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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.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the role of cut-off levels, and the wider range of factors that must be considered when interpreting results for family court proceedings
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
