News

prisons 

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has launched a briefing paper entitled Fair Access to Justice?   The topic was addressed at an All Party Parliamentary Group meeting at the House of Commons on June 26.  Present was Lord Bradley, whose review of people with mental health problems and learning disabilities in the criminal justice system, published in April 2009, is a precursor of the PRT briefing paper. His 82 recommendations have been accepted by the previous government and by the Coalition.

judiciary 

While politicians attended the Rio summit in June, Lord Carnwath was one of 150 judges, prosecutors, public auditors and enforcement agencies from 60 countries who attended a parallel world congress on justice, governance and law for environmental sustainability.

The Law Reform Essay Competition for 2012 is again generously sponsored by the Bar Council Scholarship Trust.

The competition, which is open to law students and pupils, invites entrants to submit an essay of no more than 3000 words, identifying and making the case for desirable, practical and useful law reform. Prizes are as follows:

Legal challenge 

The ‘wet and windy’ slopes of Snowdonia were no match for a group of Welsh barristers and solicitors determined to complete the ‘three peaks challenge’.

judiciary 

The Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice have announced a new publications policy in relation to judicial conduct matters, which applies from 1 June 2012.

After a prolonged absence from our website to allow for technical works to be carried out, our CPD courses database is available.

Family bar 

The new Family Court, due to be launched next autumn, will be “a once in a lifetime opportunity”, according to Mr Justice Ryder, the judge in charge of the modernisation of family justice.

international 

Lawyers from around the globe descended on London in July for the World Bar Conference, hosted by the Bar Council in partnership with Inner Temple.  The bi-annual conference attracted 350 delegates, who attended discussions on topics around the theme, ‘Advocacy past, present and future: constant values for a modern Bar’.

criminal records 

The police can no longer retain photographs of people who were arrested  but not subsequently convicted of that offence, following a ruling by the Divisional Court.

Now in its fourth year, the international grant programme offers financial assistance to participate in international legal events and conferences of their choice to members of participating Specialist Bar Associations (SBAs) or Circuits.