Bar Council and Criminal Bar Association Brief Peers on Provisions Contained with the Coroners and Justice Bill – The Bar Council

Posted October 21st, 2009 in barristers, coroners, inquests, news by sally

“The Bar Council and the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) have sent a briefing paper to members of the House of Lords, bringing to their attention their continued concerns about some aspects of the Coroners and Justice Bill. The Bill, which will enter Report Stage in the House of Lords today, addresses a broad range of provisions within the criminal justice system, including the inquest system; clarifying the law on encouraging and assisting suicide; special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses; the introduction of a Sentencing Council; and an enabling provision to regulate Damages Based Agreements (DBAs) through statutory instrument. The briefing paper, sent to members of the House of Lords as they return for the final few weeks of the 2008-9 parliamentary session, sets out the views of the Bar Council and CBA on these issues, which remain a concern to both organisations.”

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The Bar Council, 21st October 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Barrister claims her ‘boss’ and his lover cost her £7 million earnings – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 16th, 2009 in barristers, news, race discrimination by sally

“Dr Aisha Bijlani described to an employment tribunal a ‘racist’ culture which operated behind the respectable façade of the award winning Four New Square Chambers where she had worked for 16 years.”

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Daily Telegraph, 16th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Which side of the legal divide suits you best – being a solicitor or a barrister? – The Independent

Posted October 14th, 2009 in barristers, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“To decide what type of legal eagle to become, you need to judge your own personal skills.”

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The Independent, 14th October 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Elections for the 2010 Bar Council – The Bar Council

Posted October 9th, 2009 in barristers, news by sally

“Nominations for election to the 2010 Bar Council are now open. All practitioners, both employed and self-employed, are encouraged to consider standing for election. If you are interested in putting your name forward, please complete the attached form and send it to the Executive Assistant to the Chairman by 5pm on Wednesday 21 October.”

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The Bar Council, 8th October 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Big Brother culture attacked by country’s top barrister – Daily Telegraph

Posted October 8th, 2009 in barristers, closed circuit television, investigatory powers, news, privacy by sally

“The ‘Big Brother’ culture is on the march across Britain, allowing the state to snoop on phone calls, emails and even walking the dog, the country’s top barrister, Desmond Browne QC, has warned.”

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Daily Telegraph, 8th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

BSB announces decision making framework for new legal structures – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 7th, 2009 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, press releases by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today announced a timetable and decision making framework in relation to its decisions on barristers’ future involvement in new legal structures.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 2nd October 2009

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Very Important Information for Barristers: Changes to Rules Governing Practising Certificates and Administration of Oaths – The Bar Council

Posted October 7th, 2009 in barristers, oaths, press releases by sally

“Changes Consequent upon the Introduction of the Legal Services Act (LSA) 2007.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 5th October 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

National bar leaders rally in defence of legal aid – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 1st, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“More than 50 bar leaders from around the world have issued a communiqué in support of access to justice, urging governments to fulfil their duty to provide adequate legal aid funding.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 1st October 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar urges halt on contingency fees reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 28th, 2009 in barristers, fees, news by sally

“The Bar Council has urged the government to halt plans to regulate contingency fees, to allow time for greater public debate.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 28th September 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barristers and the Legal Services Act: will the bar modernise in time? Does it even need to? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 24th, 2009 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

“It is almost five years since Sir David Clementi rocked the legal establishment with his report on the regulatory framework for legal services. Since then, debate on the product of that report – the Legal Services Act 2007 – and the impact on the profession of new legal disciplinary partnerships and alternative business structures has been extensive.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 24th September 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council Urges Profession to ‘Address Its Future’ – The Bar Council

Posted September 23rd, 2009 in barristers, news by sally

“With the extended deadline for comments on 9th October 2009 in view, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Bar, together with the Circuit Leaders, have today written to all members of the Bar urging them to respond to the Bar Standards Board’s recent consultation on the Structure of Self-Employed Practice. The outcome of the BSB’s consultation exercise could have very wide-ranging implications for the self-employed Bar and the business structures in which they practise. The letter urges all barristers to respond to the BSB’s consultation paper, stating that ‘at the heart of this matter are the likely future changes to the way in which barristers practise…it is of the utmost importance that the Bar now addresses its future and engages in the debate on these fundamental and historic issues’.”

