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Legal Eagle

Miscellaneous

Appeals re: Student Grants
I was accepted for a place at drama school but my local authority refused to give me a discretionary grant. Did I have grounds to appeal against this?

Sexual harassment
How does one prove a case of sexual harassment at work?

Getting Insurance
I experience trouble getting insurance at competitive rates. The companies have prejudiced beliefs about the life I lead. What can I do to accentuate the positive without committing fraud?

Recovering unsolicited material
I sent a tape of my songs to a publisher by recorded post. I rang to demand its return. He denies having received the package. Do I have any redress, bearing in mind my tape was unsolicited?

Health and Safety Regulations
I want to open a fringe club in London, but am concerned about the health and safety requirements. Do the same regulations apply throughout the country?

Non-payment of extras
Can film companies get away without paying walk-ons, just because some members of the public are happy to work for nothing?

Becoming an entertainment lawyer
I am a second year law degree student who would like to use my degree somehow in the entertainment field. How do I achieve this?

Unsolicited mail nuisance
Our production company is unundated with junk mail daily. Our notice requesting no unsolicited mail is ignored. Do we have any comback?

How does the IR35 affect actors/theatre companies?
I am a self-employed actor. Does the new taxation measure IR35 affect me in any way? What if I start a theatre company limited by guarantee?

Parental concern about touring theatre company
I am concerned when my daughter travels miles to audition for a touring theatre company that is not even auditioning in its home town. How can I find out more about it?

'Registration of caution' - will it affect funding?
A relation offered to finance my production. He died and his widow has been presented with a 'registration of caution'. What are the implications of this?

Public liability insurance for amateurs
I am a member of a small amateur group of musicians with about 50 members. Is there any way we can create an insurance package to cover us for public liability insurance?

Misrepresentation of age at auditions
I am a finalists auditioning for a band. The advert said that auditionees should be 16-24 years old but I am not. If selected, could I be sacked?

Criminal Records Bureau
Do amateur dramatic societies have any responsibilities where the Criminal Records Bureau is concerned?

TV contestants' rights
What recourse does a reality TV contestant have if they think their life has been adversely affected by appearing on a show?

Sexual discrimination/exclusion of female members
Why is it permissible for working men's clubs and the likes of The Garrick to refuse women membership or give them restricted rights?

Profit making performances
We are French nationals based in the UK who wish to present performances on stage. The show is intended to be profit-making, what legal guidelines do we need to follow?

Saving charity from the taxman
We are organising a show for the tsunami appeal. How do we safeguard as much of the money raised as possible for the victims, rather than the taxman?

Faulty goods
Our fringe company acquired a video camera. The first time we used it, the machine failed. The retailer refused a refund or replacement, saying that this applied within 28 days of purchase. Do we have any comeback in law?

Pension laws re: performers
I keep hearing the pension laws have changed. Is this good news or bad for performers like me?

Credit rights
We all know how important credits are in programmes and posters, but what are our rights as actors and backstage workers?