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Barristers should stop calling themselves a “referral profession”, Anthony Speaight QC told delegates at the annual Bar Conference. The term “referral profession” concealed the “most important characteristics and qualities of the Bar”; barristers should refer to themselves as “the legal profession’s specialist branch”. “Disposing of the image of the Bar as a referral profession and launching the concept of it as a specialist profession might assist both barristers and the public in the development of new ways of supplying cheaper legal services,” he said. Speaight drew an analogy between the Ba r and the medical profession, which has 56 areas of speciality. Barristers already identify
themselves in directories and on websites as specialised in a particular fi eld, although there are no formal higher qualifi cations. He argued that, if the Bar were to adopt the medical profession’s approach to specialism, barristers would still be able to work outside their speciality—just as doctors are able to practice in any area within their competence. For a full round up of the Bar Conference see pp 12 to 17 of this month’s issue.
Barristers should stop calling themselves a “referral profession”, Anthony Speaight QC told delegates at the annual Bar Conference. The term “referral profession” concealed the “most important characteristics and qualities of the Bar”; barristers should refer to themselves as “the legal profession’s specialist branch”. “Disposing of the image of the Bar as a referral profession and launching the concept of it as a specialist profession might assist both barristers and the public in the development of new ways of supplying cheaper legal services,” he said. Speaight drew an analogy between the Ba r and the medical profession, which has 56 areas of speciality. Barristers already identify
themselves in directories and on websites as specialised in a particular fi eld, although there are no formal higher qualifi cations. He argued that, if the Bar were to adopt the medical profession’s approach to specialism, barristers would still be able to work outside their speciality—just as doctors are able to practice in any area within their competence. For a full round up of the Bar Conference see pp 12 to 17 of this month’s issue.
The Bar Council will press for investment in justice at party conferences, the Chancellor’s Budget and Spending Review
Equip yourself for your new career at the Bar
Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth explores some key steps to take when starting out as a barrister in order to secure your financial future
Millicent Wild of 5 Essex Chambers describes her pupillage experience
Drug, alcohol and DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Juno Women’s Aid in Nottingham as part of its Giving Back campaign
Casedo explains how to hit the ground running on your next case with a four-step plan to transform the way you work
In a two-part opinion series, James Onalaja considers the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s requests for arrest warrants in the controversial Israel-Palestine situation
Christianah Babajide talks to four female senior clerks who share insights for aspiring clerks, especially women, as well as their hopes for the future of the profession
Daniel Barnett serves up a host of summer shows
Britain needs to get over its shameful denial of racism, call it what it is and start to effectively deal with the problem, says Vithyah Chelvam
An epic failure of public policy has filled our crumbling prisons to capacity, says Lord Ken Macdonald KC. How did we get here, and what might reform look like?
