Features

The Australian Bar Association Conference examined how English law deals with human rights considerations, privacy issues and direct access, reports Justice Glenn Martin.  

Why did 150 Australian barristers and judges come to London in June to hear about the law of England and Wales? We, the Australian Bar Association (“ABA”), came precisely because the law is, to varying degrees, different in this jurisdiction. And because of the different ways in which the profession and the judiciary have dealt with problems which have also arisen in Australia. And because exposure to different ideas and attitudes challenges you to re-assess your own decisions and behaviour. 

The Australian Bar Association Conference examined how English law deals with human rights considerations, privacy issues and direct access, reports Justice Glenn Martin.  

Why did 150 Australian barristers and judges come to London in June to hear about the law of England and Wales? We, the Australian Bar Association (“ABA”), came precisely because the law is, to varying degrees, different in this jurisdiction. And because of the different ways in which the profession and the judiciary have dealt with problems which have also arisen in Australia. And because exposure to different ideas and attitudes challenges you to re-assess your own decisions and behaviour. 

James Ewins, the Field Office Director of IJM in Bangalore, explains how he is using his legal experience and skills gained at the family Bar to his advantage in freeing slaves in India.  

It may seem like a career at the family Bar advising upon and litigating big-money divorce cases has nothing in common with freeing slaves in South India. And I confess it was not any similarity in the subject matter that persuaded me to move to Bangalore with my wife and three children, to be Director of the International Justice Mission (“IJM”) field office there. But having been here for a few months, I have come to appreciate how my experience can be used to my advantage, and through me to the advantage of the millions of slaves in India today. 

How can BVC students maximise their chances of obtaining a pupillage? Yvonne Kramo believes a traineeship with the European Parliament will help her achieve her goal 

Overcoming a multitude of visa problems, teams of lawyers with a passion for cricket from twelve mostly Commonwealth jurisdictions gathered in Cambridge on 26 July for an eight day tournament, culminating in a grand final at the Brit Oval in London on 4 August. The sporting element of the programme was complemented by a seminar at Churchill College on 30th July at which recent developments in international criminal law and sports law was discussed. The seminar was supported by the International Committee and Outer Temple Chambers and chaired by the Master of the Rolls. Speakers included Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, Sir Desmond de Silva QC, Mark Gray, partner at DLA Piper, Paul David of the New Zealand Bar and The Hon Mr Justice Mukul Mudgal, Justice of the High Court of Delhi. 

Dear Editor 

Can I thank Sunil Tailor for the very interesting article on fictional barrister sleuths which appeared in the August issue of Counsel (“The Crime Writers” pp 24-26). I’m sure it will have encouraged readers to search Amazon to supplement their holiday reading. 

Dear Editor 

The July 2009 edition of Counsel published an article entitled “Since you pay for it....” (pp 14-16) about the cover that Bar Mutual offers for disciplinary complaints to the Bar Standards Board. Unfortunately, Bar Mutual’s address as published in text box “Support and Assistance” was incorrect. We are now at 90 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4ST. 

The Qatar Law Forum in May 2009 brought together global leaders in law to mark a shared commitment to the rule of law, reports Khadija Ali.  

The Qatar Law Forum took place in Doha from 29 to 31 May 2009 under the patronage of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. 

The Qatar Law Forum in May 2009 brought together global leaders in law to mark a shared commitment to the rule of law, reports Khadija Ali.  

The Qatar Law Forum took place in Doha from 29 to 31 May 2009 under the patronage of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. 

What happens when the judiciary in young democracies seeks to apply result-orientated judgments to the emotional evaluation of a particular case? South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal has had to deal with two such cases. David Wurtzel reports on Mr Justice Harms’ speech to CEBA.  

When does judging become irrational? When it reaches a conclusion and then looks for the reasons to justify it. On 8 June Mr Justice Harms, the Deputy President of South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”), gave a speech to the Commonwealth in England Barristers’ Association (“CEBA”) on how creative judging or result-orientated judgments—ie reaching a conclusion and then looking for the reasons to justify it—has been used in an emerging democracy with reference to two specific cases before the SCA. The following is an extract from his speech.