Bar Standards Board ‘failed to protect’ female barrister from online gender violence – The Guardian

‘A barrister has accused her professional regulator of failing to protect her from online gender violence, at the start of a disciplinary hearing against her for saying a judge had shown a “boys’ club attitude”.’

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The Guardian, 10th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barrister apprenticeship standard endorsed by Bar Standards Board – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 10th, 2024 in barristers, legal education, news, standards by tracey

‘The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) are pleased to announce the Barrister Apprenticeship Standard. This new standard sets out the skills, knowledge and behaviours needed to become a successful practising barrister in England and Wales. ‘

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Bar Standards Board, 5th December 2024

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Race at the Bar: time to double down on race equality work – The Bar Council

Posted December 10th, 2024 in barristers, equality, news, race discrimination, reports by tracey

‘The Bar Council is calling on individuals, chambers, and organisations at the Bar to step up work on race equality and keep the momentum going, as it publishes the follow up report to the landmark Race at the Bar report 2021.”

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The Bar Council, 4th December 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Former chair of Criminal Bar Association found to have ‘inappropriately initiated sexual contact’ with aspiring lawyer – The Guardian

‘A former chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) inappropriately initiated sexual contact with an aspiring lawyer, a disciplinary tribunal has found.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Lives on hold’: a day in the crown court where cases are delayed for years – The Guardian

Posted December 9th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, Crown Court, delay, judges, news, statistics by sally

‘Backlog in cases set to reach 100,000 in England and Wales without action on shortage of barristers and judges.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

“Blurred distinctions” as legal aid solicitors do their own advocacy – Legal Futures

Posted December 3rd, 2024 in advocacy, barristers, civil justice, legal aid, news, reports, solicitors by tracey

‘The distinction between solicitors and barristers is becoming increasingly “blurred” in civil legal aid cases as solicitors do their own advocacy, research for the government’s review of civil legal aid has found.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd December 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High public confidence in barristers falters among ethnic minorities – Legal Futures

Posted December 2nd, 2024 in barristers, equality, legal profession, news, race discrimination, statistics by tracey

‘Public confidence in barristers is high, but lower among those from minority backgrounds, especially when it comes to perceptions of whether they treat everyone fairly, new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd December 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Retired judge to front collective action against Google – Legal Futures

‘A retired deputy High Court judge is set to front a collective action worth billions of pounds alleging that Google has abused its dominant position in online search advertising.’

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Legal Futures, 25th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firm’s poor work did not undermine rapist’s conviction – Legal Futures

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld the safety of a man’s conviction for rape despite the Legal Ombudsman criticising his solicitors’ poor conduct of the case.’

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Legal Futures, 25th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB Equality Rules amendments proposals are the wrong approach, warns the Bar Council – The Bar Council

Posted November 19th, 2024 in amendments, barristers, equality, news, regulations by tracey

‘The Bar Council has today published its proposed response to the Bar Standards Board’s proposed amendments to the equality rules forming part of barristers’ conduct obligations. The Bar Council has significant concerns that the proposals are substantially unlawful and unenforceable, impractical, and may “hinder progress in this important area”. ‘

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The Bar Council, 18th November 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

High Court upholds LeO’s decision to dismiss complaint – Legal Futures

Posted November 18th, 2024 in barristers, complaints, executors, families, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) was right to dismiss a complaint it thought better suited to be determined in court, a judge has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 18th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Independent report supports call for immediate uplift in criminal legal aid fees – The Bar Council

Posted November 18th, 2024 in barristers, criminal justice, fees, legal aid, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘The Bar Council is repeating calls on the Ministry of Justice for an immediate 15% uplift in criminal legal aid fees for barristers, following the publication of the first Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) report.’

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The Bar Council, 14th November 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Talking Pensions Ep20: Dame Jane Newell – Pensions Barrister

Posted November 14th, 2024 in barristers, news, pensions, podcasts, trusts by sally

‘In the latest episode (recorded in June 2024), Paul talks to Dame Jane Newell, former Chair of the Maxwell Pensioners Trust and former Chair of the Royal Mail, John Lewis and United Utilities pension schemes. They discuss the work involved in recovering funds for Maxwell pensioners, Jane’s long experience of independent pension trusteeship, and her involvement in the Pensions Archive Trust.’

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Pensions Barrister, 14th November 2024

Source: www.pensionsbarrister.com

Barristers “wrongly think they work within AML regulations” – Legal Futures

Posted November 14th, 2024 in barristers, money laundering, news, regulations by sally

‘Barristers are wrongly stating that their work is covered by the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs) in their annual declarations to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 14th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Employment law silks clash over impact of BSB equality duty – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news, standards by tracey

‘Two leading employment law silks have clashed over the new, proactive equality duty proposed by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Church covered up ‘abhorrent’ abuse, report finds – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2024 in assault, barristers, child abuse, Church of England, news, reports, sexual offences by tracey

‘A British barrister’s “horrific” and violent abuse of more than 100 children and young men was covered up within the Church of England for decades, according to the conclusion of a damning report.’

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BBC News, 7th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Church covered up ‘abhorrent’ abuse, report finds – BBC News

Posted November 8th, 2024 in barristers, child abuse, children, Church of England, news, sexual offences by michael

‘A British barrister’s “horrific” and violent abuse of more than 100 children and young men was covered up within the Church of England for decades, according to the conclusion of a damning report.’

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BBC News, 7th November 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Crown Prosecution Service launches Go Prosecute – a brand-new barrister development programme – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted October 30th, 2024 in barristers, Crown Prosecution Service, news, pilot schemes, prosecutions by tracey

‘Go Prosecute, a brand-new development programme for newly qualified barristers to gain invaluable prosecution experience, has been launched by the Crown Prosecution Service.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 28th October 2024

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

‘Fat-cats’ versus ‘church mice’: unveiling legal aid practice from behind the shadows of private legal practice in England and Wales – Legal Studies

Posted October 25th, 2024 in barristers, legal aid, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

‘This paper calls for the lawyering profession – which is often viewed as unabridged – to be reframed into two distinct occupations: legal aid practice and private practice, to better incorporate the divisions in labour. In order to better understand contemporary legal aid work and its workers, the hidden realities must be unveiled from behind their private counterparts, which opposingly signify wealth, professionalism, autonomy and privilege. Set within a context of crumbling professional identities, a shrinking industry and financial constraints, the paper draws on ethnographic and interview data. It finds that those working in legal aid undoubtedly face a more stagnated, under-resourced and precarious working environment, which means that their professional experience is vastly different from their private counterparts. Likewise, those in the field face toxic narratives from the government, the media, the public, and their private counterparts alike, resulting in persistent discourse of vilification. Ultimately, it calls for a refocus of legal aid work as a separate vocation due to its altruistic underpinnings, unique ‘professional’ identity, and values.’

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Legal Studies, 3rd October 2024

Source: www.cambridge.org

“Disruptive action” may be needed to improve diversity, LSB warns – Legal Futures

‘Bullying and harassment is not limited to the Bar and “disruptive action” may be needed to create a “fair, healthy, diverse and inclusive legal profession”, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk