“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
“The Bar Council, the professional body for over 15,000 barristers in England and Wales, has called on the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to abandon its proposed new contract for high cost criminal cases and to work together on the swift preparation of a better scheme.”
The Bar Council, 3rd April 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Barristers have snubbed a second opportunity to join the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) very high-cost criminal cases (VHCC) panel, with only 110 barristers out of the 2,300 to be offered contracts signing up to the panel.”
Legal Week, 2nd April 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
“Pre-trial interviews for barristers are not far off, but the reforms bring potential hazards alongside welcome benefits.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 27th March 2008
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The way in which chambers handle complaints is set to change after the Bar Standards Board (BSB) approved a set of important new measures designed to improve chambers’ complaints handling.”
Bar Standards Board, 18th March 2008
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
“The Bar Standard Board (BSB) has unveiled a raft of new measures designed to improve chambers’ complaints-handling, including the introduction of a mandatory protocol for all barristers sets.”
Legal Week, 18th March 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
“This Friday is the deadline, no ifs or buts, says Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the minister in charge of the change.”
The Times, 11th March 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Today I am talking to Timothy Dutton QC, Chairman of The Bar. Timothy Dutton QC was born in 1957 and was called to the Bar in 1979. He took silk in 1998. He practices in General Commercial, Public, Regulatory and Administrative Law, Professional Negligence and Disciplinary including sports.”
Charon QC, 4th March 2008
Source: www.charonqc.wordpress.com
“Charon QC” is the blogging pseudonym of Mike Semple Piggot, editor of Consilio.tv
“The Bar Council’s working group on Best Value Tendering (BVT) has warned that the Legal Services Commission’s (LSC) ideas will damage quality, reduce choice, and harm diversity. The Working Group, which is chaired by Vice-Chairman of the Bar Desmond Browne QC, has responded to the LSC Consultation Paper on BVT.”
The Bar Council, 3rd March 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“A breakdown of the ten highest paid criminal and civil barristers from the criminal defence service and the community legal service. The information covers the year ending 31 March 2007. A section on frequently asked questions about legal aid fees is also included in the document.”
Highest paid barristers for the year ending 31 March 2007 (PDF)
Ministry of Justice, 3rd March 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“The Bar Council is publishing a portable, concise, single point of reference of all its current guidance and advice.”
The Bar Council, 28th February 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“The Bar Council has published a new booklet explaining how to become a part of the profession. ‘It’s your call’, produced in the wake of Lord Neuberger’s Entry to the Bar Working Party Report into access to the profession, will be an invaluable tool for school, university and Bar students looking to find out more about the Bar.”
The Bar Council, 25th February 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“The Bill reaches a crucial stage of its consideration by the Upper House later today. The barristers’ representative body and Justice each object to Clause 42, which would amend the test applied by the Court of Appeal when considering an appeal against conviction, and to Clause 105, which would see more non-legal prosecution staff (‘Designated Case Workers’ – DCWs) conducting serious trials in magistrates’ courts.”
The Bar Council, 20th February 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“Scores of top-level terror trials as well as the most complex murder and rape cases are at risk of being run by second-rank lawyers after more than 2,000 Queen’s Counsel and junior barristers boycotted new pay rates.”
The Times, 19th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“The Professional Practice Committee has produced advice on barristers’ obligations under the Code of Conduct in the light of the proposed changes to the VHCC Panel Scheme.”
Very High Cost Cases – Obligations under the Code of Conduct
The Bar Council, 15th February 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“The Chairman of the Bar, Tim Dutton QC, has today written to all Heads of Chambers concerning High Cost Criminal Cases. Annexed to the letter are a letter to Richard Collins and a letter to the Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, both of which were also sent today.”
Letter (PDF)
The Bar Council, 13th February 2008
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
“A senior barrister from Furnival chambers has shrugged off claims that he perverted the course of justice after the Divisional Court quashed summonses issued against him.”
The Lawyer, 11th February 2008
Source: www.thelawyer.com
“The way in which barristers provide services to consumers may change considerably following proposals being published today.”
Bar Standards Board, 5th February 2008
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
“Government proposals to cut the cost of complex fraud cases have resulted in a stand-off between barristers and the Legal Services Commission. Reduced fees could mean the quality of representation in complex fraud cases will plummet, as law firms and barristers desert the practice. Jon Robins reports.”
Legal Week, 7th February 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
“The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has refused to increase fee levels for very high-cost criminal cases (VHCCs) despite thousands of barristers opting to boycott the new Government contract.”
Legal Week, 5th February 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
