretations. An objection to a breach of duty is that there was no obligation. The defendant was not in a position to owe a duty of care to the plaintiff and is not liable for damages. A trustee, such as an executor or trustee, who has a position of trust with a third party, has an obligation to provide services, provide care or perform certain actions on their behalf. n.

responsibility to others to act in accordance with the law. Proof of the obligation (for example, not being negligent, ensuring the safety of the premises or driving within speed limits) and subsequent proof that the obligation was breached are necessary elements of any claim for damages based on negligence or intentional harm. Simply put, a duty is a legal obligation to do or not to do something. For example, you have a duty to pay your taxes, not to steal. Failure to comply with these obligations will result in a criminal offence. In other situations, breach of duty can cause harm to someone else, such as in a car accident. This is called neglect. When you make plans or promise to do something, you can see it as a duty you have. However, from a legal point of view, it is not a breach of duty not to show up for dinner or forget to mow the lawn. So far, we have discussed cases of negligence. Cases of negligence include personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and other types of civil matters, but there are other cases that may involve a breach of duty: strict liability.

Strict liability is the breach of an absolute obligation to make something safe. A breach of duty exists if there is a duty of care and it has not been complied with. Breaches of duty are an important element in cases of negligence. An arranged marriage is an example of duty expected in Asia and the Middle East. In a marriage arranged in terms of duty, the wife is expected to move in with the husband`s family and household to raise her children. Patrilocal residence is common; It is rare for the man to move in with the woman or for the couple to be allowed to start their own household and life elsewhere. You have to take care of the whole family at work and take care of the farms and the family. Older generations rely heavily on the help of their children`s and grandchildren`s families.

This form of duty is a response to keeping the lineage of a family intact and meeting the needs of seniors. The duty of care in personal injury law is easy to summarize – you have a duty not to harm others: proving that someone has breached their duty of care is a three-step process. The first step is to establish the duty of care for the specific act at issue in the case. This can be done through expert opinions or other evidence. The second step is simply to establish the facts. Once the facts are known, the third step is simply to argue to the investigator (jury or judge) that the actions taken in this case do not meet the standard of care set out in the evidence. This guide explains what a breach of duty is and how it is applied in cases of negligence. All legal proceedings depend on the details of the facts surrounding the case itself. However, it can sometimes be easy to prove a breach of duty because of a doctrine called res ipsa loquitur. Literally translated as “the thing speaks for itself,” this doctrine applies to situations where the only explanation for something happening is that a duty has been violated. An obligation (from “due” means “what is owed”; Old French: deu, did, past participle of duty; Latin: debere, debitum, hence “debt”) is an obligation or expectation to perform an action in general or when certain circumstances occur.

A duty may arise from a system of ethics or morality, especially in a culture of honor. Many obligations are created by law, sometimes including a codified penalty or liability for non-performance. Fulfilling one`s duty may require a certain sacrifice of self-interest. In most cultures, children are expected to take on responsibilities related to their families. This can take the form of behaviour that preserves the family`s honour in the eyes of the community, through arranged marriages that benefit the status of the family, or by caring for sick relatives. This family-oriented sense of duty is a particularly central aspect of Confucius` teachings and is called xiao or filial piety. As such, the duties of filial piety have played an enormous role in the lives of the peoples of East Asia for centuries.

To get positive approval, instead of waiting for a partner to say “no,” you give and look for an explicit “yes.” This can take the form of a smile, a nod or a verbal yes, as long as it is clear, enthusiastic and continuous. “There`s a different language, but the language goes to the heart of people who need to communicate their affirmation in order to participate in sexual behavior,” said Denice Labertew of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault. [27] “This requires a fundamental change in the way we think about sexual assault. This forces us to say that women and men should get along with each other and actively participate in sexual behaviour. [27] Social scientists generally require informed consent from research participants before asking interview questions or conducting an experiment. Federal law governs social science research involving human subjects and requires institutional review boards (IRBs) of universities, federal or state agencies, and tribal organizations to oversee social science research involving human subjects and make decisions about whether or not informed consent is required for a social science study to proceed. In this context, informed consent generally means explaining the purpose of the study to research participants and obtaining signed or verbal confirmation that study participants understand the procedures to be followed and consent to participate in the study. [12]:51–55 While legal definitions of consent may vary depending on place and circumstances, the general concept is always the same: consent is an ongoing process of discussing boundaries and what you feel comfortable with. Let`s be specific about the effects of consent in real life. In the literature, [vague] definitions of consent and how it should be communicated have been contradictory, limited or without consensus.

