Bar Council issues warning over Garrick Club membership – Legal Futures

Posted March 28th, 2024 in barristers, clubs, diversity, equality, judiciary, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council said yesterday that membership of the men-only Garrick Club creates “the potential for unfair advantage” when it came to practitioners needing references to become judges.’

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Legal Futures, 28th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

At the heart of the Bar Council is a “commitment to fairness, equality and diversity” says Chair Sam Townend KC – The Bar Council

Posted March 28th, 2024 in barristers, clubs, diversity, equality, judiciary, news, women by tracey

‘In response to the media reports about membership of the Garrick Club, the Bar Council has issued the following statement:
Chair of the Bar Council, Sam Townend KC, said: “At the heart of the Bar Council’s work, as the representative body for all barristers in England and Wales, is a commitment to fairness, equality and diversity. We are proud of the work that the Bar Council does in striving to achieve an inclusive and meritocratic legal profession.”‘

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The Bar Council, 27th March 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Standards Board publishes 2023 annual report on diversity of its workforce and members – Bar Standards Board

Posted March 25th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, statistics by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its annual report, Diversity of the BSB Workforce and Board Members 2023. It follows the publication of the Diversity at the Bar Report 2022, which showed that the Bar continues to become more diverse and more representative of the society that it serves but women and barristers from minoritised ethnic backgrounds remain underrepresented at the most senior levels of the Bar.’

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Bar Standards Board, 20th March 2024

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Prove you will practise here, BSB to tell transferring overseas lawyers – Legal Futures

Posted March 22nd, 2024 in barristers, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board could ask foreign lawyers seeking to be called in England and Wales to prove they intend to practise here, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lady Chief Justice speaks out in support of cab-rank rule – Legal Futures

Posted March 20th, 2024 in barristers, judges, news by sally

‘The Lady Chief Justice yesterday spoke out in support of the cab-rank rule, arguing that without it “law and justice become an arbitrary concept”.’

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Legal Futures, 20th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Increased awards for pupil barristers – but also debts – Legal Futures

Posted March 14th, 2024 in barristers, debts, news, pupillage, remuneration by sally

‘Pupil barristers are receiving increased awards for their work but debt levels are also rising, a survey by the Bar Council has found.’

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Legal Futures, 14th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council warns regulator over plans for chambers – Legal Futures

Posted March 7th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, mergers, news, standards by sally

‘The Bar Council has warned the Bar Standards Board (BSB) not to go too far in its oversight of chambers and said its idea of encouraging smaller sets to merge is “inappropriate”.’

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Legal Futures, 7th March 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Pupillage offers hit new record, exceeding pre-pandemic levels – The Bar Council

Posted February 26th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, news, pupillage, statistics by tracey

‘The number of pupillages offered has hit a new record — exceeding pre-pandemic levels, the Bar Council’s new Pupillage Gateway report published today has shown.’

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The Bar Council, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Barrister “recklessly misled” BSB in applying for practising certificate – Legal Futures

Posted February 23rd, 2024 in barristers, deceit, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by michael

‘A barrister who “recklessly misled” the Bar Standards Board (BSB) into giving him a practising certificate (PC) by falsely stating that he was a door tenant at a set of chambers has been disbarred.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Black women at the Bar: challenges faced and a fairer future – Counsel

‘Bibi Badejo reports from a packed Inns of Court Women’s Alliance event examining the experiences of Black women barristers and imparting crucial advice for Black women navigating the legal profession.’

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Counsel, 19th February 2024

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Civil case over £237m collapse of London Capital & Finance opens – with counsel leaving – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 20th, 2024 in barristers, fees, insolvency, legal representation, news, unfair commercial practices by tracey

‘Counsel for a defendant in a civil case concerning the £237m collapse of mini bond issuer London Capital & Finance excused themselves from court on the first hearing day this morning – stating that there was no prospect of their fees being paid.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barrister and part-time judge convicted of legal aid fraud – Legal Futures

Posted February 16th, 2024 in barristers, costs, fees, fraud, imprisonment, law firms, legal aid, news, sentencing, solicitors by sally

‘A barrister and part-time immigration tribunal judge has become the last of a group of lawyers found guilty of defrauding the Legal Aid Agency by falsely claiming defence legal costs.’

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Legal Futures, 16th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Half of barristers “generally content” with their working lives – Legal Futures

Posted February 7th, 2024 in barristers, mental health, news, statistics by sally

‘Half of barristers feel generally content with their working lives, an increase on the previous time they were surveyed, a report for the Bar Council has found.’

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Legal Futures, 6th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New data on wellbeing at the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted February 6th, 2024 in barristers, mental health, news, reports, statistics by tracey

‘Today the Bar Council has published the Wellbeing at the Bar Report 2024. The data shows some improvements in wellbeing at the Bar.’

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The Bar Council, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

MoJ to press ahead with fixed costs changes amid JR threat – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is pressing ahead with reforms to the fixed recoverable costs (FRC) regime that came into force in October, opening the door to a possible court challenge.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New guidance on generative AI for the Bar – The Bar Council

Posted January 30th, 2024 in artificial intelligence, barristers, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council has issued new guidance for barristers navigating the growing use of ChatGPT, and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language model systems (LLMs).’

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The Bar Council, 30th January 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Women now make up 40% of Bar as diversity trends continue – Legal Futures

Posted January 29th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, statistics, women by sally

‘Long-term trends of improving diversity at the Bar continued last year, with women now making up just over 40% of barristers, Bar Standards Board (BSB) figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 29th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court refuses leave to appeal $11bn arbitration ruling – Legal Futures

Posted January 25th, 2024 in appeals, arbitration, barristers, fraud, news, privilege, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

‘The potential consequences for two lawyers the High Court has referred to their regulators are not reasons to grant leave for an appeal, the judge has ruled after setting aside a $11bn arbitration award against the Republic of Nigeria.’

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Legal Futures, 25th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Deferring point of call will damage diversity and inns, says top KC – Legal Futures

Posted January 23rd, 2024 in barristers, diversity, inns of court, news, pupillage by tracey

‘Delaying the point at which barristers are called to the Bar until after obtaining pupillage risks reducing the diversity and strength of the profession, a former Bar Council chair has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sexual assault victims charged tens of thousands of pounds for court documents – The Independent

‘Domestic abuse and sexual violence victims are being charged up to tens of thousands of pounds to access court scripts after being wrongly advised not to attend court, The Independent has learned.’

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The Independent, 21st January 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk