News

The Bar Standards Board is now on Twitter. Barristers are encouraged to follow and contribute to our Twitter coverage. Twitter, along with our e-updates to the profession, is part of our commitment to online communications with the profession. Those of you with Twitter accounts, please follow us at:

www.twitter.com/barstandards

Analysis of responses to the Joint Advocacy Group consultation paper on proposals for a quality assurance scheme for criminal advocates, is now available to view and download.  

In October 2010, the BSB introduced new requirements in respect of chambers complaints handling. The BSB has received a large number of queries from chambers expressing concern about the impracticality of complying with these arrangements.

Bar European Group (BEG), the Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR), the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), the London Common Law and Commercial
Bar Association (LCLCBA) and the Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR) have joined forces with the Bar Council’s International Committee to offer their members of seven years’ Call or less, who are in employed or self-employed practice, financial assistance to participate in international legal events and conferences of their choice, taking place before the end of 2011, which they can demonstrate will contribute to their professional development and legal practice.  

Following two successful missions by the Bar Council to the IBA Annual Conferences in Madrid 2009 and Vancouver 2010, attended by increasing numbers of barristers, the Bar Council is encouraging the profession to attend this year’s IBA Conference in Dubai, where we will again organise a stall in the exhibition area and a networking reception. 

At the end of 2010 the International Committee, along with the Criminal Bar Association and the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks, organised a practical workshop focussing on how barristers and chambers can increase their international practices.

Following the success of the first edition of the “Barristers in International Arbitration 2011/12” Directory, which was published in 2009, the Bar Council International Business Development Working Group decided to make this a permanent publication.

The Bar Council, with the support of Public Access Bar Association, held a networking reception for a delegation of 13 Tianjin-based lawyers who visited London for three weeks in January to undertake a bespoke business law course at BPP law school.

The 17th Commonwealth Law Conference (CLC), which took place in Hyderabad on 5-9 February 2011, proved to be another excellent opportunity to feature the international legal services supplied by the Bar of England & Wales.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has been identified as one of the priority areas for international business development under the 2008- 10 Strategic Plan of the International Committee. Pursuant to this, a promotional seminar was held in Moscow in 2009, which examined the choices in international dispute resolution: litigation, arbitration and mediation, and which generated significant interest.