[15] [16] Roffee argued that the legal definition must be universal to avoid confusion in legal decisions. It also showed that the moral concept of consent does not always coincide with the concept of law. For example, some adult siblings or other family members may voluntarily enter into a relationship, but the legal system still considers this an incestuary and therefore a crime. [21] Roffee submits that the use of certain language in the legislation regarding these family sexual activities manipulates the reader into considering them immoral and criminal, even if all parties agree. [22] Similarly, some children under the legal age of consent may knowingly and voluntarily choose to have sex. However, the law does not consider this legitimate. Although an age of consent is required, it does not allow for different levels of consciousness and maturity. This shows how moral understanding and legal understanding do not always coincide.

[23] Someone who has not yet reached the legal age of consent as defined by the state You can withdraw your consent at any time if you are not feeling well. One way to do this is to clearly communicate to your partner that you are no longer comfortable with this activity and want to stop. Withdrawing consent can sometimes be difficult or difficult verbally, so nonverbal cues can also be used to convey this. The best way to ensure that all parties are satisfied with the sexual activity is to talk about it, check in regularly, and make sure everyone involved agrees before escalating or changing the activities. The BBC has also produced 2 interesting radio documentaries entitled The New Age of Consent, which show how today`s young people experience approval or lack of approval in practice. Both contracting parties must give their voluntary consent. If there are certain errors, or if one party attempts to deceive or pressure the other party, consent will not be considered voluntary or genuine. United Nations organizations and initiatives for sexuality education programmes believe that teaching consent as part of comprehensive sexuality education is beneficial. [2] Types of consent include implied consent, express consent, informed consent and unanimous consent. The legislation expanded the traditional definition of rape to include all gender identities and criminalized “a person (A) entering the vagina with his penis, [but now also the anus or mouth of another person (B), intentionally or recklessly, without that person`s consent and without a reasonable belief that B consents.” This link provides good advice from the PSHE Association on consent based on advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

With consent, it is presumed that you have the physical capacity to act. To obtain consent, a party must not be influenced by outside forces. These circumstances will eliminate consent in a contract: The concept of end-user consent plays an important role in digital regulations such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). [4] The GDPR (Article 6) sets out different legal bases for the lawful processing of personal data. End-user consent is only one of these possible bases. However, due to the application of the GDPR (in 2018) and other legal obligations, data controllers (online service providers) have developed many consent mechanisms in recent years. [4] According to the GDPR, end-user consent must be valid, voluntary, specific, informed and active. [4] But the lack of applicability in terms of obtaining legal consent has been a challenge in the digital world. As an example, a 2020 study showed that Big Tech, i.e. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft (GAFAM) use dark models in their consent mechanisms, raising doubts about the legality of the consent obtained. [4] Reversible.

Anyone can change their mind about what they want to do at any time. Even if you`ve done it before, and even if you`re both naked in bed. Some types of social science research, such as psychological experiments, may use deception in the study; In these cases, researchers may not fully describe the procedures to participants, so participants may not be fully informed. However, researchers are required to interview participants immediately after the end of the experiment. Certain groups of the population are considered vulnerable and, in addition to informed consent, they must be given special protection. This includes inmates, pregnant women, people with disabilities and people with developmental disabilities. It is assumed that children are not in a position to give informed consent. [12]:51–55 The age of sexual consent indicates the age a person must be to be legally capable of consenting to sexual relations. Adults who have sex with a person under the age of consent are liable to imprisonment and registration as sex offenders. The age of consent varies by region in the United States and by country.

There may also be other laws that define the age of sexual consent by state. Learn more about your area`s laws on the National Network on Rape, Abuse and Incest (RAINN). Remember, being drunk is not a free pass. If you are drunk and perform a sexual act on another drunk person, you are responsible for your behavior. The person initiating the sexual act is responsible for obtaining consent. Consent is an act of reason and deliberation. A person who possesses and exercises sufficient mental faculties to make an intelligent decision shows his approval by taking an action recommended by another. Consent presupposes physical capacity for action and a thoughtful, determined and unhindered exercise of these forces. This is an act that is not affected by fraud, coercion or sometimes even error, if these factors are not the reason for consent. Consent is implied in every agreement.

