Take-up of barrister entities is “increasing significantly” – Legal Futures

Posted October 20th, 2015 in barristers, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

‘Barristers have been slow to adopt new entity models, but take-up is “increasing significantly” since the application process became more streamlined, according to the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th October 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Conservatives’ asylum policy on Syria criticised as ‘too low, too slow, too narrow’ – The Guardian

Posted October 12th, 2015 in asylum, human rights, immigration, legal profession, news, political parties, refugees by tracey

‘The government’s offer to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years is far “too low, too slow and too narrow”, according to a statement published by 300 senior lawyers, former law lords and retired judges.’

Full story

The Guardian, 12th October 2015

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB Chair Sir Andrew Burns sets his vision for the future of the Bar regulator – Bar Standards Board

Posted October 6th, 2015 in barristers, legal profession, news, speeches by sally

‘In his first keynote speech as Chair of the Bar Standards Board (BSB), Sir Andrew Burns urged barristers and key stakeholders to engage with the regulator on the future direction of Bar regulation at a networking function tonight at Lincoln’s Inn.’

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 5th October 2015

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

No rush for more women at the top of the legal profession, says senior judge – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 22nd, 2015 in costs, diversity, equality, human rights, judges, judiciary, legal profession, news, women by sally

‘Lord Sumption claims rushing to achieve equality could damage the judiciary.’
Full story

Daily Telegraph, 21st September 2015

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Barrister and solicitor set up groundbreaking BSB-regulated firm – Legal Futures

Posted September 10th, 2015 in barristers, law firms, legal profession, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A barrister and solicitor have chosen the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to regulate their niche firm that specialises in defending teachers and other professionals in disciplinary actions. It is understood to be the first firm consisting of a barrister and solicitor to become a BSB entity.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 9th September 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dawson-Damer and others v Taylor Wessing LLP and others – WLR Daily

Dawson-Damer and others v Taylor Wessing LLP and others [2015] EWHC 2366 (Ch); [2015] WLR (D) 361

‘The purpose of section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998 entitling an individual to have access to information in the form of his “personal data” was to enable him to check whether the data controller’s processing of it unlawfully infringed his privacy and, if so, to take such steps as the Act provided, to protect it. It was no part of its purpose to enable the individual to obtain discovery of documents that might assist him in litigation or complaints against third parties.’

WLR Daily, 6th August 2015

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

LSB publishes report on regulation of in-house lawyers – Legal Services Board

‘The Legal Services Board publishes today responses received to its discussion paper: Are regulatory restrictions in practising rules for in-house lawyers justified? as well as its summary of those responses.’

Full press release

Legal Services Board, 29th July 2015

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Three in four lawyers burnt out – The Lawyer

Posted July 31st, 2015 in barristers, health, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors, statistics by sally

‘Nearly three in every four lawyers are suffering from burnout or worried about the condition, a survey of 1,000 lawyers has revealed.’
Full story

The Lawyer, 31st July 2015

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Students to be recruited from second year as graduate recruitment code is transformed – The Lawyer

‘Law firms will be able to recruit future trainees from their second year at university due to a change in the graduate recruitment code.’

Full story

The Lawyer, 29th July 2015

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Where is the diversity in law recruitment? – The Guardian

Posted July 15th, 2015 in diversity, equality, judiciary, legal education, legal profession, news, statistics by tracey

‘Despite recent initiatives, the legal profession remains a bastion of white, middle-class, privately educated males. So what can be done to make it more inclusive? Harriet Swain reports on a roundtable debate.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th July 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Council was entitled to refuse disclosure of planning documents, tribunal rules – OUT-LAW.com

‘The First-Tier Tribunal has dismissed an appeal and held that following a freedom of information request Aylesbury Vale District Council was entitled to refuse disclosure of correspondence between its solicitor and the planning department.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 9th July 2015

Source: www.out-law.com

Speech by Lord Chief Justice: Dinner for Her Majesty’s Judges – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

‘Speech by The Right Hon. The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.’

Full speech

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 9th July 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Legal professionals are becoming more innovative in running their businesses but more is needed – Legal Services Board

‘Findings from the largest ever study of innovation in the legal sector, commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Legal Services Board (LSB), suggest that legal professionals ,including solicitors and barristers, are becoming more innovative in the organisation and management of their business.’
Full story

Legal Services Board, 7th July 2015

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Tribunal rejects request for correspondence between solicitor and planning officers – Local Government Lawyer

‘The First-Tier Tribunal has ruled that a district council was entitled to refuse to disclose correspondence passing between one of its solicitors and various members of its planning department.’
Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th June 2015

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Surge in ‘DIY’ justice sparks guidelines for lawyers – The Bar Council

Posted June 19th, 2015 in legal profession, litigants in person, press releases by tracey

‘A surge in the number of people representing themselves in court has prompted legal organisations to draft guidelines for lawyers who come up against people who find themselves in court without legal representation.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 18th June 2015

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lawyers urged to play it cool with litigants in person – Legal Futures

‘Solicitors, barristers and legal executives have been told by their professional bodies to be polite and non-judgemental when dealing with litigants in person (LiPs), and take “extra care to avoid using inflammatory words or phrases”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th June 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

European Court of Human Rights: Lawyers do not have same freedom to speak out as journalists – Legal Futures

Posted May 29th, 2015 in defamation, freedom of expression, human rights, legal profession, news by sally

‘Lawyers do not have the same rights to speak out on sensitive and high-profile cases as journalists, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 29th May 2015

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Costs lawyers become latest to call for level playing field in QC appointments – Litigation Futures

Posted May 6th, 2015 in costs, legal profession, news, queen's counsel by sally

‘Costs lawyers and others with rights of audience who are not currently eligible for appointment as Queen’s Counsel should have the right to apply for silk, the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) has said.’

Full story

Litigation Futures, 6th May 2015

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

The Professions: Power, Privilege and Legal Liability – Speech by Lord Justice Jackson

Posted April 30th, 2015 in legal profession, negligence, news, professional conduct, speeches by sally

The Professions: Power, Privilege and Legal Liability (PDF)

Speech by Lord Justice Jackson

Professional Negligence Bar Association, 21st April 2015

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Start the clock – New Law Journal

Posted April 30th, 2015 in insurance, legal profession, news, privilege by sally

‘When does a contractual retainer arise & when does legal advice privilege apply, asks David Burrows.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 24th April 2015

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk