Category: advocacy

Society tells attorney general: open advocacy panels to solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted May 17th, 2017 in advocacy, government departments, news, solicitor advocates by sally

‘The Law Society has urged the attorney general to give a warmer welcome to solicitor advocates to carry out civil, EU and international work for the government.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 15th May 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar chief warns of ‘loss of confidence’ in fee reform – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 9th, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, fees, news by sally

‘The chairman of the Bar Council has weighed into the debate on plans to restructure the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), claiming the body is in danger of losing confidence in the government’s proposals.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 8th March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar backs MoJ fee scheme restructure – with reservations – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 3rd, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council has said it is broadly in favour of the Ministry of Justice’s plans to restructure the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS) in criminal cases but warned that it should be “closely monitored” to ensure advocates do not lose out on fees.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 2nd March 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB announces new regulatory approach to improve advocacy standards within Youth Courts – Bar Standards Board

Posted February 27th, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, legal representation, press releases, standards, youth courts by tracey

‘At its Board meeting last night, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) agreed new measures to improve standards of advocacy within Youth Courts. The regulator today published new guidance for barristers working in youth proceedings based on a set of essential competences that are expected of all advocates working with young people.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 24th February 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Cure for all ills? – Counsel

Posted February 22nd, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, consultations, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, news by sally

‘Fees are still too low, but the Bar has developed a better settlement for criminal practitioners to reward advocacy in a fairer and more transparent way. Now it’s up to the profession to make their voices heard and respond to the consultation, as Daniel Oscroft explains.’

Full story

Counsel, March 2017

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Brexit briefing: Securing EEA Nationals’ Residence Rights – Free Movement

Posted February 22nd, 2017 in advocacy, brexit, citizenship, documents, EC law, government departments, immigration, news by sally

‘The rights of EEA nationals (plus Swiss) to reside in the UK are primarily addressed in the Citizens Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC) which is implemented in the United Kingdom in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016.’

Full story

Free Movement, 21st February 2017

Source: www.freemovement.org.uk

Lord Chief Justice “strongly opposes” accountants’ bid to handle litigation and advocacy work – Legal Futures

Posted February 21st, 2017 in accountants, advocacy, legal representation, legal services, news, taxation by sally

‘The Lord Chief Justice has outlined his “strong opposition” to a bid to allow accountants to handle tax litigation and advocacy work – and in return come under fire from the body that would regulate them.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 21st February 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Solicitor’s agents’ yet again – no rights of audience? – Nearly Legal

Posted January 30th, 2017 in advocacy, housing, legal profession, legal representation, news, rights of audience, solicitor advocates by sally

‘What is more, there is updated guidance from the Bar Council to ‘unregistered barristers acting as solicitor’s agents’ (ie, barristers who have been called, even passed the BPTC, but do not have pupillage or have qualified). The effect of which is that “many individuals currently exercising rights of audience in reliance on this provision (Sch 3 Legal Services Act 2007) are at risk of contravening the Act”. Which is a potentially criminal offence.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 29th January 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Junior advocates lose out to QCs in new fees regime – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted January 6th, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, fees, news, queen's counsel by tracey

‘The Law Society has criticised the Ministry of Justice’s proposals for reforming advocacy fees, warning that junior barristers and solicitor-advocates will lose out while QCs enjoy a pay hike.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 5th January 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Proposals to reform criminal defence advocates pay published – Ministry of Justice

Posted January 6th, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, fees, legal aid, press releases by tracey

‘Plans to introduce a simpler and fairer pay system for defence advocates who work on legal aid-funded criminal cases have been unveiled today by the Ministry of Justice.’

Full press release

ministry of Justice, 5th January 2017

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

New AGFS plan will mean fairer pay for advocates – The Bar Council

Posted January 6th, 2017 in advocacy, barristers, fees, legal aid, press releases by tracey

‘The Bar Council and the Young Barristers’ Committee welcome new proposals published today by the Ministry of Justice which will mean barristers and other advocates will be paid fairly for the work they do in publicly funded criminal cases. The new, fairer Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme (AGFS), if implemented, will mean barristers’ fees are no longer based on outdated and distorting factors such as the number of pages in a case, but instead are paid according to the seriousness and complexity of the work.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 5th January 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

CBA chairman on solicitor-advocates: “The label matters less than the content of the bottle” – Legal Futures

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in advocacy, legal profession, news, solicitor advocates, speeches by sally

‘The chairman of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) yesterday tried to cool emotions after former Lord Chancellor Michael Gove’s criticism of solicitor-advocates, saying that “the label matters less than the content of the bottle”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Direct access website founder urges barristers to focus on broader expertise, not advocacy – Legal Futures

Posted October 11th, 2016 in advocacy, barristers, legal services, news by sally

‘Lawyers who don’t believe the “writing is on the wall” that unregulated legal services will increase “may find themselves on the wrong side of history”, the founder of direct access website Absolute Barrister has warned.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th October 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New advocates lack “basic knowledge” of ethical rules, report finds – Legal Futures

Posted October 5th, 2016 in advocacy, barristers, codes of practice, inns of court, legal profession, news, professional conduct, reports, solicitors by sally

‘Significant numbers of new advocates are “weaker than might be hoped on basic knowledge” of ethical rules, a major report has found.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 5th October 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal bar chief targets ‘corruption’ of defence work – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 26th, 2016 in advocacy, barristers, criminal justice, news by sally

‘The leader of the criminal bar has urged the government to get on with advocacy reforms to fix a sector troubled by corruption and poor business models.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 23rd September 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Be upstanding in court! – Counsel

Posted July 27th, 2016 in advocacy, barristers, complementary medicine, news by sally

‘Optimise performance and manage stress – John Hunter outlines the benefits of the Alexander Technique to the Bar.’

Full story

Counsel, August 2016

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Fees fi fo fum – New Law Journal

Posted July 27th, 2016 in advocacy, appeals, civil procedure rules, costs, courts, damages, fees, news by sally

‘David Wright discusses fixed advocacy fees.’

Full story

New Law Journal, 26th July 2016

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Court of Appeal: no room for “grandiloquent, rhetorical” advocacy in modern trials – Legal Futures

Posted July 8th, 2016 in advocacy, appeals, barristers, benefits, fraud, news by sally

‘The “grandiloquent, rhetorical and at times almost facetious” advocacy style of a criminal defence barrister has no place in modern trials, the Court of Appeal has said.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 8th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

What to expect from the new criminal legal aid contracts – Legal Voice

Posted June 23rd, 2016 in advocacy, contracts, criminal justice, legal aid, news, solicitors by sally

‘Richard Miller explains what may be in store when the new criminal legal aid contracts come into force next year.’

Full story

Legal Voice, 23rd June 2016

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Neuberger urges debate over ethical implications of artificial intelligence – Legal Futures

Posted June 20th, 2016 in advocacy, alternative business structures, artificial intelligence, computer programs, judges, judiciary, legal education, legal profession, legal services, news, quality assurance, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The president of the Supreme Court last week called for a debate on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and for “greater prominence” for ethics in legal training.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 20th June 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk