News

Legal aid
Barristers intending to exercise their contractual right to give notice of termination of existing VHCC contracts were advised that they had until Sunday 1 December to inform the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) in writing. 

The Ministry of Justice laid Statutory Instruments to usher in its 30% fee cuts for very high cost cases (VHCC) last month. The SIs, which are subject to Parliamentary approval, are intended to come into effect on Monday 2 December. 

Rolling updates have been issued by the Bar Council to help barristers understand their options “without prejudice to any other steps that the Bar Council may wish to take in relation to the making of the Order and the scrutiny by Parliament of the Order”. Final advice was awaited as Counsel went to press. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Bar’s Brussels representation. 

The shift in the balance of powers between the UK and the EU
The Bar’s EU Law Committee organised a stimulating workshop at this year’s Annual Bar Conference, that examined the impact for the Bar of the UK’s uneasy relationship with the EU, in the context of current developments such as the 2014 opt out and the balance of competences review, as well as EU plans in the justice field. Panel members Diana Wallis, recently elected President of the European Law Institute, and Charles Grant CMG, Director of the Centre for European Reform, both provided fascinating insights into the policy and legal issues confronting us. 

From January 2014, all chambers will be required to participate in new supervision arrangements, set out by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). 

Under the new scheme, the BSB will assess how effectively chambers and sole practitioners are managing potential risks such as ineffective governance and inadequate pupillage training. 

Pro bono
Sarah Hannett of Matrix Chambers has won the 17th annual Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award, which was presented at this year’s Bar Conference. 

Hannett’s City University Matrix School Exclusion Project, which she founded in 2011, provides pro bono representation to parents of children who have been permanently excluded from school and has so far assisted 47 families. Lord Goldsmith QC, Chairman of the judging panel, praised the barrister for her “innovative approach to supporting young people in need” and her encouragement and inspiration of other barristers and students to take part. 

The administration of the BSB’s approach to monitoring compliance with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is changing with immediate effect. 

Barristers are no longer required to return CPD record cards to the Bar Standards Board (BSB). 

As a result of new changes introduced in October this year, all existing Public Access barristers now have up to 24 months to undertake additional top-up training or cease to conduct Public Access work. 

Profession/human rights
A Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) seminar has been disrupted by the cancellation of its international speakers’ visas. 

Entry to Sri Lanka was denied to the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) delegation due to speak at the seminar, “Commonwealth Values and the Role of the Legal Profession”, on 13 November. Speakers included the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Param Cumaraswamy, and senior IBA representative Alexander Wilks. 

Professional update
The new Code of Practice for Victims of Crime has been published by the Ministry of Justice. It is divided into three main sections:  enhanced entitlements for victims of the most serious crimes; persistently targeted victims and vulnerable or intimidated witnesses; entitlements for adult victims and corresponding duties on service providers; and entitlements for children and young people and corresponding duties on service providers. 

Bar Conference 2013
The Bar is a vital force for good and must fight for the recognition it deserves, Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar, told delegates at this year’s Bar Conference on 2 November. 

Over 550 barristers assembled to debate Tomorrow’s Bar: Engaged for the Future. The Chairman’s opening speech focused on the value of the Bar to society: “We work to achieve justice and to provide access to justice to every citizen. Our tradition is rooted in public service because we have an intrinsic and instinctive commitment to the Rule of Law, not just because it pays, or in some cases doesn’t. 

Regulation
Chambers and sole practitioners will be “risk-rated” under a Bar Standards Board supervision scheme from January, which will underpin the new Handbook. 

Those identified as “high risk” will be supported by the regulator to reduce the likelihood of serious problems occurring.