News

The Bar Standards Board is seeking a new Vice Chair for its Board. Applications will open at the end of May 2012.

2003
“The South Eastern Circuit Bar Mess series of lectures on ‘The Art of Advocacy’” - CPD accredited – 8 hours £15.00

2012 Lecture Series
26 January
CPS Paperless Prosecutions: “Digital Criminal Justice System”
CPD accredited - 1 hour
£10.00

The Legal Education and Training Review (LETR) survey is aimed at legal professionals and individuals with an informed interest in the legal professions. The survey arises from the current work of the LETR research team, which is tasked to consider how the regulation of legal education and training should develop in England and Wales, following the changes introduced by the Legal Services Act 2007.

This will be an informal body of barristers who either have practices in the United States or who are interested in establishing such a practice. It is chaired by the International Committee Member responsible for this region. Admittance is by discretion of the Chair (appealable to the Chair of the International Committee). The purpose of the Group is to:

Law Commission 

The Law Commission has launched a consultation on licensing for taxis and private hire vehicles.

European scrutiny committee 

Current proposals for a Unified Patent Court (UPC) could hinder rather than help businesses enforce their rights, MPs have warned.
The proposed UPC is intended to offer patent protection in 25 EU Member States at an affordable cost.

We are in the midst of the annual insurance renewal season and all barristers have been considering the level of cover which they need and the terms on which that cover is provided. Some diligent practitioners have noticed that the standard terms of cover provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF) do not cover many activities which barristers regularly engage in, such as writing articles, giving advice for free to a friend, communicating with the press and advising “on matters of general legal principle” as a charity trustee. These matters are excluded from the BMIF’s standard definition of “Legal Services”.

house of lords
 
Peers have urged the Government to opt-in to a new draft Directive on the Proceeds of Crime.

Report on the Chairman of the Bar’s visit to Brussels

On 23 April, Michael Todd QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, held a series of meetings in Brussels. On this occasion, the agenda was largely focussed on EU justice issues, and included meetings with Commission Vice- President Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice and Fundamental Rights; and with senior officials from the Parliament and the Council of the EU, on both the Criminal and Civil Justice sides. Highlights included:

profession 

The long-standing ban on televising, or photographing, court proceedings, is due to be overturned. Clause 22 of the Crime and Courts Bill allows the Lord Chancellor by order, made with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, to provide that the relevant “banning” sections in the Criminal Justice Act 1925 and the Contempt of Court Act 1981 do not apply.