Women can have it all – we’re the proof – The Times

Posted May 15th, 2007 in barristers, women by sally

“The QCs Eleanor Platt and Alison Ball, joint heads of 1 Garden Court, have been unusual right from the start of their careers at the Bar.” 

Full story

The Times, 15th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

 

Barristers enticed to take English common law expertise overseas – The Lawyer

Posted May 9th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“Three of England’s high-profile barristers have decided to make the move to British Overseas Territories within the past month.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 8th May 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Chambers that don’t fit the mould – The Times

Posted May 8th, 2007 in barristers by sally

“The stereotype of barristers’ chambers is a Dickens-invoking place in or near the Inns of Court in London, with tweedy decor and a rigidly observed hierarchy.”

Full story

The Times, 8th May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

 

The one that got away – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 3rd, 2007 in barristers by sally

“Why should one of Britain’s leading specialists in family cases leave the Bar after 35 years and join a solicitors’ firm? It is not unknown for lawyers to seek new challenges in their early to mid-fifties, but the conventional way of changing direction is to become a judge.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 3rd May 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

New bar association launched to raise direct access awareness

Posted May 1st, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“A new barristers’ association is to be launched to promote direct access to the bar.”

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The Lawyer, 30th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Know your chambers: A closer inspection – Legal Week

Posted April 27th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“The traditional Chancery versus commercial divide is narrower than ever – meaning research into each chambers is essential to understand their specialisms, says Dominic Carman.”

Full story

Legal Week, 26th April 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Solicitors swing behind Neuberger’s controversial Bar diversity drive – Legal Week

Posted April 26th, 2007 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“A survey of senior partners has uncovered strong support from solicitors for a raft of measures designed to open up the Bar to people from less privileged backgrounds.”

Full story

Legal Week, 26th April 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

What’s next for the Criminal Bar? by Geoffrey Vos Q.C., Chairman of the Bar Council

Posted April 23rd, 2007 in barristers by sally

What’s next for the Criminal Bar? (Word document)

Speech by Geoffrey Vos Q.C. addresses the Criminal Bar Association Conference, 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Council Publishes Graduated Fee Payment Protocol – Bar Council

Posted April 20th, 2007 in barristers, fees by sally

“The criminal graduated fees scheme will be introduced from 30th April when the Criminal Defence Service (Funding) Order 2007 SI No 1174 comes into force. The Bar Council has now published its Graduated Fee Payment Protocol containing recommended practical ways in which to manage the new arrangements.”

Graduated Fee Payment Protocol (Word document)

Bar Council, 20th April 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Carter Review spurs Bar Council to assess standards – The Lawyer

Posted April 16th, 2007 in advocacy, barristers by sally

“The Bar Council has kick-started a consultation into how to ensure quality of courtroom advocacy following the Carter Review.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 16th April 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Barristers may be graded on quality – The Times

Posted April 10th, 2007 in advocacy, barristers, news by sally

“Incompetent barristers whose courtroom advocacy falls below par will be referred by judges and colleagues to a ‘remedial’ panel to bring them up to scratch, under measures proposed today. The Bar Council is also proposing a grading scheme to grade barristers who do legal aid work according to proficiency and experience.”

Full story

The Times, 10th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Maintaining excellence in advocacy – Bar Council consults on quality assurance – The Bar Council

Posted April 10th, 2007 in advocacy, barristers, consultations by sally

“A package of measures, designed to assure the quality of courtroom advocacy, has been put out for consultation by the Bar Council, which represents 14,000 barristers in England and Wales.”

Full story 

The Bar Council, 10th April 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lawyers given chance to ditch wig and gown – The Times

Posted April 10th, 2007 in barristers, court dress, news by sally

“The traditional wigs and gowns that are the hallmark of the legal profession are finally to be swept away in a shake-up of legal dress.”

Full story 

The Times, 9th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Barristers told reforms needed to lure less well-off trainees – Financial Times

Posted April 5th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“Poorer students are likely to be driven away from becoming barristers unless the profession takes action to make itself more accessible, the Bar Council chairman warned yesterday.”

Full story

Financial Times, 5th April 2007

Source: www.ft.com

‘Only merit and potential necessary to enter the Bar’ – Bar Council

Posted April 5th, 2007 in barristers, reports by sally

“The interim report of a high-level Working Party, chaired by Law Lord, Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, says that the Bar should be equally open to all, irrespective of any barriers which are not connected with merit or potential.  It suggests changes from school level through to pupillage, including placement schemes in sets of chambers for less privileged children, and loan schemes on preferential terms for Bar students.”

Full story

Bar Council press release, 5th April 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Unlocking the door to the Bar – Legal Week

Posted April 5th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“The long-awaited report by Lord Neuberger’s working party on widening access to the Bar was officially unveiled today (5 April). The report sets out a number of proposals for boosting access and diversity within the bar.”

Full story

Legal Week, 5th April 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Bar group floats capping BVC places and relaxing funding in access push – Legal Week

Posted April 5th, 2007 in barristers, legal education, news by sally

“The Bar Council may limit the number of places available on the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) and force course providers to reveal students’ chances of gaining a pupillage as part of a shake-up of the profession’s recruitment rules.”

Full story

Legal Week, 5th April 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Do we need limits to raise the Bar? – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 5th, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“This is an idea whose moment may have come, Lord Neuberger tells me. The recently appointed law lord is explaining why he thinks that a working party set up by the Bar of England and Wales may have the answer to a recruitment problem that has stumped nine previous committees over the past 16 years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 5th April 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Talent, not cash, should open the door to the Bar – The Times

Posted April 3rd, 2007 in barristers, news by sally

“This week Lord Neuberger, Britain’s newest law lord, will announce the interim findings of his inquiry into what can be done to ensure that the Bar is open to all. Over several months he has led a working party looking at barriers to entry, probing a world that Derek Wood, QC, a former Treasurer of Middle Temple, describes as ‘subtle and subterranean’ — a world of ‘accent, appearance, lifestyle and other personal markers that define any social dynasty’.”

Full story 

The Times, 3rd April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk