Don’t be afraid to complain about your lawyer says Legal Ombudsman – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2012 in complaints, law firms, legal ombudsman, legal profession, news by tracey

“Clients of law firms are scared to complain when things go wrong and are confused about the complaints system.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th October 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bar Council eyes greater retention with launch of bar nursery – The Lawyer

Posted October 8th, 2012 in barristers, children, inns of court, legal profession, news by sally

“The Bar Council plans to roll out childcare services to barristers in London before the end of the year in a bid to halt the brain drain among young lawyers with parenting responsibilities”

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The Lawyer, 8th October 2012

Source: www.thelawyer.com

The unwritten rules of clerking – Legal Week

Posted September 13th, 2012 in barristers' clerks, legal profession, news by tracey

“I have been extremely fortunate in my career to work for some excellent senior clerks. They have all had their own styles and idiosyncrasies which must in some way have molded my own brand of clerking. They all had two things in common; they needed a steady supply of hot beverages to get them through the day and they all adhered to The Rules.”

Full story

Legal Week, 12th September 2012

Source: www.legalweek.com

Criminal bar chief: unity can help resist ‘extinction’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 13th, 2012 in barristers, fees, legal profession, news, solicitors by tracey

“Criminal solicitors and barristers should stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ to oppose further fee cuts or risk ‘virtual extinction’ within five years, the new chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 13th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Calm in a crisis: lawyers and the internet age – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 6th, 2012 in internet, law firms, legal profession, media, news by sally

“There are events in the life-cycle of any business that have the potential to snowball into a crisis of unforeseen proportions. It could be a bad set of financial results or a scuppered merger. Or perhaps employee lay-offs, a high-profile desertion to a rival or allegations of misconduct by senior staff. Or it might be a testing issue with a client. But while difficult business decisions may not be avoidable, especially in this tough economic climate, a crisis played out in the media can be managed or averted by taking the right steps.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 6th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Fresh faces at justice ministry after reshuffle – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 5th, 2012 in legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“A criminal law barrister and former Labour-supporting law firm founder are among the new faces at the Ministry of Justice after a sweeping reshuffle of ministerial posts.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 5th September 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Chris Grayling, justice secretary: non-lawyer and ‘on the up’ politician – The Guardian

Posted September 5th, 2012 in criminal justice, judiciary, legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Grayling’s main qualifications for justice minister are that he is perceived to be right-wing and once shadowed prisons.”

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The Guardian, 4th September 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tracking changes to legal ethics – LSB research suggests the way ahead – Legal Services Board

Posted September 5th, 2012 in legal profession, Legal Services Board, news, professional conduct, reports by sally

“The Legal Services Board today publishes a report by a team led by Professor Richard Moorhead of University College, Director of the Centre for Ethics and Law at London, outlining how professional ethics in the legal sector may be tracked over time. The LSB commissioned the research to support the ongoing evaluation of the impact of the Legal Services Act 2007.”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 5th September 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

Related link: Designing Ethics Indicators for Legal Services Provision (PDF)

Ken Clarke’s weekend court plans in tatters as lawyers object – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 28th, 2012 in courts, legal profession, news, pilot schemes by tracey

“The Coalition’s plans to speed up the courts system are in tatters as lawyers   across the country refuse to sit at weekends.”

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Daily Telegraph, 28th August 2012

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Bar Council Calls for ‘Snoopers’ Charter’ to Protect Legal Communications – The Bar Council

Posted August 23rd, 2012 in bills, electronic mail, interception, legal profession, news, privacy by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged the Committee considering the draft Communications Data Bill to recommend protection for legal communications before any new interception powers are granted.”

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The Bar Council, 22nd August 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Moors murderer Ian Brady’s legal advocate arrested – The Guardian

“The legal advocate of the Moors murderer Ian Brady has been arrested for allegedly failing to reveal where the body of Keith Bennett, one of Brady and Myra Hindley’s five young victims, is buried.”

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The Guardian, 17th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judiciary silenced out of court – The Guardian

Posted August 15th, 2012 in internet, judiciary, legal profession, magistrates, news by sally

“Judges and magistrates have been banned from blogging about their jobs. This is not helpful.”

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The Guardian, 14th August 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

LSB sets the complaint handling agenda – Legal Service Board

Posted July 30th, 2012 in complaints, consumer protection, legal profession, news by sally

“The Legal Services Board (LSB) is reminding all regulators of their important role in making sure lawyers deal properly with complaints – and stressing the need for both regulators and lawyers to learn from what they reveal.”

Full story (PDF)

Legal Services Board, 30th July 2012

Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – The Bar Council

Posted July 26th, 2012 in competition, law firms, legal profession, news, tenders by sally

“A tribute to outgoing Law Society President, John Wotton; a welcome to his successor, Lucy Scott‐Moncrieff, defender of the High Street law firm; examining the aims of Price Competitive Tendering and the likely results both for the Bar and for justice.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, August 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

‘Baby barrister’ threat to solicitors – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 26th, 2012 in barristers, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“Barristers with under three years’ practising experience will be able to take instructions directly from clients if the Bar Standards Board’s latest plan for the extension of public access rules is approved.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 26th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Lawyers must do better – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2012 in fees, insurance, law firms, legal profession, news by tracey

“Legal insurance and conditional and fixed-fee arrangements aren’t serving people’s best interests.”

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The Guardian, 19th July 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB Chair comments on strength of BSB’s performance as a competent and transparent regulator – Bar Standards Board

“Baroness Ruth Deech, Chair of the Bar Standards Board, said: ‘As a competent, transparent and public interest regulator, the Bar Standards Board continues to promote and uphold the highest regulatory standards. We pride ourselves on the fact that we operate in an open and transparent manner, and our disciplinary processes serve to underline the fact that we take complaints by the public of professional misconduct extremely seriously.’ ”

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 17th July 2012

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Bar-solicitor divisions ‘music to government’s ears’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 10th, 2012 in barristers, legal profession, news, solicitors by sally

“Two leading criminal lawyers have called for solicitors and barristers to stop arguing among themselves and unite, to promote their clients’ interests and the justice system.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th July 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

It’s a funny old world – The Bar Council

Posted June 28th, 2012 in advocacy, barristers, fees, legal profession, news by sally

“The plight of the criminal Bar; the independence of the Bar threatened by fee cuts, referral fees and price competitive tendering; and such developments under scrutiny from the rest of the common law world.”

Full story (PDF)

The Bar Council, July 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Shifting the burden: support for stress – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 21st, 2012 in law firms, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors by sally

“The suicide last year of a senior local authority solicitor who felt unable to cope with the demands placed on him following a 30% cut to his department’s budget shocked the profession.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk