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Claimants in the judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) have been granted leave to appeal the original decision, on all grounds. The expedited appeal hearing is set for 16 July.
The Court of Appeal has ordered two aspects of the scheme to be stayed meanwhile: the compulsory registration of advocates who would register at level 2 (trial advocate or above); and the judicial evaluation of advocates in trials.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) said it had “already decided to suspend phased geographical registration in the Scheme and, whilst we will continue to work with the Joint Advocacy Group to be ready for implementation, we will not be requiring barristers who may have sought to be assessed as non-trial advocates at an assessment centre to do so until further notice.”
The BSB confirmed that the court also made a new Protective Costs Order which applies reciprocally to the Legal Services Board and the BSB, and the claimants, and is capped at £65,000.
Tom De La Mare QC, supported by Mark Trafford and Baker & McKenzie Solicitors, represented the claimants pro bono.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) said it had “already decided to suspend phased geographical registration in the Scheme and, whilst we will continue to work with the Joint Advocacy Group to be ready for implementation, we will not be requiring barristers who may have sought to be assessed as non-trial advocates at an assessment centre to do so until further notice.”
The BSB confirmed that the court also made a new Protective Costs Order which applies reciprocally to the Legal Services Board and the BSB, and the claimants, and is capped at £65,000.
Tom De La Mare QC, supported by Mark Trafford and Baker & McKenzie Solicitors, represented the claimants pro bono.
Claimants in the judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) have been granted leave to appeal the original decision, on all grounds. The expedited appeal hearing is set for 16 July.
The Court of Appeal has ordered two aspects of the scheme to be stayed meanwhile: the compulsory registration of advocates who would register at level 2 (trial advocate or above); and the judicial evaluation of advocates in trials.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
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