‘What is an ethical lawyer? Should an ethical lawyer steer clear of certain clients on public interest grounds? And should the regulator police the profession’s choice of client?’
Bar Standards Board, 28th April 2023
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
‘An employment tribunal (ET) did not show bias in dismissing a claim brought by a black barrister against his chambers, an appeal tribunal has ruled.’
Legal Futures, 24th April 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘In King v Stiefel (Wasted Costs) [2023] EWHC 453 (Comm), the Commercial Court emphatically rejected applications for wasted costs against a barrister and his instructing solicitors, in relation to a claim which had been struck out. The case is a good example of how difficult it is to obtain a wasted costs order against lawyers. William Flenley KC acted for the successful solicitors.’
Hailsham Chambers, 8th March 2023
Source: www.hailshamchambers.com
‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) said last night that it was assessing self-reports from barristers who say they will defy the cab-rank rule.’
Legal Futures, 31st March 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Long delays and a massive increase in the rescheduling of rape trials are having a devastating impact on victims’ mental health and leading some victims to take their own lives, according to a major new report.’
The Guardian, 27th March 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Barristers should not crow online about court victories, the profession’s leader has warned amid renewed controversy over lawyers being identified with their clients.’
Law Society's Gazette, 23rd March 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Crown Prosecution Service has been ordered to pay a barrister almost £136,000 after failing to make adjustments to his working life following a heart attack.’
Law Society's Gazette, 22nd March 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Black barristers will be disproportionately affected by negative reviews posted on digital comparison platforms, the Bar Standards Board has been told. An event organised by the Black Barristers Network also highlighted the potential limits to what barristers can say publicly in response to negative feedback – a problem that equally applies to law firms and individual solicitors.’
Law Society's Gazette, 22nd March 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Being neurodivergent is something of which to be unashamedly proud and offers the Bar an extraordinary skill set. Professor Jo Delahunty KC, the silk well known for challenging the status quo, tackles the preconceptions of what it takes to be a barrister in an interview with Charlotte Plowman.’
Counsel, 13th March 2023
Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk
‘Macho masculinity and the alignment of what is generally considered professional at the Bar with heterosexuality, is creating problems for sexual minority barristers, according to a paper published recently.’
Legal Futures, 17th March 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Eco-anxiety, a form of anxiety linked to the climate crisis, is a wellbeing issue for barristers which “should be taken seriously” by chambers, a KC and environmental law specialist has said.’
Legal Futures, 14th March 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published: an interim report from AlphaPlus evaluating the BSB’s Future Bar Training (FBT) reforms; the BSB’s 2023 Bar Training Report, covering the period from 2011/12 to 2022/23 and the Central Examinations Board (CEB) Chair’s Report, which presents the latest results for candidates sitting the centralised assessments in civil and criminal litigation in December 2022.’
Bar Standards Board, 8th March 2023
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
‘Nearly four in five Bar students still regard their courses as unaffordable despite an average drop of £4,700 in fees, research for the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has found.’
Legal Futures, 9th March 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Despite the master of the rolls’ clarion call for lawyers to respect judgment embargoes and a warning about possible contempt proceedings, high-profile breaches continue to happen.’
Law Society's Gazette, 17th February 2023
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published its response to the Legal Service Board’s policy statement on ongoing competence. The response includes an action plan which sets out the BSB’s approach to assuring the professional competence of barristers and, in doing so, how it meets the expectations of the LSB’s policy statement.’
Bar Standards Board, 14th February 2023
Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said it is open to “revisiting” its position that a reaccreditation scheme to ensure the competence of barristers is unnecessary.’
Legal Futures, 16th February 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘How often does a member of the House of Lords get cheered from the football terraces?’
BBC News, 14th February 2023
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Greater visibility, better career progression, and stamping out bullying and harassment are key recommendations in a new report on ‘Life at the employed Bar’ published by the Bar Council today. The employed Bar is more diverse, reports higher levels of wellbeing, and experiences greater flexibility and work/life balance than the self-employed Bar. However, the employed Bar also experiences bullying and harassment at similar levels to the whole Bar, has a far lower rate of taking Silk, and expresses some concern about perceptions of careers at the employed Bar.’
The Bar Council, 8th February 2023
Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk
‘There is a “strong feeling” that employed barristers are undervalued by their self-employed colleagues, a Bar Council report has found.’
Legal Futures, 9th February 2023
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A leading lawyer is suing the Times for libel over a report relating to a complaint against her to the barristers’ watchdog for England and Wales.’
The Guardian, 6th February 2023
Source: www.theguardian.com
