“The Government has lined up three of the highest-paid QCs in the country after deciding to try to force an early High Court hearing with disgruntled Northern Rock shareholders who are suing the Treasury over the nationalisation of the bank, The Times has learnt.”
The Times, 4th June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Practice Statement (House of Lords: Appearance of counsel)
House of Lords
“The House of Lords (Lord Bingham of Cornhill, Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Carswell and Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood) reminded counsel on May 22, 2008, of the rule, which appeared to be less well known than it had been, as to their appearance in the House.”
The Times, 3rd June 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
Practice Statement (House of Lords: Appearance of Counsel); [2008] WLR (D) 175
“Their Lordships wished to remind the Bar of a rule which appeared to be less well known than it was. If counsel were instructed to appear before the highest court in the United Kingdom they were expected to be present at and throughout the hearing.”
WLR Daily, 28th May 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
“Discussion Paper calls for reforms to protect the most vulnerable and the interests of justice.”
The Bar Council, 20th May 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Ministers are preparing a fresh onslaught on barristers’ legal aid fees that will involve a huge cut in their pay rates for family and children’s cases.”
The Times, 19th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Cherie Blair has been ‘petty’ and ‘spiteful’ in her memoirs, making her unsuitable for the judiciary, a former judge said this weekend.”
The Times, 18th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Proposed fee cuts for family law barristers that would bring them in line financially with solicitors will lead to a ‘massive exodus’ of experienced advocates, the Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC) has warned.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 15th May 2008
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Cherie Blair has insisted she will not resign as a judge after a senior barrister said publishing her memoirs had brought the law into disrepute.”
BBC News, 15th May 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today announced the appointment of Mandie Lavin as its new Director.”
Bar Standards Board, 8th May 2008
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
“A convicted drugs offender has escaped a confiscation order for up to £4.5 million of his assets because legal aid barristers would not take on the case for the fixed fee of £175.25 a day.”
The Times, 6th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Criminal Bar Association Conference discusses the impact of forensic technology.”
Th Bar Council, 25th April 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Proposals for amending rules around acceptance of instructions are the focus of a Bar Standards Board (BSB) consultation issued today.”
Bar Standards Board, 28th April 2008
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
” The commercial court of Mr Justice Andrew Smith was stuffed with barristers last Thursday, but one QC was the main focus of attention. The case was the challenge to bank charges that could affect every bank current account holder in Britain. At the original hearing in February, Laurence Rabinowitz represented the Royal Bank of Scotland, one of eight lenders accused of levying unfair overdraft charges. It also fell to him to put the lead argument to the court for all the banks, saying that the alternative would be to charge on every transaction.”
The Times, 29th April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“The ‘cab rank rule’ governing barristers’ acceptance of instructions is under the spotlight again after the Bar Standards Board (BSB) launched a new consultation on proposals to amend the conditions under which counsel can withdraw from a case.”
Legal Week, 28th April 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
“For many of us who work in the criminal courts, Sir Ken Macdonald’s words that we ‘intend to do more for ourselves’ gave greater cause for anxiety about the independence of the prosecution than for applause. Such anxiety was fuelled when on the same day the article was published the case against two men in Lancashire Constabulary’s biggest murder investigation collapsed.”
The Times, 22nd April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Murray Rosen, QC, explains why he traded the serenity of Lincoln’s Inn for the more frenetic pace of Herbert Smith.”
The Times, 21st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Barristers begin an offensive today over plans to allow non-lawyers to conduct magistrates’ courts trials.”
The Times, 21st April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“The Bar Council is carrying out a further consultation on court dress in civil, family and ceremonial proceedings. Click here for a link through to the consultation paper. All members of the Bar and interested third parties are welcome to comment and all completed consultation papers should be sent to janbye@barcouncil.org.uk or by post to Jan Bye at 289-293 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HZ no later than 4.00pm on 19 April 2008.”
The Report and Supplementary Report on the first consultation exercise (Word)
The Bar Council, 14th April 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Michael Mansfield has been just where he likes to be throughout the six month inquest – in the centre of the spotlight. Stephen Bates reviews his latest courtroom performance.”
The Guardian, 8th April 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has launched a consultation to assess the effectiveness of arrangements for public access to barristers’ services.”
Bar Standards Board, 3rd April 2008
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
