Category: barristers

Swine Flu – Bar Council Advice – The Bar Council

Posted August 11th, 2009 in barristers, news by sally

“As the Bar’s Code of Conduct provides that a barrister may not withdraw from a case in such a way or in such circumstances that the client may be unable to find other legal assistance in time to prevent prejudice being suffered by the client, all barristers are advised that if they have swine flu they should tell their instructing solicitors immediately with a view to making an application for an adjournment of any impending hearing or alternatively to make arrangements for the appointment of another counsel.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 10th August 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Trainee barristers are being offered annual salary on a par with MPs – The Times

Posted August 6th, 2009 in barristers, news, remuneration by sally

“Aspiring lawyers are now being offered as much as £60,000 a year, almost the same as an MP’s salary, before they even qualify.”

Full story

The Times, 6th August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Chambers – BBC Radio 4

Posted July 30th, 2009 in barristers, legal services, news by sally

“Second of two programmes which go behind the elegant facades of legal London to meet the barristers, clerks and staff of Outer Temple Chambers, one of London’s leading law chambers.”

Listen again

BBC Radio 4, 28th July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Please note this programme will only be available for 7 days after the broadcast date.

Solicitors and barristers in deal on advocacy pay – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 24th, 2009 in barristers, family courts, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“Solicitors and barristers reached an agreement this week that would see both sides of the profession paid the same amount for advocacy work in family cases.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd July 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chairman of the Bar Reiterates Commitment to ‘One Bar’ – The Bar Council

Posted July 24th, 2009 in barristers, press releases by sally

“Desmond Browne QC, the Chairman of the Bar, and Baroness Deech, the Chair of the Bar Standards Board, addressed barristers at a half-day Conference for the Employed Bar hosted by the Employed Barristers’ Committee.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 22nd July 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Ready to Redouble Efforts on Social Mobility – The Bar Council

Posted July 24th, 2009 in barristers, press releases by sally

“The Bar is ready to redouble its efforts to promote fair access to the profession, Bar Council Chairman, Desmond Browne QC said today.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 20th July 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar flies in the face of the recession with turnover hikes across the board – The Lawyer

Posted July 22nd, 2009 in barristers, news, remuneration by sally

“The bar appears to be on the brink of a boom period, despite leading litigators warning that the anticipated litigation tsunami has failed to materialise.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 20th July 2009

Source: www.thelawyer.com

The instruction of prosecution advocates in the Crown Court and payment of counsel by the CPS – HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate

Posted July 17th, 2009 in advocacy, barristers, Crown Court, Crown Prosecution Service, press releases by sally

“Inspectors assessed internal and external prosecuting advocates in the Crown Court. Two-thirds were fully competent, including some very good. A quarter of advocates were lacklustre. Only 7.9% were less than competent, including some very poor.”

Full press release

HMcpsi, 16th July 2009

Source: www.hmcpsi.gov.uk

A third of all prosecution advocates ‘lacklustre’ or poor, inspection says – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2009 in advocacy, barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news by sally

“A third of all prosecution advocates are ‘lacklustre’ or ‘less than competent’ according to a review carried out by the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate published today.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th July 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar at ‘rock bottom’, declares Browne – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 10th, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“The morale of the publicly funded bar is at ‘rock bottom’ and careers advisers are telling would-be barristers to steer clear of legal aid, according to the bar’s chief.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th July 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Solicitors take advantage of LDP rules while the bar still lags behind – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 6th, 2009 in barristers, law firms, legal disciplinary practices, news by sally

“Three months after Legal Services Act 2007 reforms took effect, solicitors have gained the ‘upper hand’ over the bar, with 61 firms becoming legal disciplinary practices (LDPs).”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB committed to quality when considering new legal structures – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 6th, 2009 in barristers, legal profession, press releases by sally

“The Chair of the Bar Standards Board, Baroness Ruth Deech, talks today of the need to take a scrupulous approach when considering barristers’ involvement in new legal structures.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 3rd July 2009

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar Council Launches Booklet on Legal Aid – The Bar Council

Posted June 24th, 2009 in barristers, legal aid, news by sally

“The Bar Council today publishes a booklet marking the 60th anniversary of the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949. The booklet, Legal Aid: 60 Years of Public Service by Barristers, which will be launched at the Chairman of the Bar’s Media Reception at Middle Temple this evening, sets out the history of legal aid since 1949 and describes how barristers funded by legal aid have acted for some of society’s most vulnerable over the past 60 years.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 23rd June 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Angry defendant “threw acid at lawyers” – Reuters

Posted June 24th, 2009 in assault, barristers, grievous bodily harm, news by sally

“A female barrister screamed in pain as acid was thrown at her after a man had his case dismissed, a jury heard on Tuesday.”

Full story

Reuters, 23rd June 2009

Source: www.reuters.com

Bar Council Publishes Annual Report – The Bar Council

Posted June 16th, 2009 in accounts, barristers, news by sally

“The Bar Council has today (13 June) published its Annual Report and Accounts, setting out its achievements and financial data for 2008.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 13th June 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Cherie Booth turns mediator to cut legal costs for companies – The Times

Posted June 9th, 2009 in barristers, costs, dispute resolution, news by sally

“Cherie Booth, QC, and Lord Woolf, the former Lord Chief Justice, will spearhead a new scheme today aimed at saving big companies millions of pounds in legal costs by settling disputes out of court.”

Full story

The Times, 9th June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Napier and Another v Pressdram Ltd – Times Law Report

Posted June 2nd, 2009 in barristers, confidentiality, law reports, solicitors by sally

Napier and Another v Pressdram Ltd

Court of Appeal

“A barrister who made a complaint against his solicitor to his professional body owed no duty of confidentiality to the solicitor or his firm not to reveal to others the result of the adjudication against the solicitor where the subject matter underlying the adjudication was nothing private to the solicitor.”

The Times, 2nd June 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Bar Chairman Urges Closer Co-Operation Between Employed and Self-Employed Bar – The Bar Council

Posted May 11th, 2009 in barristers, news, press releases by sally

“Greater co-operation between employed and self-employed barristers in difficult economic circumstances, including an increase in the number of barristers trained by commercial bodies, has been urged by the Chairman of the Bar, Desmond Browne QC.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 8th May 2009

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Standard Board’s Chambers Monitoring Pilot Scheme declared a success – Bar Standards Board

Posted May 1st, 2009 in barristers, press releases, professional conduct by sally

“The Bar Standards Board today publishes its final report on a pilot scheme to monitor Chambers’ compliance with the Code of Conduct.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 30th April 2009

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Important changes to the Bar’s complaints and disciplinary system – Bar Standards Board

Posted April 3rd, 2009 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, press releases by sally

“The Bar Standards Board is pleased to announce that, following a review of the complaints and disciplinary system, new improvements to the system have been introduced.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 31st March 2009

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk