Judicial toolkit for dealing with miscreant immigration lawyers – Free Movement

Posted January 7th, 2015 in appeals, barristers, immigration, judicial review, news, solicitors, witnesses by tracey

‘The previously reported case of R (on the application of Bilal Mahmood) v Secretary of State for the home Department (candour/reassessment duties; ETS :alternative remedy) IJR [2014] UKUT 439 (IAC) has been re-titled and I think the headnote has been supplemented as well. The case is important on the ongoing saga of how far out of country appeals are an adequate remedy (relevant but far from determinative in the context of the very different statutory context of section 94B “deport first appeal later” certificates) and the current President’s impatience with the conduct of judicial review proceedings (see also Muwonge). The judgment goes a lot further than that though, and the headnote is very far from a complete guide to the case.’

Full story

Free Movement, 7th January 2015

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Law Society questions value of cab-rank rule – Legal Futures

Posted January 7th, 2015 in barristers, contracts, fees, Law Society, legal representation, news, solicitors by tracey

‘The Law Society has responded to a Bar Standards Board (BSB) call for evidence on the cab-rank rule by questioning its “operational value”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th January 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

A new era for the Bar beckons as barristers can now apply to set up new business models without changing regulators – Bar Standard Board

Posted January 6th, 2015 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal profession, news by sally

‘From today, 5 January 2015, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) will accept applications from those wishing to set up BSB-regulated businesses (“entities”), owned and managed by lawyers, and which provide “reserved legal activities” such as appearing in court as an advocate. The barristers’ regulator is due to begin authorising applications in April this year.’

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 5th January 2015

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

High Court: barrister has arguable discrimination claim against BSB – Legal Futures

‘A black barrister had an arguable case that she was indirectly discriminated against by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) through its disciplinary procedures, the High Court ruled yesterday.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Appeal court throws out attack on Bar disciplinary tribunals over time-expired members – Legal Futures

Posted December 18th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, disciplinary procedures, inns of court, news, time limits by sally

‘Anomalies in the appointment of panel members to Bar disciplinary tribunals between 2006 and 2011 did not affect the validity of their findings, the Court of Appeal decided yesterday.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 17th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

QASA barristers in last throw of the dice with appeal to Supreme Court – Legal Futures

‘Four criminal law barristers have appealed to the Supreme Court in their judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) – despite a costs bill which already totals £215,000, Legal Futures can reveal.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 17th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Declaration 2014: Legal Professional Privilege is vital to a fair trial – The Bar Council

‘Legal chiefs and academics today demanded new laws to stop police and security services from spying on meetings between lawyers and their clients.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 9th December 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Representing Transgendered Clients – a guide for family lawyers – Family Law Week

Posted December 15th, 2014 in barristers, civil partnerships, legal representation, marriage, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright, barrister of 2 Dr Johnson’s Buildings, offers a guide to the Gender Recognition Act 2004.’

Full story

Family Law week, 11th December 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

“Named and shamed” barrister hits back at “misleading” ombudsman – Legal Futures

Posted December 12th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The first lawyer to be “named and shamed” by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) for a series of complaints has argued that he is only “trying to adapt to new market forces”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 12th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

“We’re all in this together”, says incoming Bar Council Chairman in Inaugural Address – The Bar Council

Posted December 10th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, fees, judicial review, legal aid, news by sally

‘Incoming Chairman of the Bar Council, Alistair MacDonald QC, has pledged he will “continue the excellent work” started by predecessors Maura McGowan QC and outgoing Chairman, Nicholas Lavender QC, in preventing further cuts to legal aid, in order to defend a “proud and independent profession”.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 9th December 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New Bar leader: young barristers should take place of paid McKenzie Friends – Legal Futures

Posted December 10th, 2014 in barristers, fees, McKenzie friends, news, solicitors by sally

‘Junior barristers should get themselves accredited for direct access work and act in cases where people are currently relying on paid McKenzie Friends, the incoming Bar Council chairman has said as he promised to promote direct access to the public.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 10th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public access barrister named as ‘a risk’ to clients – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, disclosure, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman has taken the unprecedented step of naming a lawyer who has been subject to 25 complaints in the past two years.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judicial Review: Common sense and the separation of powers – The Bar Council

Posted December 9th, 2014 in barristers, judicial review, news by sally

‘Just one day before the Lords vote on Government attempts to restrict judicial review, Bar Council Chairman Nicholas Lavender explains why the Lord Chancellor cannot be the judge in his own case.’

Full story

The Bar Council, 8th December 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Ethnic minority lawyers nearly four times less likely to be appointed as judges – The Independent

‘Black and minority ethnic lawyers are nearly four times less likely to be appointed as judges than white candidates, according to the latest statistics from the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), prompting calls for targets to be introduced.’

Full story

The Independent, 7th December 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

BSB apologises for failing to review contractual terms and cab-rank rule – Legal Futures

Posted December 5th, 2014 in barristers, contracts, Legal Services Board, news by sally

‘Vanessa Davies, director of the Bar Standards Board (BSB), has apologised “for any impression that may have been created that we do not take our regulatory obligations seriously” after the BSB failed to launch a review of the standard contractual terms and the cab-rank rule.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 5th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister convicted of CS gas offences disbarred after second disciplinary hearing – Legal Futures

Posted December 4th, 2014 in barristers, criminal records, disciplinary procedures, disqualification, news by sally

‘A barrister who successfully appealed the decision of a previous disciplinary tribunal was yesterday ordered by a new tribunal panel to be disbarred.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 3rd December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council warns on potential “cost to quality” from CPD move – Legal Futures

Posted December 4th, 2014 in barristers, continuing professional development, news, quality assurance by sally

‘The Bar Council has warned of a potential “cost to quality”, following an announcement from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that from next month it will only accredit CPD providers, and not individual courses.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers and their Regulators: What Next? – Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar Council

Lawyers and their Regulators: What Next? (PDF)

Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar Council

The Bar Council, 24th November 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

LSB approves BSB’s application to regulate entities – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is pleased to confirm that its application to the Legal Services Board (LSB) to become a regulator of entities – businesses authorised to carry out and provide reserved legal activities – has been approved.’

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 2nd December 2014

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Speech to the Bar Conference – Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar Council

Speech to the Bar Conference (PDF)

Nicholas Lavender QC, Chairman of the Bar Council

The Bar Council, 8th November 2014

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk