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The European Council, meeting in late October, agreed to add a protocol to the Lisbon Treaty which will allow the Czech Republic to opt out of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, just as the UK and Poland have done. This will mean that the Charter applies only to EU, and not national, legislation, in those Member States. Left with no valid excuse not to, the Czech President signed the Treaty on 3 November, bringing the ratification process to completion in all 27 Member States. Thus, the Treaty of Lisbon should enter into force by the year’s end.
The European Council, meeting in late October, agreed to add a protocol to the Lisbon Treaty which will allow the Czech Republic to opt out of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, just as the UK and Poland have done. This will mean that the Charter applies only to EU, and not national, legislation, in those Member States. Left with no valid excuse not to, the Czech President signed the Treaty on 3 November, bringing the ratification process to completion in all 27 Member States. Thus, the Treaty of Lisbon should enter into force by the year’s end.
The Bar Council faces both opportunities and challenges on our key areas this year
Exclusive Q&A with Henry Dannell
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs discusses the benefits of Non-invasive Prenatal Paternity testing for the timely resolution of family disputes
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Have you considered being a barrister in the British Army? Here’s an insight into a career in Army Legal Services
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the role that drug, alcohol and DNA testing can play in non-court dispute resolution (NCDR)
Sir Nicholas Mostyn, former High Court judge, on starting a hit podcast with fellow ‘Parkies’ after the shock of his diagnosis
‘Hard work and commitment can open doors. I believe that I am proof of that,’ says Senior Treasury Counsel Louise Oakley. She tells Anthony Inglese CB about her journey from Wolverhampton to the Old Bailey
What's it like being a legal trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service? Amy describes what drew her to the role, the skills required and a typical day in the life
Barbara Mills KC wants to raise the profile of the family Bar. She also wants to improve wellbeing and enhance equality, diversity and inclusion in the profession. She talks to Joshua Rozenberg KC (hon) about her plans for the year ahead
The winning essay is ‘A fiction of defendant participation: Single Justice Procedure offences should be moved to the civil jurisdiction’ by Hal McNulty
