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The Law Society and the Bar Council again hosted around 60 international bar leaders and their guests for the ceremonies in conjunction with the Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) on 1 October. On the preceding day a well-attended seminar was held at the Bar Council, with input from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, which examined the implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007 and looked at the latest developments in other jurisdictions.
There remain significant concerns about the possible introduction of Alternative Business Structures and key jurisdictions in Europe do not see the need to follow the changes to the regulatory system contained in the Act. Nevertheless, some elements of the changes in England & Wales have been crossing the channel, with the introduction of a consumer panel to advise the Dutch Bar, following a review of its regulatory structure last year. A particular question mark remains about the ability of ABS vehicles to practice in other EU Member States where such structures are not permitted domestically. It will be interesting to see how the review of the legal services regulations in France, launched ostensibly with the aim to introduce ABSs, will influence the debate. The seminar was a valuable exchange of news and views and is establishing itself as a regular feature in the OLY diary.
There remain significant concerns about the possible introduction of Alternative Business Structures and key jurisdictions in Europe do not see the need to follow the changes to the regulatory system contained in the Act. Nevertheless, some elements of the changes in England & Wales have been crossing the channel, with the introduction of a consumer panel to advise the Dutch Bar, following a review of its regulatory structure last year. A particular question mark remains about the ability of ABS vehicles to practice in other EU Member States where such structures are not permitted domestically. It will be interesting to see how the review of the legal services regulations in France, launched ostensibly with the aim to introduce ABSs, will influence the debate. The seminar was a valuable exchange of news and views and is establishing itself as a regular feature in the OLY diary.
The Law Society and the Bar Council again hosted around 60 international bar leaders and their guests for the ceremonies in conjunction with the Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) on 1 October. On the preceding day a well-attended seminar was held at the Bar Council, with input from the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, which examined the implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007 and looked at the latest developments in other jurisdictions.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
Responding to criticism on the narrow profile of government-instructed counsel, Mel Nebhrajani CB describes the system-wide change at GLD to drive fairer distribution of work and broader development of talent
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
