Impartiality is easy to endorse in the abstract. It becomes demanding only when the evidence leads away from the conclusion one expected to reach. The traditional image of justice offers a way of thinking about that difficulty. A familiar figure appears outside courts across much of the world. She carries scales in one hand and a sword in the other. Often, she is blindfolded. The figure is familiar; what she represents is less well understood. Justitia’s blindfold is the most

Every summer, the same pressures return to narrow coastal roads across Southern Europe. Roads that remain calm and manageable throughout the winter suddenly carry tourists, cyclists, delivery vans, buses, motorcycles and heavy goods vehicles, all competing for space that has not changed, even though demand has. What changes is not the road itself, but the expectations placed upon it. For local residents, the contrast is immediate. During the quieter months, these roads form p

For most people, the statutory pension begins with their first payslip. Pension contributions are deducted automatically each month. Employers contribute alongside their employees, and many self-employed professionals are likewise required to participate in compulsory pension schemes. Over time, those deductions become part of ordinary working life. Few contributors pause to consider the legal relationship they have entered or how that relationship may develop over the course

Organisations invest heavily in technology, compliance, digitalisation and professional development. Yet one of the greatest organisational risks often receives remarkably little attention. It is not the complexity of the law. It is the false certainty that legal concepts have been fully understood. This challenge is frequently associated with international legal communication, where different legal systems naturally employ different terminology and where legal concepts rarel

Many professionals assume that international communication is mainly a language issue. Recent geopolitical tensions have reminded us that shared English does not always mean shared understanding. In legal practice, that distinction matters. Contracts, negotiations, and cross-border conversations are shaped not only by language, but also by tone, expectation, and trust. When those elements do not align, misunderstandings can arise even where the English is fluent and correct.

The correct citation of German legislation in English often gives rise to uncertainty, particularly with regard to the use of the § sign. In Germany and Austria, the symbol § refers to a Paragraph, which represents a statutory provision. This differs from the English understanding of the word paragraph, which generally refers to a distinct section of text. In German legal terminology, what English speakers would usually call a paragraph is referred to as an Absatz. The § sign

Biopiracy remains one of the most debated issues at the intersection of intellectual property, biodiversity and indigenous rights. Broadly speaking, the term refers to the commercial exploitation of biological resources or traditional knowledge without the informed consent of, or fair compensation to, the communities from which those resources originate. The issue frequently arises when plants, genetic resources or traditional practices are utilised for research and commercia

In a world grappling with profound and multifaceted tragedies—such as the humanitarian crises in Gaza, severe restrictions on women's...

The other day, I came across the term "credential stuffing" and became curious about its meaning, so I researched. Credential stuffing is...

Prioritising customer satisfaction is critical for sustainable business success rather than putting customers off. By focusing on...

In today's professional communication, there is a growing trend to use gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language. This suggestion aims...

Hunger can be just as deadly as bombs and bullets in the context of war. The deliberate act of depriving individuals and communities of...

The other day, a good friend brought to my attention a thought-provoking passage from Georg Simmel's speech delivered in Strasbourg in...

Despite the long working hours, translation was a highly respected profession that paid relatively well. Freelance translators have faced...