*/
Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Jack Straw called for a “better balance in legal aid” in England and Wales, in a speech at London School of Economics in March.
He highlighted the fact that half of legal aid in the Crown Court is consumed by just one per cent of cases, and warned that lawyers and law firms who are dependent on state funding “would be wise to reconsider expectations of earnings”. “Successful legal business may be a by product of law ... but it is not the purpose of law,” he said. There still needed to be a debate about how much “lawyers should be able to draw from the taxpayer.” Quoting former US President Jimmy Carter, he said the UK was “in danger of becoming ‘over-lawyered and under-represented’”.
He highlighted the fact that half of legal aid in the Crown Court is consumed by just one per cent of cases, and warned that lawyers and law firms who are dependent on state funding “would be wise to reconsider expectations of earnings”. “Successful legal business may be a by product of law ... but it is not the purpose of law,” he said. There still needed to be a debate about how much “lawyers should be able to draw from the taxpayer.” Quoting former US President Jimmy Carter, he said the UK was “in danger of becoming ‘over-lawyered and under-represented’”.
Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Jack Straw called for a “better balance in legal aid” in England and Wales, in a speech at London School of Economics in March.
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
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
There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
