News

JHA FUNDING PROGRAMME 2010 – CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW PROJECTS 

The Commission has adopted calls for proposals for both civil and criminal justice projects to be undertaken in 2011/12. The deadline
for the submission of project proposals is set at 1 September in the civil justice field, and 15 September on the criminal side. For documents and guidance, on the civil side, go to http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/civil/funding_civil_en.htm and on the criminal,
go to http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/jpen/funding_jpen_en.htm 

The Legal Ombudsman will begin considering client complaints on 6 October. The new service, which has been created by the Legal Ombudsman (“LeO”), will handle all complaints from lay clients about barristers, solicitors and other types of legal professional. 

NICHOLAS Green QC, the Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has said the Bar Council is
willing to lend its support to the Secretary of State for Justice, Ken Clarke QC MP, as he makes tough and potentially unpopular decisions regarding the prison system, though they must lead to a better and more efficient administration of justice. 

Solicitors made redundant during the economic downturn have volunteered more than 3,000 hours of free legal advice through a scheme run by LawWorks.

The BSB published its Annual Report for 2009 in July. The Report focuses on measuring the success of the BSB’s first strategic plan,
which covered the 3 years from January 2007 to December 2009. 

As a result of cases referred to the BSB for consideration recently, it has come to our attention that there appears to be a gap in the understanding of the relationship between the regulatory scheme overseen by the Office of the Immigration Commissioner (OISC) and the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales (the Code of Conduct). 

It is time for international agreement on a set of common principles governing the relocation of children overseas, Lord Justice Thorpe has said. 

THE Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the announcement of a comprehensive assessment of the legal aid system. 

The Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, and the President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, have issued practice guidance on the use of McKenzie Friends in the civil and family courts.

Two new Lord Justices of Appeal have been appointed with effect from 9 July 2010. Mr Justice Gross and Mr Justice Tomlinson will take up office on 9 July, replacing Sir John Dyson, who has moved to the Supreme Court, and Sir Mark Waller, who retired in May.