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The Bar Council, 22nd September 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Paul Mendel QC, Chairman of the CBA, attacks government on new proposals – The Bar Council

Posted September 7th, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, press releases by sally

“The Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, Paul Mendel QC, has attacked the government’s proposals to reduce fees for criminal defence work in a letter to The Times.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 4th September 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar regulator rapped by Legal Services Board over ABSs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 4th, 2009 in alternative business structures, barristers, news by sally

“The bar’s regulator has been accused of engaging in a ‘sterile debate’ over alternative business structures by oversight body the Legal Services Board.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd September 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Important meeting for all heads of criminal sets on Tuesday 8th September – The Bar Council

Posted September 4th, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, press releases by sally

“The Chairman of the Bar is inviting all heads of criminal chambers to a meeting to discuss the Ministry of Justice’s Consultation Paper published on 20th August 2009 which contains proposals which are potentially very damaging to the publicly funded bar.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 3rd September 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association Calls for a Halt to the Government’s “Cavalier” Legal Aid Cuts – The Bar Council

Posted September 1st, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“The new Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), Paul Mendelle QC, has today called for the Government to re-think its approach towards the publicly-funded Bar.”

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The Bar Council, 1st September 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Standards Board warning over ABSs – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 1st, 2009 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said it would be ‘wrong’ to allow barristers to join alternative business structures (ABSs) without evidence of whether all forms of the new structure are ‘compatible with the regulatory objectives’ of the Legal Services Act 2007, or necessary for the benefit of consumers.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 28th August 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council Statement in Response to Ministry of Justice Consultation on Legal Aid Funding Reforms – The Bar Council

Posted August 21st, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“Desmond Browne QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, commenting on the publication today of the Ministry of Justice consultation ‘Legal Aid: Funding Reforms’ said:

‘It is a total misuse of language for Lord Bach to talk about ‘efficiency savings’. These are cuts in spending, pure and simple, to what is an integral part of the welfare state. It is horrifying that the Ministry can even contemplate such measures during the 60th anniversary of the Legal Aid Act. Cuts on this scale will not merely drive down quality, they will force practitioners out of legal aid work. The Minister knows this has already happened with family legal aid work, as the Bar recently demonstrated with a report from King’s College, London.'”

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The Bar Council, 20th August 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Barristers’ fees slashed in Government squeeze on legal aid bill – The Times

Posted August 21st, 2009 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“Defence barristers face swingeing cuts of up to 25 per cent in their fees under government moves to freeze the £2 billion annual legal aid bill. Payments for some expert witnesses giving their opinions in cases will also fall by up to 20 per cent in an attempt to reduce a £192 million-a-year bill.”

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The Times, 21st August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Legal Services Act 2007 – second consultation on review of the rules – Bar Standards Board

Posted August 19th, 2009 in barristers, consultations, legal services, news by sally

“The BSB has published its second consultation on the review of the rules relating to the structure of self-employed practice.”

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Bar Standards Board, 17th August 2009

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council Urges Caution Over Alternative Business Structures – The Bar Council

Posted August 17th, 2009 in alternative business structures, barristers, news by sally

“The Bar Council has today published its response to the Legal Services Board’s wide-ranging discussion paper on Alternative Business Structures (ABS). The response from its Working Group on ABS reflects the Bar Council’s support for a pragmatic and proportionate approach to the liberalisation of the legal services market, as envisaged by Sir David Clementi in his review of legal services in England and Wales.”

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The Bar Council, 14th August 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk