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.”

Full story

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?”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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.”

Full story

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’.”

Full story

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

Bar victory over ‘cab rank’ rule – Law Society’s Gazette

“Changes to the ‘cab rank’ rule approved last week will pave the way for new standard contractual terms between solicitors and barristers.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd August 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB Welcomes Publication of COIC Tribunal Review Report – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 30th, 2012 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news, tribunals by sally

“The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has welcomed the publication of the Final Report of the COIC Disciplinary Tribunal and Hearings Review Group, chaired by Desmond Browne QC.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 27th July 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

‘Baby barrister’ threat to solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 26th, 2012 in barristers, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“Barristers with under three years’ practising experience will be able to take instructions directly from clients if the Bar Standards Board’s latest plan for the extension of public access rules is approved.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 26th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Deech hits back over bar tribunal ‘collapse’ claim – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 24th, 2012 in barristers, disciplinary procedures, news by tracey

“The chair of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has defended the process for disciplining barristers following a claim that it is in a ‘state of collapse’ amid allegations of secrecy, maladministration and incompetence.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 20th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB Chair comments on strength of BSB’s performance as a competent and transparent regulator – Bar Standards Board

“Baroness Ruth Deech, Chair of the Bar Standards Board, said: ‘As a competent, transparent and public interest regulator, the Bar Standards Board continues to promote and uphold the highest regulatory standards. We pride ourselves on the fact that we operate in an open and transparent manner, and our disciplinary processes serve to underline the fact that we take complaints by the public of professional misconduct extremely seriously.’ ”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 17th July 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

QASA fourth consultation goes live – Bar Standards Board

Posted July 13th, 2012 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, news, quality assurance by sally

“The fourth and final consultation on the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) (QASA) goes live today, Thursday 12 July.”

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 12th July 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

“It’s make or break for the criminal bar”: interview with John Cooper QC – Head of Legal

Posted July 12th, 2012 in barristers, legal aid, podcasts, quality assurance by sally

“I spoke to John Cooper QC today at his chambers to ask him why he’s standing for Vice-Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and why in his manifesto he raises the prospect of potential industrial action by barristers in response to government policies on criminal legal aid.”

Podcast

Head of Legal, 11th July 2012

Source: www.headoflegal.com