“A wide-ranging review of the bar’s complaints-handling process has called for the implementation of 52 recommendations in a bid to address significant weaknesses in the current system.”
The Lawyer, 3rd July 2007
Source: www.thelawyer.com
“The Bar Council is joining forces with the Social Mobility Foundation to offer a placement scheme for 27 students from disadvantaged backgrounds later this month.”
Bar Council press release, 2nd July 2007
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“It often surprises people to learn that the Bar’s Code of Conduct only came into existence in 1981. The first edition looks very restrictive, with passages specifying acceptable alternative occupations for barristers; detailed rules about where chambers could be established; and rules setting out what was permissable to put on a business card.”
Legal Week, 28th June 2007
Source: www.legalweek.com
Counsel’s duty on judge’s omissions
In re S (Omission from judgment: Duty of counsel)
Court of Appeal
“Counsel had a duty to point out to a judge any omissions in his judgment so that the matter could be dealt with there and then. It was not appropriate to rely on the alleged omission to seek leave to appeal.”
The Times, 2nd July 2007
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.
“A breakdown of the ten highest paid criminal and civil barristers and solicitor firms from the criminal defence service and the community legal service. The information covers 2005 and 2006. A section on frequently asked questions about legal aid fees is also included in the document.”
Highest paid barristers and solicitors firms in legal aid 2005/06 (PDF)
Ministry of Justice, 25th June 2007
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has decided against explicitly restricting the extent to which barristers can offer hospitality to solicitors and clients.”
The Lawyer, 25th June 2007
Source: www.thelawyer.com
“A lawyer from Birmingham has become the most highly paid legal aid barrister in the country after pulling in more than £1.1m last year.”
The Guardian, 26th June 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) should not regulate legal disciplinary practices (LDPs) when the Legal Services Bill is enacted, the chairman of the Bar Council has told the Gazette.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Four barristers specialising in children’s cases each received more than £400,000 in civil legal aid fees last year, the Ministry of Justice said yesterday.”
Daily Telegraph, 22nd Juned 2007
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
“In a hard-hitting briefing sent to key MPs this week, the Bar Council has defended its record on complaints handling. As the Legal Services Bill moves through Committee Stage, the Government is proposing a ‘one size fits all’ approach to complaints handling, reversing amendments introduced in the House of Lords. But the vast majority of complaints are against solicitors – and the overwhelming majority of criticisms about complaints handling are directed against the Law Society rather than the Bar’s independent regulator, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which has consistently provided an efficient and effective service, according to the independent Legal Services Ombudsman.”
Bar Council press release, 21st June 2007
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Plans to introduce price-based competitive tendering and a single fee to cover litigators’ and advocates’ work in legal aid cases are to come under scrutiny from an expert group set up by the Bar Council.”
Bar Council press release, 19th June 2007
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Barristers in England and Wales are governed by antiquated rules. Now, writes Robert Verkaik, Law Editor, they have a chance to rewrite their code of conduct.”
The Independent, 20th June 2007
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Lavish parties, trips to the races and seats at Wimbledon have become common ploys by barristers seeking to woo solicitors and companies into giving them briefs, a report has found.”
The Times, 18th June 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Four senior mediators have launched a dispute resolution chambers as the battle to capture work outside of the courtroom continues.”
Legal Week, 15th June 2007
Source: www.legalweek.com
“The Bar Council is to consider the use of the term ‘of counsel’ by non-advocate solicitors after barristers expressed concern over its use, the Gazette can reveal.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 14th June 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Blackstone Chambers has found itself at the centre of the BAE Systems controversy with member Lord Woolf set to lead the BAE independent ethics committee while some of Blackstone’s leading barristers lead the legal fight against the defence company.”
The Lawyer, 12th June 2007
Source: www.thelawyer.com
“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has embarked on an ambitious three-year project to rewrite the Bar’s rulebook for the first time.”
Legal Week, 12th June 2007
Source: www.legalweek.com
“There had been concerns that, by allowing those who had completed the Bar Vocational Course to be called to the Bar and to describe themselves as ‘barristers’, the public might be misled as to who is a fully qualified practitioner. But in a report on its provisional conclusions on deferral of call, published today after a year-long consultation and research exercise, the Board says “deferring call to the Bar until after pupillage would not be an appropriate response to the risk which it is intended to address”.”
Bar Standards Board press release, 8th June 2007
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
“Limiting student numbers on the bar vocational course (BVC) and requiring students to have a 2:1 will not improve quality or diversity among barristers, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has warned.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 7th June 2007
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Imagine a system in which everyone who passes the Bar exams is guaranteed a job as a barrister. That would be a drastic change: nobody can practise at the English Bar without first spending time in chambers as a pupil, and there are pupillages available for only between a third and a quarter of those students who get through the Bar’s compulsory vocational course.”
Daily Telegraph, 7th June 2007
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
