The Hindu Business Line : <i>Ignorantia juris non excusat</i>

A fit offering for the purpose is from Oxford University Press (www.oup.com), A Dictionary of Law, billed as "the most up to date paperback dictionary of law available" and aimed at "those without a qualification in law who nevertheless require some legal knowledge in the course of their work."

Elizabeth A. Martin, editor of the work, informs in her preface: "Written in concise English, without the unnecessary use of legal jargon, the book will also be considerable value to members of the public who come into contact with the law and lawyers — house buyers, motorists, and hire purchasers are among those who cannot escape the effects of legislation or the unique prose style in which it is usually expressed."

Let me begin with `armchair principle', a rule applied in the interpretation of wills. "The phrase originates from a well-known judicial observation that one may, when construing a will, place oneself in the testator's armchair and consider the circumstances by which he was surrounded when he made his will." That should help the Ambanis and Birlas.

Do you know that Calvo clause is what parties used to agree to in a contract "to rely exclusively on domestic remedies in the event of a dispute"?

This is no longer in vogue, informs the dictionary. Catching or unconscionable bargain is a contract on very unfair terms; and casus belli is an event giving rise to war.

What is `dawn raid'? It is an offer by a person to buy a substantial quantity of shares in a public company at above the market value, explains the dictionary; the offer may remain open for a few hours, and smaller shareholders may have little opportunity to avail themselves of the offer.

For 4,000 more entries, hope you know where to search. Because a professional is valued not only for what he knows but also for knowing where to look for to fill up knowledge gaps.

Corruption does not wear a nametag

Corruption occurs when one person seeks personal gain by taking unfair and hidden advantage of someone else's position, defines Godfrey Harris in Corruption: How to deal with its impact on business and society, from Viva (www.vivagroupindia.com).

"Corruption does not wear a name tag and has no home address," writes Harris, because the evil is so pervasive that we know it when we see or hear about it. "Corruption operates quietly below the visible spectrum. More often than not, victims suffer from it long before they realise that they have been damaged." That explains why, when scams surface, we hear stories going back to several decades.

Harris discusses case studies in corruption, classified under six heads, viz. charitable organisations, individuals, business, sports, academia, and government. These include Survival International's `dubious' protest against DeBeers, Brett Keeton who corrupted Bingo game, Nigerian 4-1-9 caper that has a way of reinventing itself all the time, and the secret retirement package of Jack Welch that spilled out in the course of divorce proceedings.

Another part of the book deals with situations and offers solutions, where there are inconvenient questions such as, "Is it an act of corruption to emphasise the positive aspects of a product or service while ignoring its negative features?"

Harris concludes with the observation that breaking rules that are almost sure to go undetected is the most dangerous corruption. "The big corruption that makes major headlines is far less harmful to society than the relatively small, seemingly victimless cheat whose cumulative impact on society can be severe."

Useful read.

Content is at the core of presentation

To make its continuing professional education programmes successful, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India may have to focus on the effectiveness of Presenting at Conferences, Seminars & Meetings. And Kerry Shephard's book from Sage (www.sagepublications.com) may just fit the bill. "Going to a conference or seminar and giving a poor presentation is a little like writing a research grant application and then putting it in the bin instead of in the mail," writes Shephard in his preface. For participants, however, dismal presentations may justify a cool doze, with CPE credit guaranteed.

What makes some presentations good? Five things Shephard would list are content, structure, self-presentation, interaction and audio-visuals.

Content lies at the core, he'd emphasise; this is also the easiest thing for a presenter to change or adapt. "Audiences tend to appreciate content that matches the presentation's title and delivered at a pace and level to suit the audience."

Structure can be varied, but your presentation should give indication of the major subdivisions and other details such as how long it is likely to last, advises the author.

Essential read.

BooksOfAccount@TheHindu.co.in

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