COVID-19, the self-employed and the Bar – a wobbly scheme? – Doughty Street Chambers

‘The Government approved a package of measures targeting the self-employed in response to the Covid-19 crisis. But are these measures sufficient and will they adequately safeguard members of the self-employed Bar, lower paid employees and workers in the gig economy and see sets of Chambers through the crisis? Doughty Street’s employment law team is available to advise on any employment issues that may arise in relation to employment status, sham self-employment agreements and the government’s financial assistance packages in the wake of Covid-19.’

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Doughty Street Chambers, 10th April 2020

Source: insights.doughtystreet.co.uk

Warning over fall-out from witness statement crackdown – Litigation Futures

‘A judicial crackdown on overlong witness statements puts lawyers at risk of wasted costs orders and professional negligence claims, a barrister has warned.’

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Litigation Futures, 9th April 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Fine for barrister who took 15 months to pay fine – Legal Futures

‘An unregistered barrister and solicitor who took 15 months to pay a £500 fine levied by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has been reprimanded – and ordered to pay another £500.’

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Legal Futures, 15th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“Release QC money” to support Bar during Covid-19 – Legal Futures

‘The Public Access Bar Association (PABA) has urged the Bar Council to call in its share of the surplus held by QC Appointments (QCA) to support barristers struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 14th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Values of Collaboration and Solidarity: Running a Chambers Through the Coronavirus Crisis – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

Posted April 9th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, news by sally

‘Lawyers are nothing if not adaptable. On 27 February my chambers purchased additional hand sanitisers and issued advice about travel abroad. By Monday 23 March all barristers and staff had moved entirely to home working and we had adapted our management systems to cope with that massive change. That very evening the Prime Minister made his dramatic announcement of a complete lock down. And now we have to adapt again.’

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Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 7th April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

Barrister lied to police “to help close friend” – Legal Futures

Posted April 9th, 2020 in barristers, deceit, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct by sally

‘An unregistered barrister who lied about her status to extract information about an investigation by North Yorkshire Police has been disbarred.’

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Legal Futures, 9th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister breached court order to see ex-girlfriend – Legal Futures

‘A senior barrister has been suspended for three months and fined £1,000 for twice breaching a non-molestation order to see his ex-girlfriend.’

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Legal Futures, 8th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

MoJ offers some financial support for legal aid firms – Legal Futures

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has introduced economic help for legal aid firms, making hardship payments easier to access and pausing debt repayments to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Most chambers “face collapse” without government cash – Legal Futures

Posted April 3rd, 2020 in barristers, budgets, coronavirus, news, pupillage, statistics by sally

‘More than half of barristers’ chambers will go out of business within six months if they do not receive financial support from the government during the coronavirus crisis, the Bar Council has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bomb hoax barrister fails to overturn law firm ban – Legal Futures

‘A barrister jailed in 2014 for a bomb hoax at the London Olympics has failed in his attempt to overturn an order imposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that banned him from working for law firms.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Bar in the time of coronavirus – Counsel

Posted April 2nd, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, courts, live link evidence, news, remote hearings by sally

‘The Bar… will it ever be the same again? Melanie Tether and Nadia Motraghi consider some of the immediate challenges – how to assess the suitability of an individual case for a remote hearing; how to ensure full participation of all parties so that cases are dealt with justly, as well as on an equal footing; and how to enable open justice.’

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Counsel, April 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Barrister suspended for headbutting female colleague – Legal Futures

‘A senior barrister who headbutted a junior female member of chambers during a drunken row, leaving her on the ground with blood all over her face, has been suspended for three months by a Bar disciplinary tribunal.’

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Legal Futures, 1st April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers urged to join Covid-19 pro bono panel – Legal Futures

Posted March 30th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, legal services, news, pro bono work by sally

‘National chambers Clerksroom is rallying barristers to volunteer for a new pro bono scheme to help keyworkers and struggling businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic obtain legal advice.’

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Legal Futures, 27th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Is Covid-19 Changing How We Think About Criminal Justice Reform? – Each Other

‘Barrister Tim Kiely examines the unexpected changes taking place within the criminal justice system amid the Covid-19 outbreak.’

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Each Other, 26th March 2020

Source: eachother.org.uk

Lord Chancellor praises lawyers’ “heroic” efforts – Legal Futures

‘The Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland yesterday praised lawyers for their “heroic efforts” in trying to keep trials going during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Calls to protect criminal solicitors, pupils and LPC students – Legal Futures

‘Criminal defence solicitors in London yesterday threatened to stop attending police stations and a protocol to protect pupil barristers was published among efforts to protect the profession during the coronarivus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 25th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Circuit leader tells barristers not to attend court today – Legal Futures

Posted March 24th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, courts, live link evidence, news by sally

‘The leader of the North Eastern Circuit has urged his members not to attend any court hearings today in the wake of the government’s decision last night to lock down the UK.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal aid fraud trial stopped as barristers self-isolate – Legal Futures

Posted March 24th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, delay, fraud, health, legal aid, live link evidence, news, solicitors by sally

‘The trial of nine lawyers over an alleged plot to scam £11m from the legal aid system was abandoned last Friday after several counsel withdrew to self-isolate.’

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Legal Futures, 24th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Self-isolating litigant in person appears via barrister’s mobile – Litigation Futures

‘A barrister has spoken of how a self-isolating defendant in a fast-track personal injury claim appeared before the court via WhatsApp video.’

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Litigation Futures, 23rd March 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Bar students urge BSB to reconsider exam delay – Legal Futures

Posted March 20th, 2020 in barristers, coronavirus, delay, examinations, health, internet, legal education, news by sally

‘Students on the Bar professional training course (BPTC) have written a letter to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to object to its decision to cancel the April sitting of the centralised examinations due to the coronavirus.’

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Legal Futures, 20th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk