Deregulating the law profession – The Guardian
“A conference on the future of the bar in England and Wales needs to ensure that those working in law can keep their independence.”
The Guardian, 10th June 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: barristers
Experimental chambers BarFutures set to close – Law Society’s Gazette
“Experimental virtual chambers BarFutures is to close its doors at the end of June after two years because of a ‘lack of appetite for change within the profession’, the Gazette has learned.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 8th June 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Michael Mansfield QC awarded outstanding achievement prize – The Guardian
“The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards honour Michael Mansfield QC and other lawyers who show a commitment to publicly-funded work.”
The Guardian, 4th June 2010
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Bar rules delay blamed for low LDP take-up – Law Society’s Gazette
“The delay in the relaxation of rules preventing barristers from entering law firm partnerships has been blamed for the low take-up of the first wave of new legal business structures.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 27th May 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Opening Remarks at Criminal Bar Association Conference – Speech by The Rt Hon Lord Justice Leveson
“Opening Remarks at Criminal Bar Association Conference – Speech by The Rt Hon Lord Justice Leveson, 8th May 2010.”
Judiciary of England and Wales, 18th May 2010
Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk
Bar Standards Board endorses Wood review of pupillage – Bar Standards Board
“The Bar Standards Board has published the report of a major review of pupillage training for the Bar.”
Bar Standards Board, 19th May 2010
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
BSB publishes Preliminary Strategy 2010-2012 and Business Plan 2010 – Bar Standards Board
“The BSB has today published its Preliminary Strategy 2010-2012 and Business Plan 2010. The document is the culmination of a significant amount of thinking and planning. It also shows the huge amount of work completed and about to be undertaken.”
Bar Standards Board, 18th May 2010
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Podcast Inside Track: Nicholas Green QC – Chairman of the Bar on the future of the legal profession – Charon QC
“Nicholas Green QC outlines his vision for the future of the Bar, his optimism that it will continue to develop and grow and his belief in the need for it to become more commercial, while holding on to the highest professional standards. He discusses the impact of the Legal Services Act, including the ability of barristers to go into partnership with solicitors, the issue of direct access to the Bar plus the increasing flexibility of career routes into the profession.”
Charon QC, 17th May 2010
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of insitelaw newswire.
Guidance to Advocates – Advocates Graduated Fees Reduction of 4.5% – The Bar Council
“The first tranche of 4.5% cuts to the Criminal legal aid took effect from the 27th April 2010. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have today informed the Bar Council that the Courts computer software will not be updated and accordingly, there will be a different claims process.”
Guidance to Advocates – Advocates Graduated Fees Reduction of 4.5% (Word)
The Bar Council, 14th May 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Barristers could have right to sue solicitors for unpaid fees – Law Society’s Gazette
Posted May 6th, 2010 in barristers, contracts, fees, Law Society, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally
“Barristers would be able to sue solicitors for unpaid fees under proposals published by the Bar Council last week to put the relationship between the two professions on a more commercial footing.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 6th May 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
General counsel ‘bypass law firms’ and go directly to the bar – Law Society’s Gazette
Posted April 29th, 2010 in barristers, law firms, legal profession, news, reports, solicitors by sally
“General counsel are increasingly bypassing law firms to go directly to the bar for legal advice, according to a report published today.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 29th April 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Bar Council begins consultation on modernising terms of instructions from solicitors – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council, the Approved Regulator for barristers in England and Wales, has begun a three-month consultation on new terms of engagement of barristers for solicitors. The move comes as the profession looks to update the current basis on which barristers take instructions from solicitors, which is viewed as outdated and unsatisfactory. The new terms, drawn up by the Bar Council’s Implementation Committee, are intended to be transparent and enforceable, and to provide more protection to barristers (particularly young barristers) in countering unacceptable delays in payments. The consultation is being carried out with members of the Bar and a number of interested bodies, including the Approved Regulators of lawyers practising in England and Wales.”
The Bar Council, 29th April 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
What the legal services reforms could mean for how bar does business – Law Society’s Gazette
“The Legal Services Act, in combination with changes to the bar’s Code of Conduct agreed last month by the Bar Standards Board, herald a historic sea change for the bar. They give barristers the opportunity to practise in new ways that could radically change the relationship they have with solicitors.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 29th April 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Bar Council Chairman Calls for Bar’s Voice to be Heard on Cuts – The Bar Council
“The Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has reacted angrily to the deep cuts to publicly funded criminal barristers’ fees, which come into force today. From today, barristers’ fixed fees for criminal defence will be cut by a total of 13.5% over the next 3 years starting with an immediate cut of 4.5%. These cuts are contained in legislation rushed through Parliament by the Ministry of Justice the day after the Easter break, the same day the election was announced.”
The Bar Council, 27th April 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Bar Council launches ‘ProcureCo’ model as Bar looks to evolve business structures – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council of England and Wales, has launched a model for new business structures for the Bar, dubbed ‘ProcureCo’. This follows historic rule changes made by the Bar’s independent regulatory arm, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which gave barristers the ability to provide their services in different ways and to structure themselves in ways which had previously been prohibited.”
The Bar Council, 26th April 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Election 2010 – The Bar Council
“This note summarises the key points in the manifestos of the three main political parties which may be of interest to the Bar. It is intended that this should be non-partisan and the Bar Council as an organisation is not aligning itself to any particular political party.”
The Bar Council, 23rd April 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
BSB launches survey on the future of the profession – Bar Standards Board
Posted April 20th, 2010 in barristers, consultations, legal profession, legal services, news by sally
“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) today (16 April) launched a survey of the profession on opinions and expectations in relation to the new business structures permitted under the Legal Services Act 2007. The BSB has teamed up with leading market research group YouGov to create and administer the survey, which all barristers, clerks and practice managers will be invited to complete.”
Bar Standards Board, 16th April 2010
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Next Step in the Bar Council’s Judicial Review on Legal Aid – The Bar Council
“The Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association have today issued a joint response to the Ministry of Justice Consultation ‘Legal Aid: Reforming Advocates Graduated Fees’.”
The Bar Council, 9th April 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Bar Council and CBA express outrage over legal aid cuts – The Bar Council
“The Chairman of the Bar Council and the Chairman of the CBA have written an open letter to the profession in response to the MoJ’s announcement of cuts to criminal legal aid fees.”
The Bar Council, 9th April 2010
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
Firms face bar competition after conduct rules relaxed – Law Society’s Gazette
“Changes to the barristers’ code of conduct that enable them to undertake work that was previously only open to solicitors will increase competition but give law firms the opportunity to pick up ‘talent from the bar’, according to consultants.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 9th April 2010
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
