Future of law: big brands and alternative business structures – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2012 in alternative business structures, barristers, legal services, news, solicitors by tracey

“Household names such as AA, Saga, Direct Line and BT hoping to join Co-op in the legal sector.”

Full story

The Guardian, 12th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Standard Contractual Terms to take effect in January 2013 – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 10th, 2012 in barristers, contracts, legal services, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulatory body for barristers in England and Wales, has agreed that the new Standard Contractual Terms will now take effect on 31 January 2013.”

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Bar Standards Board, 9th October 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Standard bar contracts put back by three months – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 10th, 2012 in barristers, contracts, legal services, news, professional conduct, solicitors by sally

“The introduction of standard contractual terms between barristers and solicitors has been delayed by three months to make sure all firms and chambers are prepared, the Bar Standards Board announced today.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th October 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council Calls for Consultation on Government Plans to Opt Out of EU Criminal Justice Measures – The Bar Council

Posted October 8th, 2012 in barristers, consultations, criminal justice, EC law, press releases, warrants by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has called on the Government to issue a full public consultation on its proposals to opt out of more than 130 EU criminal justice measures, including the European Arrest Warrant.”

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The Bar Council, 5th October 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Value proposition – The Lawyer

Posted October 8th, 2012 in barristers, contracts, fees, news, solicitors by sally

“The bar is struggling with the concept of solicitor contracts despite almost a decade of negotiations.”

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The Lawyer, 8th October 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Bar Council eyes greater retention with launch of bar nursery – The Lawyer

Posted October 8th, 2012 in barristers, children, inns of court, legal profession, news by sally

“The Bar Council plans to roll out childcare services to barristers in London before the end of the year in a bid to halt the brain drain among young lawyers with parenting responsibilities”

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The Lawyer, 8th October 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

BSB Annual Report – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 5th, 2012 in barristers, professional conduct, reports by tracey

“The Report consists of statements from the Chair, Baroness Ruth Deech, and the Director, Dr Vanessa Davies. There is also an overview of the year and a selection of case studies. Financial statements are also included in the report.”

Full report

Bar Standards Board, 3rd October 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Row over rape prosecutors: Emily Thornberry v Keir Starmer QC – The Guardian

Posted October 1st, 2012 in barristers, budgets, Crown Prosecution Service, news, victims by sally

“Labour MP claims rape victims could be deprived of expert legal support because of savings made in hiring specially trained barristers.”

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The Guardian, 28th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council launches ‘BARCO’: Working with the Bar has never been easier – The Bar Council

Posted September 28th, 2012 in barristers, legal services, press releases by tracey

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will this evening, at the Rolls Building, launch a unique new service. ‘BARCO’ provides a straightforward, easily accessible, client-focused facility, whilst maintaining the Bar’s high quality and cost effective services.”

Full press release

The Bar Council, 27th September 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Why us? HMRC unleashes crackdown on barrister tax avoidance – The Lawyer

Posted September 20th, 2012 in barristers, HM Revenue & Customs, news, tax avoidance by sally

“Could it be the proverbial ‘boy who cried wolf’ with the HMRC launching a task force to crackdown on tax-dodging London lawyers?”

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The Lawyer, 19th September 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

“Representing the Bar”: Bar Council publishes first ever representational annual report – The Bar Council

Posted September 18th, 2012 in barristers, news, reports by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has published its first ever Annual Report at its Annual General Meeting, focusing solely on its representational activities. Representing the Bar reports the Bar Council’s performance against its three-year Strategic and Business Plan, which the Bar Council approved last year.”

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The Bar Council, 15th September 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Complaints hike follows surge in unrepresented litigants – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 17th, 2012 in barristers, complaints, litigants in person, news by sally

“An increase in litigants in person has been cited as the reason for a sharp spike in complaints against barristers alleging discrimination.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 14th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Hillsborough families’ lawyer calls for permanent ‘commission of truth’ – The Guardian

Posted September 17th, 2012 in barristers, inquiries, news, perverting the course of justice, police, sport by sally

“A new ‘commission of truth’ that can hold state institutions to account is required to prevent further cover-ups like Hillsborough, according to a high-profile barrister who is assisting families of the victims of the tragedy.”

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The Guardian, 16th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Criminal bar chief: unity can help resist ‘extinction’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 13th, 2012 in barristers, fees, legal profession, news, solicitors by tracey

“Criminal solicitors and barristers should stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ to oppose further fee cuts or risk ‘virtual extinction’ within five years, the new chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 13th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Late LSC fees ‘drive barristers out of practice’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 13th, 2012 in barristers, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

“Late payment of fees by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) is driving barristers out of private practice, it has been alleged.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 13th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB chastised over ‘bad’ misconduct findings – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 7th, 2012 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, professional conduct, tribunals by tracey

“The first barrister to set up a legal disciplinary practice has overturned her convictions for breaching Bar Standards Board codes on conducting litigation in a public access case.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 6th September 2012

Source: www.gazette.co.uk

A call to arms – The Bar Council

Posted September 6th, 2012 in barristers, consultations, news, quality assurance by sally

“Call to respond to the fourth consultation on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates; communications between the Bar Council and the Bar; Bar Council elections.”

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The Bar Council, 6th September 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

New Equality and Diversity Rules for barristers are now in force – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 4th, 2012 in barristers, codes of practice, diversity, equality, press releases by tracey

“New Equality and Diversity rules for self-employed barristers are now in force.”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 3rd September 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Former Boris Johnson aide cleared of possession of ‘extreme pornography’ – The Guardian

Posted August 9th, 2012 in barristers, news, pornography by sally

“A barrister has been acquitted of possessing extreme pornography in a landmark case over the boundaries of what can be described as ‘extreme’.”

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The Guardian, 8th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New Terms of Engagement for barristers – The Bar Council

Posted August 6th, 2012 in barristers, complaints, contracts, legal services, news, solicitors by sally

“On the 27 July, the Legal Services Board consented to a change in the Cab Rank Rule of the Bar Code of Conduct to replace the current Terms of Work with new standard contractual terms. The practical effect of the changes are detailed below.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 2nd August 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk