News

In 2006 and 2008 the Commission conducted public consultations on these two related issues, to both of which the Bar responded, suggesting, on the latter one, that a practical solution could be to create a European Provisional Order. 

On 30 April, the Bar Council held the 3rd joint seminar with the Deutscher Anwaltverein. This year the topics discussed were collective redress and appellate advocacy. 

Call for applications from barristers under 7 years call for the International Professional and Legal Development Programme COMBAR, the Bar European Group, the Criminal Bar Association and London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association (LCLCBA) have joined forces with the Bar Council’s International Committee to offer their members of 7 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 which contribute to their professional development and legal practice. Under this programme the cost of participating in such events is shared equally between the applicant, his or her SBA and the Bar Council Scholarships Trust. 

Lord Neuberger, the Master of the Rolls, has called for mediation and alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) to be made a part of every lawyer’s education.

Plans are underway for a delegation comprised of representatives from the Bar Council and Law Society to visit Shanghai the week beginning the 13th September 2010, to hold a commercial law conference in conjunction with local lawyers, and a reception for the Lord Chancellor’s Training Scheme (LCTS) alumni and Judges who have taken part in the Great Britain China Centre’s training programme. 

The Law Reform Committee Essay Competition 2010 is again generously sponsored by the Bar Council Scholarship Trust. The competition is open to pupils, qualifying law degree students, CPE/GDL students and BPTC students. Entrants are asked (in no more than 3,000 words) to identify and make the case for a law reform which is desirable, practical and useful. 

In October 2009, the European Commission adopted a muchanticipated proposal for a regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and authentic instruments in matters of succession, and the creation of a European Certificate of Succession (Procedure reference COD(2009)0157. The UK and Ireland have not opted in. At the end of April, the German MEP who is the rapporteur on the file for the Legal Affairs Committee produced his draft report. 

See:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/draftReportsCom.do?language=EN&body=JU 

The Bar Standards Board is to conduct a YouGov survey among barristers, clerks and practice managers on their opinions and expectations regarding the new business structures permitted under the Legal Services Act 2007.  The survey will be emailed by YouGov, the Institute of Barristers’ Clerks and the Legal Practice Managers Association.

The Ministry of Justice (“MoJ”) has published a nuts and bolts guide to career opportunities as a judge, aimed at inspiring candidates from all backgrounds to step forward. 

Solicitor-advocates may be appointed for cases beyond their competency because of a desire to keep costs low, a report commissioned by the Legal Services Board (“LSB”) has found.