Features

Richard Hearnden sets out the case for greater use of cheaper, off-the-shelf systems in the Crown court without recourse to changes in the law  

The publication of Transforming Our Justice System , by the Ministry of Justice, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals in September 2016, marks another milestone on the road to the digitisation of court proceedings.  

Bar Chairman Andrew Langdon QC is a clear-sighted Western Circuiteer determined to defend the profession, nourish the junior Bar, cautious on court reform, but optimistic for the future, finds Nigel Pascoe QC  

He stands tall, our new Chairman.  

In this ‘post-truth’ age, Mark Hatcher looks back at the seismic events of 2016 and what will dominate Westminster politics in 2017 – is change in the air?   

2016 will be remembered for two seismic events which have rocked the political classes on both sides of the Atlantic: the decision of the UK to withdraw from the EU and the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States.  

Kevin Dent admires the determination & commitment of the US attorney 

Deciding how we Brexit is not within the government's gift, argues Dominic Grieve QC MP. No Parliament worth its name can abandon input into the biggest and most complex constitutional change in modern times. Discussion is vital 

The closing keynote was given by the President of the Malaysian Bar, Steven Thiruneelakandan.   

How will losing passporting rights affect the UK’s financial services sector? Saima Hanif argues that the equivalence regime is not a satisfactory alternative  

As the President of the European Council Donald Tusk remarked, in response to comments from Boris Johnson that the UK could have its cake and eat it by keeping single market access without accepting free movement of persons: ‘There will be no cakes on the table, for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar…’ 

The keynote address was given by the Rt Hon Sir Ernest Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals.   

James Welsh makes the case for retaining the BPTC as we know it – and argues that evolution can create significant changes in a controlled, targeted and risk-free way  

If you trained for the Bar, 20 years ago, you would scarcely recognise the current vocational training.  

Professor Michael Zander QC assesses the High Court decision and predicts the government is likely to lose its appeal to the Supreme Court  

Asked on the day for a first assessment of the decision I wrote: ‘The Divisional Court’s unanimous decision is very clear and very strong.