*/
The size of the junior Bar is shrinking, Andrew Langdon QC told the annual Bar Council conference in London earlier this month.
‘Most believe the lack of confidence in public funding is partly what has caused chambers to recruit fewer junior members,’ he said, along with the growth in the number of solicitor higher court advocates.
This year, he said, there had been ‘some sign’ that confidence may have returned and recruitment to the junior Bar may be ‘heading back to a healthier place’. But, he said: ‘We are currently losing young barristers who see how hard it will be to pay back the debts they incur in training.’
Langdon warned: ‘We will wither on the vine if we do not take care of the most junior barristers.’
Accusing successive governments of undervaluing the delivery of justice and taking the publicly funded profession for granted, he told barristers they must ‘call out ill-conceived reform’ that may save money, but that will ‘demote the quality of justice’.
While fees from publicly funded work have been shrinking, Langdon told delegates that income from international work was increasing. ‘Confounding those who predicted our demise,’ he said the overall size of the Bar has continued to grow.
Chaired by Rachel Spearing, the conference heard from speakers including Sir Keir Starmer QC MP, Lady Justice Hallett, terror-law watchdog Max Hill QC, retired Court of Appeal judge, Sir Henry Brooke and Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission, Lord Kakkar. (See pp 12-21.)
Meanwhile, as Westminster is gripped by allegations of sexual impropriety, Labour peer and barrister, Baroness Kennedy QC warned that young barristers are vulnerable to sexual harassment.
She told The Times: ‘At the Bar, young women and some young men are vulnerable because they are in a highly competitive world seeking training places and tenancies and briefs.
‘There are many people who might seek their favours to advance their career. Stories abound and chambers should have clear rules and be swift in ending the tenancies of people who abuse their power. But it is still too hard for women to speak out.’
The size of the junior Bar is shrinking, Andrew Langdon QC told the annual Bar Council conference in London earlier this month.
‘Most believe the lack of confidence in public funding is partly what has caused chambers to recruit fewer junior members,’ he said, along with the growth in the number of solicitor higher court advocates.
This year, he said, there had been ‘some sign’ that confidence may have returned and recruitment to the junior Bar may be ‘heading back to a healthier place’. But, he said: ‘We are currently losing young barristers who see how hard it will be to pay back the debts they incur in training.’
Langdon warned: ‘We will wither on the vine if we do not take care of the most junior barristers.’
Accusing successive governments of undervaluing the delivery of justice and taking the publicly funded profession for granted, he told barristers they must ‘call out ill-conceived reform’ that may save money, but that will ‘demote the quality of justice’.
While fees from publicly funded work have been shrinking, Langdon told delegates that income from international work was increasing. ‘Confounding those who predicted our demise,’ he said the overall size of the Bar has continued to grow.
Chaired by Rachel Spearing, the conference heard from speakers including Sir Keir Starmer QC MP, Lady Justice Hallett, terror-law watchdog Max Hill QC, retired Court of Appeal judge, Sir Henry Brooke and Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission, Lord Kakkar. (See pp 12-21.)
Meanwhile, as Westminster is gripped by allegations of sexual impropriety, Labour peer and barrister, Baroness Kennedy QC warned that young barristers are vulnerable to sexual harassment.
She told The Times: ‘At the Bar, young women and some young men are vulnerable because they are in a highly competitive world seeking training places and tenancies and briefs.
‘There are many people who might seek their favours to advance their career. Stories abound and chambers should have clear rules and be swift in ending the tenancies of people who abuse their power. But it is still too hard for women to speak out.’
On both fronts – representing the Bar’s interests and protecting the rule of law
Kate West discusses how best to interpret a drug test report, and the common misconceptions about what can be learnt from a drug test
Ashley Hodgkinson looks at drug testing methods and some of the most common ways people try to cheat a drug test
Clerksroom Chambers has recruited Matthew Wildish from 3 Paper Buildings (3PB) to a newly created position of Director of Clerking. Matthew joined the team at Clerksroom on 1 June
... have you seen through yours? asks Julian Morgan
Opportunity for female sopranos/contraltos in secondary education, or who have recently finished secondary education but have not yet begun tertiary education. Eligibility includes children of members of the Bar
Clerksroom Chambers has recruited Matthew Wildish from 3 Paper Buildings (3PB) to a newly created position of Director of Clerking. Matthew joined the team at Clerksroom on 1 June
In this tale of hope, success really has been the best revenge! A difficult journey teaches Rehana Azib QC invaluable lessons along the way
The Chief Inspector of the CPS knows first-hand the difficulties prosecutors face but is no pushover. He talks to Anthony Inglese CB about Operation Soteria, putting victims and cooperation at the heart of criminal justice reform, and his unique and life-changing career prosecuting the crime of all crimes, genocide
Having represented many Davids against many Goliaths over a 30+year career at the publicly funded Bar, renowned silk Professor Leslie Thomas QC critically assesses what the Human Rights Act currently under challenge has done for coronial law and equality of arms
The future of robotics in surgery is likely to hinge on what it enables does the legal system yet have the tools to protect patients?Conor Dufficy and Finn Stevenson investigate