‘Lawyers for the justice secretary, Chris Grayling, have intervened in an emergency appeal court hearing in an attempt to resolve a dispute over legal aid cuts that has halted all complex fraud trials.’
The Guardian, 13th May 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘On 7 May 2014 the report by Sir Bill Jeffrey on “Independent criminal advocacy in England and Wales”, the first of the triumvirate of reports into the state of the criminal justice system, was issued. It is a mixed bag. Many lawyers were hoping for more, specifically for ammunition in their battle with the MoJ, but that point is largely ducked. Whilst there is a lot that the (independent) bar can take comfort, and perhaps even pride in, make no mistake – however it is sugar-coated, this is not a homage to the Bar, or a plea to maintain the status quo.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 9th May 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘The biggest City fraud cases since the crash of 2008 are close to collapsing because of the government’s cuts to legal aid. The refusal of barristers to work at the government’s new low rates has already led to Judge Anthony Leonard throwing out charges against five men accused of conning investors out of their savings by selling them land at grotesquely inflated prices.’
The Guardian, 10th May 2014
‘A future where would-be criminal law barristers train together with solicitors and work at law firms before joining a “smaller, specialist Bar” later in their careers was sketched out yesterday in the government-commissioned review of criminal advocacy.’
Legal Futures, 8th May 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A pioneering barrister who overturned a disciplinary tribunal ruling that she had conducted litigation in breach of the Bar’s then code of conduct, has lost her claim for compensation against the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’
Legal Futures, 9th May 2014
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will review and consider carefully the findings and recommendations made by Sir Bill Jeffrey in his report, “Independent Criminal Advocacy in England and Wales” published today by the Ministry of Justice.’
The Bar Council, 7th May 2014
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
‘The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged Peers to reject the Civil Legal Aid (Remuneration) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations, which severely limit the availability of legal aid for proceedings for Judicial Review.’
The Bar Council, 7th May 2014
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
‘Lawyers in complex fraud trials are not underpaid and the government is taking steps to prevent cases collapsing, the justice minister, Simon Hughes, has said. The Liberal Democrat, a critic of the legal aid cuts before entering government, said the row over very high cost cases (VHCCs) did not involve “hard-up” lawyers at the start of their careers.’
The Guardian, 4th May 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Barrister Constance Briscoe has been jailed for 16 months for lying to police in ex-cabinet minister Chris Huhne’s speeding points case.’
BBC< News, 2nd May 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The leaders of the Bar, who represent barristers in England and Wales, have published the following joint statement.”
The Bar Council, 1st May 2014
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
‘A series of high-profile fraud prosecutions are at risk of collapse after a crown court judge halted a trial because specialist barristers are refusing to represent defendants in protest at 30% cuts in legal aid fees.’
The Guardian, 1st May 2014
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘Barrister Constance Briscoe has been found guilty of lying to police probing former cabinet minister Chris Huhne’s speeding points case.’
BBC News, 1st May 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A judge has halted a serious fraud trial after defendants claimed they could not get adequate representation because of cuts to legal aid.’
BBC News, 1st May 2014
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘On 12 March 2014 Lord Neuberger gave the Rainbow Lecture on Diversity. The lecture concluded with an explicit reference to the duty of all those involved in the legal profession and judiciary to improve the inclusiveness of the legal world.’
The Future of Law, 24th April 2014
Source: www.futureoflaw.lexisnexis.co.uk
‘Kate Beaumont interviews Frank Feehan QC, head of chambers at 42 Bedford Row, on the forthcoming merger between 42 Bedford Row and a substantial number of 13 King’s Bench Walk.’
The Future of Law, 16th April 2014
Source: www.futureoflaw.lexisnexis.co.uk
‘A senior criminal judge has been criticised over his handling of a trial last year, which led to the conviction of former 39 Essex Street barrister Rohan Pershad QC.’
The Lawyer, 10th April 2014
Source: www.thelawyer.com
‘Sir Keir Starmer, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, has been in the news this week with the suggestion that vulnerable witnesses should be questioned by the Judge in the case rather than by counsel, and this idea should give us pause to reflect on both the role of the judge and the role of the advocate.’
Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 10th April 2014
Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk
‘The Bar Council marked the first anniversary of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act by launching a major research project on its impact. The project will begin with a survey of the family and civil Bar, costs lawyers, clerks and practice managers to provide ‘an empirical evidence base’ for a full report to be published in September.’
LegalVoice, 2nd April 2014
Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk
‘The Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board have published the third edition of the ‘Bar Barometer’ – an annual research report providing statistics and trends in the barristers’ profession of England and Wales.’
The Bar Council, 1st April 2014
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
