*/
Profession
Barristers can now talk to the media about their cases, following removal of the prohibition from the Code of Conduct.
Rules 709.1 and 709.2 are removed with immediate effect and replaced with Bar Standards Board (BSB) guidance on the factors and risks in making such comments. Approving the change on 28 March, the Legal Services Board said that allowing barristers to talk to the media when “justified, appropriate and in their client‘s best interests” was consistent with regulatory objectives.
General Code of Conduct obligations of not engaging in conduct that is dishonest or otherwise discreditable, prejudicial to the administration of justice or likely to diminish public confidence, will also mitigate risk of undermining confidence in case conduct and outcome, the BSB said in its application.
Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, agreed that barristers should be able to speak to the media “in appropriate circumstances”, but said that many will be hesitant to speak publicly about their live cases and hoped that the media would respect that position.
Rules 709.1 and 709.2 are removed with immediate effect and replaced with Bar Standards Board (BSB) guidance on the factors and risks in making such comments. Approving the change on 28 March, the Legal Services Board said that allowing barristers to talk to the media when “justified, appropriate and in their client‘s best interests” was consistent with regulatory objectives.
General Code of Conduct obligations of not engaging in conduct that is dishonest or otherwise discreditable, prejudicial to the administration of justice or likely to diminish public confidence, will also mitigate risk of undermining confidence in case conduct and outcome, the BSB said in its application.
Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, agreed that barristers should be able to speak to the media “in appropriate circumstances”, but said that many will be hesitant to speak publicly about their live cases and hoped that the media would respect that position.
Profession
Barristers can now talk to the media about their cases, following removal of the prohibition from the Code of Conduct.
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
