Law interview problems

A library's rule says: 'No food or drink in the reading room.' Which of these break the rule? A bottle of water. Chewing gum. Glucose tablets a reader with diabetes needs. A sealed sandwich in a bag.

Suppose theft is defined as 'dishonestly taking property belonging to another, intending to deprive them of it permanently'. Is each of these theft? You borrow a neighbour's ladder without asking, meaning to return it the next day, and do. You take a library book without checking it out, meaning to return it after your exams. You take a friend's concert ticket, use it, and give the used ticket back.

A shop's window shows a television labelled £20. It is a mistake: it should say £2,000. You go in and ask to buy it at £20. Should the shop have to sell it to you? Give reasons each way.

You walk past a lake and see a stranger drowning. A lifebuoy hangs right beside you. Should the law make it a crime not to throw it?

Suppose a simple rule says a will is valid only if 'signed by the person making it', and consider only that rule. Which of these should count? Ann, whose hand is injured, makes an X. Ben, too ill to write, asks his carer to sign his name while he watches. Cara types her name at the end of an email setting out her wishes.

In an earlier case, a shop was held responsible when a customer tripped on a loose carpet the shop had known about for a week. Now a customer slips on a floor mopped two minutes earlier, with a 'wet floor' sign up. Does the earlier case mean the shop is responsible again?

At what age should a child be held criminally responsible for shoplifting? Should a 12-year-old be treated like an adult?

A law says: 'Anyone who sells alcohol to a person under 18 commits an offence.' A shop sells to a 16-year-old who shows a convincing fake ID saying they are 19. Should the shop be guilty?