A Blog on McConnell Center Life

Kevin Grout, Class of 2016 This summer, I had the privilege to intern in the B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics at The Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C. The Center focused on educational programs and publications pertaining to Constitutionalism, First Principles, and the Makers of American Political Thought. In a class of seventy interns, I worked directly for David Azerrad, the Director of the Simon Center. As a research intern, I found documents and helped form arguments for an upcoming article asking the question, “How much social mobility should we have?” The experience taught me to plan and organize research, identify different arguments, and support my thesis. I then presented all of my research to the Director and answered his questions. Additionally, I retrieved materials from the Library of Congress and online databases. These projects covered a range of topics for the other researchers and staff members in the office. The other mission of th...

Wills in the news: Application of common sense or an opening of the flood gates to uncertainty and litigation? Philip Moore Class of 2016 Trainee solicitor Ben Thorogood ( bpt@silvermansherliker.co.uk ) examines the recent judgment by the Supreme Court ( Marley v Rawlings) giving courts and extended power to rectify wills, which for certain reasons are ineffective or invalid. Additional research by Philip Moore. Traditionally, in order to be valid, a will must comply with the fundamental requirements set out in section 9 of the Wills Act 1837; specifically it must: a. be in writing; b. be signed by the testator; c. appear that the testator intended his signature to give effect to the will; d. be witnessed in the correct manner. The background to Marley v. Rawlings is as follows : In May 1999, Mr Rawlings and Mrs Rawlings, husband and wife, decided to execute mirror wills leaving their entire estates to each other. ...