Is it time to rethink a career at the criminal bar? – The Guardian
‘Law students have a lot to think about before pursuing a career at the criminal bar.’
The Guardian, 19th February 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Category: barristers
A ton of new QCs hit the courts – Litigation Futures
Posted February 19th, 2014 in barristers, diversity, news, queen's counsel, solicitor advocates, statistics by sally
‘Exactly 100 advocates – made up of 95 barristers and five solicitors – were today named in the annual silk round.’
Litigation Futures, 19th February 2014
Source: www.litigationfutures.co.uk
‘One Bar: one voice – United for justice’ – audio recording – The Bar Council
‘Audio recordings of the speeches, and contributions from the floor, from the event ‘One Bar: one voice – United for Justice’ on Saturday 8 February 2014.’
The Bar Council, 13th February 2014
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
High Court throws out Legal Ombudsman ruling, branding it ‘irrational’ – The Lawyer
‘The High Court has slammed the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) over its decision to order a barrister to reimburse fees to a client, branding the LeO ruling “irrational”.’
The Lawyer, 12th February 2014
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Lawyers to stage full-day walkout over legal aid cuts in England and Wales – The Guardian
Posted February 13th, 2014 in barristers, industrial action, legal aid, legal profession, litigants in person, news, solicitors by sally
‘Criminal courts across England and Wales will be severely disrupted next month when barristers and solicitors escalate their protests against legal aid cuts by staging a full-day walkout.’
The Guardian, 12th February 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
CS gas canister barrister to be disbarred – Bar Standards Board
Posted February 11th, 2014 in barristers, criminal records, disciplinary procedures, disqualification, news, weapons by tracey
‘A barrister who failed to disclose previous criminal convictions for possessing CS gas and wilfully obstructing the police is to be disbarred, following an independent public disciplinary tribunal.’
Bar Standards Board, 10th February 2014
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Legal Futures interview lands Bar Council chief in hot water with LSB – Legal Futures
‘Comments made by the new Bar Council chairman in an interview with Legal Futures have led the Legal Services Board (LSB) to doubt whether the Bar Council truly accepted the recent findings that it improperly influenced its regulatory arm.’
Legal Futures, 10th February 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
High Court quashes “irrational” LeO decision against barrister but upholds record SDT fine – Legal Futures
Posted February 7th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by tracey
‘A High Court judge has overturned a Legal Ombudsman (LeO) decision that a barrister had not earned his fee, but separately upheld a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) decision to hand out a record fine.’
Legal Futures, 7th February 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Barrister who intentionally misled client over appeal to be disbarred – Bar Standards Board
Posted February 7th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, disciplinary procedures, drafting, news, professional conduct by tracey
‘A public disciplinary tribunal has this week ordered the disbarment of a barrister for intentionally misleading his client by drafting false grounds of appeal – despite knowing there were none.’
Bar Standards Board, 5th February 2014
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
QASA: time to move on – Halsbury’s Law Exchange
Posted February 5th, 2014 in advocacy, barristers, judicial review, news, quality assurance by sally
‘“It is a critical test of the freedom inherent in our democratic society that those accused (usually by the State) of committing criminal offences can and should be represented by capable criminal advocates…”
So opens the judgment, which was handed down last month by Lord Justice Leveson, in the judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA). QASA, it ruled, “is lawful, does not contravene European law and falls well within the legitimate exercise of the powers of the LSB and the three regulators that submitted it to the LSB for approval”.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 4th February 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
High Court refuses permission to appeal QASA ruling and makes maximum costs order – Legal Futures
‘The High Court has today refused permission to appeal against the recent ruling on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA).’
Legal Futures, 4th February 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
No more getting your clerk to do it – BSB bids to improve barristers’ diversity reporting – Legal Futures
‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is set to introduce a series of measures to improve diversity reporting among barristers after the vast majority refused to answer many of the questions posed about their backgrounds.’
Legal Futures, 4th February 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
VHCC cases jeopardised by fee cuts – Law Society’s Gazette
Posted February 3rd, 2014 in barristers, budgets, costs, fees, fraud, legal aid, news, solicitor advocates, trials by tracey
‘Multi-million-pound fraud trials are being put in jeopardy by the Ministry of Justice’s cuts to advocates’ fees, the Gazette has learned.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd February 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Bar Council chairman: further legal aid cuts would be false economy – The Guardian
Posted January 29th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, miscarriage of justice, news by sally
‘There will be too few experienced barristers to deal with complex criminal cases if the government pushes through proposals for further cuts to legal aid, the new chairman of the Bar Council has warned.’
The Guardian, 28th January 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Legal aid lawyers form new group to oppose cuts – Law Society’s Gazette
Posted January 29th, 2014 in barristers, budgets, demonstrations, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally
‘Groups representing legal aid lawyers have formed a new campaign group to oppose fresh cuts in funding.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 28th January 2014
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Statement by the Joint Advocacy Group on changes to the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) – Bar Standards Board
‘Following the handing down of the judgment on Monday 20 January 2014, the Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and ILEX Professional Standards, have discussed the practical consequences of the outcome. In particular, they have considered whether a revision to the current registration timetable is required and the recommendations to amend the Scheme outlined in the judgment.’
Bar Standards Board, 27th January 2014
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Launch of the Bar Standards Board handbook; challenges and opportunities – Attorney General’s Office
Posted January 23rd, 2014 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal aid, legal profession, news, quality assurance, speeches by sally
‘Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP keynote speech at the launch of new Bar Standards Board handbook.’
Attorney General’s Office,
Source: www.gov.uk/ago
Barristers vow to boycott QASA despite High Court defeat – Legal Futures
Posted January 22nd, 2014 in advocacy, barristers, judicial review, news, quality assurance by sally
‘Monday’s failed judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) has done little to quell the mutiny among criminal law barristers, even though the Bar Standards Board has called on them to “respect the court’s decision”.’
Legal Futures, 22nd January 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
QASA given green light by High Court as JR fails – Legal Futures
Posted January 20th, 2014 in advocacy, barristers, costs, judicial review, judiciary, Legal Services Board, news, quality assurance by sally
‘A judicial review of the Legal Services Board’s approval of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocacy (QASA) has today been comprehensively rejected by the High Court.’
Legal Futures, 20th January 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Criminal barristers’ earnings – a new low in government strategy – Legal Futures
Posted January 9th, 2014 in barristers, fees, industrial action, news, remuneration, statistics by sally
‘After what seems an all too brief season of peace and goodwill, hostilities between the government and criminal lawyers have rapidly resumed, and appear to have taken a more sinister turn.’
Legal Futures, 9th January 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
