News

The BSB currently has an open consultation on authorisation to practise arrangements, which has the deadline of 1 June 2010 for responses.  

THE Bar Council, the Approved Regulator for barristers in England and Wales, has appointed Toby Craig as its first Head of Communications. 

The interest groups for these three regions consist of groups of barristers that practice or have a strong interest in establishing practice in these regions. 

Lord Justice Dyson has been appointed the 12th Justice of the Supreme Court. He was presiding judge of the Technology and Construction Court from 1998 to 2001, when he was appointed to the Court of Appeal. He was deputy head of civil justice between 2003 and 2006. 

June issue: 10 May
July issue: 8 June
August issue: 6 July
September issue: 11 August
October issue: 7 September
November issue: 6 October
December issue: 10 November 

The July 2008 proposal to extend copyright protection from 50 to 95 years, for performers and phonogram producers, should have been adopted by the EP by the end of March.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=5667672&language=en&mailer=true 

In 2009 the Commission launched its 5-year review of the operation of the Brussels I Regulation, 44/2001 on “jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters”. The Commission is analysing the responses to last year’s consultation, including on the controversial issue of its application to arbitrations, on which it may seek further expert input. Given the complexities of the file, and the volume of competing work, the Commission is unlikely to issue a proposal this year, but should do in 2011.

THE fourth round of appointments as Queen’s Counsel was announced on 26 February 2010. These appointments are made following consideration by the independent Selection Panel, which recommends who should receive this highly sought-after award. All those appointed have demonstrated excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. Professor Dame Joan Higgins, Chair of the QC Selection Panel, said today: 

‘I have great pleasure at the announcement of these 129 names. I warmly congratulate all those whose appointment has been announced today. It is encouraging to see such a wide variety of advocates among the new appointments. 

The Selection Panel believes that the quality of applications this year was higher than ever. Nevertheless, inevitably, some applicants have had to be disappointed. The standard for appointment is very high. Even if an advocate has not been appointed on this occasion it does not mean that he or she is not a valued and effective practitioner. The Selection Panel would also like to express its warm appreciation to
the 1700 assessors who provided evidence on behalf of one or more applicants and without whom the process could not have worked effectively. All the Panel's decisions have been based solely on the evidence provided by these assessors and by the applicants themselves. I am encouraged that the proportion of successful applicants from an ethnic minority background broadly matches that for white applicants. 

IN accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review Claims, solicitors acting for the Bar Council have written to the Legal Aid Minister, Lord Bach and to the Chairman of the Legal Services Commission, Sir Bill Callaghan in order to advance proceedings for judicial review of the Government’s consultations on criminal legal aid. 

The consultations concern the Advocates’ Graduated Fee Scheme and Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) scheme which have been initiated by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) respectively. The Bar Council’s action follows the rejection by the MoJ and the LSC of the Bar’s request that the Government should combine the deadlines for responses to these consultations and to join them to the timetable for the response to the proposed consultation on a single graduated fee for Crown Court cases. A full pre-action letter will be sent shortly. 

The Bar Standards Board (“BSB”) needs to hear the views of the Bar (and senior staff) in relation to the shape of future practice in new business arrangements, writes Simon Garrod. 

After Easter, all members of the profession and senior staff will receive an invitation to take part in a short online survey (produced and administered in association with YouGov) to inform the BSB before it issues a consultation paper in the summer about becoming an Entity Regulator.