*/
Sierra Leone initiative
A special interest group has been established by the Bar Council under the chairmanship of Mrs Justice Dobbs to co-ordinate the pro bono work being carried out in the Sierra Leonean justice system by UK-based organisations.
Set up by Maura McGowan QC after the commitment to assisting the Bar of Sierra Leone made in her inaugural address, the group intends to help provide advocacy and ethics training in Sierra Leone through the Advocacy Training Council. It will also promote other means of strengthening the legal profession, including arranging mentoring for young lawyers, exchange programmes and assisting in the maintenance and modernisation of law library facilities. Anyone interested in joining the group or becoming a mentor, especially those from West Africa, should email: CHudson@BarCouncil.org.uk.
Project Umubano
Project Umubano, the Conservative Party’s international social action project, is looking for barristers to volunteer to join its trip to Sierra Leone in September this year. The project’s work, which was featured in the November 2012 edition of Counsel, includes training for lawyers and paralegals in a range of subjects. For more information see: www.projectumubano.com or email: projectumubano@live.co.uk.
Most judges escape cuts
Three-quarters of sitting judges will escape cuts to their pensions, the government has confirmed. Judicial pensions are being cut back in line with other public service schemes, but those within 10 years of pension age at 1 April 2012 – around 75% of judges – will continue in their current schemes. The remaining quarter of judges will move into the new scheme from 1 April 2015. A “tapering protection” has been offered to those appointed before 1 April 2012, and who were aged between 51½ and 55 at that date. A High Court judge retiring after 20 years of service would receive £86,500 a year plus a lump sum of £173,000 under the current scheme, compared with £75,000 a year with no lump sum under the new plans.
Set up by Maura McGowan QC after the commitment to assisting the Bar of Sierra Leone made in her inaugural address, the group intends to help provide advocacy and ethics training in Sierra Leone through the Advocacy Training Council. It will also promote other means of strengthening the legal profession, including arranging mentoring for young lawyers, exchange programmes and assisting in the maintenance and modernisation of law library facilities. Anyone interested in joining the group or becoming a mentor, especially those from West Africa, should email: CHudson@BarCouncil.org.uk.
Project Umubano
Project Umubano, the Conservative Party’s international social action project, is looking for barristers to volunteer to join its trip to Sierra Leone in September this year. The project’s work, which was featured in the November 2012 edition of Counsel, includes training for lawyers and paralegals in a range of subjects. For more information see: www.projectumubano.com or email: projectumubano@live.co.uk.
Most judges escape cuts
Three-quarters of sitting judges will escape cuts to their pensions, the government has confirmed. Judicial pensions are being cut back in line with other public service schemes, but those within 10 years of pension age at 1 April 2012 – around 75% of judges – will continue in their current schemes. The remaining quarter of judges will move into the new scheme from 1 April 2015. A “tapering protection” has been offered to those appointed before 1 April 2012, and who were aged between 51½ and 55 at that date. A High Court judge retiring after 20 years of service would receive £86,500 a year plus a lump sum of £173,000 under the current scheme, compared with £75,000 a year with no lump sum under the new plans.
Sierra Leone initiative
A special interest group has been established by the Bar Council under the chairmanship of Mrs Justice Dobbs to co-ordinate the pro bono work being carried out in the Sierra Leonean justice system by UK-based organisations.
It’s been a particularly hectic period in both the political sphere and our working lives
Casey Randall explores the benefits of prenatal paternity testing and explains how the test is performed
Philip N Bristow explains how to unlock your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step
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
How did the international DJ and BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter find his transition to the Criminal Bar? Mark Robinsons secrets of a successful career change and his perception-breaking projects
Barrister, historian, legal biographer it was pure serendipity that the whirlwind silk went into the law and found his niche as a bestselling author, finds David Rhodes
Surely diversity of thought at the Bar is a good thing? Why are chambers shoehorning all applicants for pupillage into the same mould? Roxy Lackschewitz-Martin looks at the diagnostic gap and neurodiversity in pupillage applications
Its been a particularly hectic period in both the political sphere and our working lives
On the hunt for the perfect beach book/listen? Circuit Leaders, Michelle Heeley QC, Richard Wright QC, Kate Brunner QC, Lisa Roberts QC and Christine Agnew QC share their recommendations