Category: barristers

Highest paid barristers and solicitors firms in legal aid 2005/06 – Ministry of Justice

Posted June 26th, 2007 in barristers, law firms, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

“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

Barristers get go-ahead to entertain clients – The Lawyer

Posted June 26th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has decided against explicitly restricting the extent to which barristers can offer hospitality to solicitors and clients.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 25th June 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Barrister gets £1.1m in a year from legal aid – The Guardian

Posted June 26th, 2007 in barristers, legal aid, news, remuneration by sally

“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.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Vos issues BSB warning for legal disciplinary practices – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2007 in barristers, legal disciplinary practices, news, professional conduct by sally

“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.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Top ten barristers receive £4m legal aid – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 22nd, 2007 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“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.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 22nd Juned 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bar Council defends its record on complaints handling – Bar Council

Posted June 21st, 2007 in barristers, complaints, press releases by sally

“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.”

Full story 

Bar Council press release, 21st June 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

High Level Group to Probe Impact on Bar of Competitive Tendering and ‘One Case One Fee’ For Legal Aid Work – Bar Council

Posted June 20th, 2007 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by sally

“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.”

Full story

Bar Council press release, 19th June 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Legal Opinion: A wake-up call for the barristers’ profession – The Independent

Posted June 20th, 2007 in barristers, professional conduct by sally

“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.”

Full story 

The Independent, 20th June 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Barristers find treats bring in briefs – The Times

Posted June 18th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“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.”

Full story

The Times, 18th June 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Four top litigators launch mediation chambers – Legal Week

Posted June 15th, 2007 in barristers, dispute resolution, news by sally

“Four senior mediators have launched a dispute resolution chambers as the battle to capture work outside of the courtroom continues.”

Full story

Legal Week, 15th June 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Bar Council to investigate ‘of counsel’ title use by non-advocate solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 15th, 2007 in barristers, news, solicitors by sally

“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.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 14th June 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Woolf places Blackstone at heart of BAE furore – The Lawyer

Posted June 12th, 2007 in barristers, corruption, fraud, news, Saudi Arabia by sally

“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.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 12th June 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

BSB in bid to rewrite Code of Conduct – Legal Week

Posted June 12th, 2007 in barristers, news, professional conduct by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has embarked on an ambitious three-year project to rewrite the Bar’s rulebook for the first time.”

Full story

Legal Week, 12th June 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Bar Standards Board rejects deferral of call to the Bar and proposes new online register of barristers – Bar Standards Board

Posted June 8th, 2007 in barristers, legal education, press releases by sally

“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”.”

Press release

Bar Standards Board press release, 8th June 2007

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Limiting the number of BVC students will “not improve quality” – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 8th, 2007 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“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.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th June 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law: Scots take aim across the border – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 7th, 2007 in barristers, news, Scotland by sally

“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.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 7th June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Review of Small Chambers – The Bar Council

Posted May 31st, 2007 in barristers by sally

“The Chairman of the Bar, Geoffrey Vos QC, has initiated a review of small chambers to identify areas where the Bar Council can provide assistance.  A working party has been established led by Nicholas Green QC and Ingrid Simler QC.” 

Full story

The Bar Council, 31st May 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Five London local authorities unite to launch bar panel in bid to slash costs – Legal Week

Posted May 31st, 2007 in barristers, local government, news by sally

“Five London local authorities are combining to create a panel of barristers for the first time, as part of a drive to cut costs.”

Full story

Legal Week, 31st May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Planning reform threat for the Bar but energy work gets boost – Legal Week

Posted May 31st, 2007 in barristers, news, planning by sally

“Planning barristers could be hit by radical new plans from the Government to speed up the development of big infrastructure projects in the UK.”

Full story

Legal Week, 31st May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Bar Council vice-chair gains salary as report sparks rejig – The Lawyer

Posted May 30th, 2007 in barristers, news, remuneration by sally

“The Vice-chair of the Bar Council Timothy Dutton QC will be the last in his post to work for free.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 28th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com