Initiatives in sexuality education programs aim to include and highlight topics and discussions about sexual consent in elementary, secondary and college sex education programs. In the UK, the Personal Social Health and Economic Education Association (PSHEA) is working to create and implement sex education lesson plans in UK schools that include lessons on “consensual sex”, “the meaning and importance of consent” and “rape myths”. [24] In the United States, the University of California-Berkeley has introduced positive and consistent endorsement in education and school policy. [25] In Canada, the Ontario government has introduced a revised sex-ed curriculum for Toronto schools, which includes new discussions on sex and positive consent, healthy relationships, and communication. [26] An explicit contract is another common form of contract.

Direct entry into this study program is not possible. To apply for the transition to the Bachelor of Laws (with distinction) (course code 1771), students enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws, four-year direct entry diploma (course code 1777), must have completed at least 124 credits of compulsory law subjects, including 48cp of 100 LLB level subjects and 42cp of 200 LLB level subjects. You must also have achieved a grade point average (WAM) of 70% or higher, based on all LLB core subjects at level 100 and 200. The Faculty of Law will be considered in exceptional cases where students do not achieve this required WAM. Participation must be approved by the school principal in consultation with the LLB Honours Coordinator and the student`s proposed supervisor. The school principal will only approve entry to this course if the LLB Honours Coordinator, the student`s proposed supervisor and the student have agreed on the honours program. “My studies helped me find a professional role at WRP Legal & Advisory by developing transferable skills such as communication, time management and analytical thinking. In addition, the support network between staff and students is excellent and the flexible schedule allows you to create your own personal program of study that fits your life. Various universities in the UK and Australia will provide a degree that combines study with a non-legal discipline. For example, some universities in the UK offer a combined study of law and history, leading to a bachelor`s degree accepted by the Law Society and Inns of Court as equivalent to an LL.B.

The LLB (Hons) consists of 540 credits and includes one student completing the LLB programme and an additional 20-point specialist seminar course (usually as part of their Part III year) and a 40-point thesis in the semester immediately following completion of LLB Part IV. In India, legal education is traditionally offered in the form of a three-year degree conferring the title of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B./B.L.), which requires prospective students to have a bachelor`s degree in any subject from a recognized institution. Studying law is stimulating in itself and knowing how laws are made, legal rights and duties, and how law affects society will help you understand society and your own role in it. Upon completion of your studies, you will have the legal knowledge to understand and apply the law, as well as legal analysis skills. This law degree will be a valuable preparation so that you can gain the knowledge and skills needed for a legal career. You have the option to tailor your studies to obtain a law degree as a university degree, a degree that covers the seven fundamental principles of legal knowledge to become a barrister in England and Wales, solicitor or barrister in Northern Ireland, or take Part 1 of the National Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in England and Wales. Please note that this degree is not suitable for qualifying as a barrister in Scotland. The common law degree program is traditionally a Bachelor of Laws, which is now referred to as JD in almost all Canadian common law schools.

Young Women participants typically have a bachelor`s degree before enrolling in the law program, and a significant number also have a college diploma. However, admission may be granted to applicants holding a two-year undergraduate degree. Unlike in the United States, the J.D. is considered a bachelor`s degree, although it is a “second entry” degree. The common law program lasts three years. After graduation, you have a Bachelor of Laws or a juris doctor, but cannot yet practice as a lawyer. To practice law, the graduate must obtain a licence from the Law Society of the province where they wish to practise law, which also requires one year of articling. Law graduates who wish to become law professors instead of lawyers often receive an advanced university degree, such as the Master of Laws (LL.M.) or Doctor of Laws (LL.D., S.J.D. or D.C.L.).

The objectives of the Honours Bachelor of Laws (LLB (Hons)) programme are a good general and critical legal education; meet the requirements of the Council of Legal Education to ensure that graduates have the right to enter the New Zealand legal profession; Provide students with legal research skills, including the use of electronic databases and research tools, writing and advocacy, both formal and informal. Our brochures will help you choose your course, understand what it`s like to be an OU student, and enroll in the program. An LL.B. is required to practise as a solicitor in New Zealand. An LL.B. typically lasts four years after high school graduation and is often combined with another program of study such as a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) or Bachelor of Arts (BA). Most New Zealand universities allow graduates of other degrees to complete an LL.B. in three years. Six New Zealand universities offer LL.B.