News

New diversity statistics show that of 624 lawyers applying for 36 posts as fee paid employment tribunal judges between April and September 2009, 40 per cent of applicants and 54 per cent of those selected were women, while 13 per cent of applicants and 6 per cent of those selected were from a BME background. Solicitors made up 72 per cent of applicants and three-quarters of appointees, and disabled people accounted for six per cent of applicants and appointees. 

Baroness Scotland has mounted a robust defence of the “fundamentally sound” role of the Attorney General. The government began a review of the role of Attorney General in 2007 and announced its decision, that no change to the law was necessary, in 2009. 

MPs have warned legal aid reforms are threatening the future of the junior Bar, in a damning report on the Legal Services Commission (“LSC”). 

The Committee of Public Accounts (“PAC”) report into legal aid procurement, published in February, criticised the LSC for having “lax” financial controls and management information which, for example, led it to overpay solicitors by £25 million in 2008-09 resulting in it having its accounts qualified. It attacked the LSC over its “poor financial management” and lack of knowledge about the costs and profitability of legal aid law firms. 

Education and training for the Bar is a complex process which, first and foremost, needs to be approached in an holistic way. The different stages - academic, vocational and pupillage, not to mention further continued professional development (CPD) for new and experienced practitioners - need to be considered as part of an overall ‘run-through’ process. They should not be considered ‘in silos’. For this reason, the Bar Standards Board is most fortunate that Derek Wood QC, having chaired both the Review of the BVC and the Review of Pupillage, is now leading a major review of CPD. 

CPD requirements were first introduced to New Practitioners at the Bar in October 1997 and this is now mandatory for all practising barristers. Since 2006, the Bar Standards Board has a duty to ensure that the standards and quality of the courses is consistent, that CPD is fit for purpose, and that CPD is undertaken by practitioners in line with requirements. 

The Bar Standards Board has established a working group to conduct a year-long review into Continuing Professional Development (“CPD”) for the Bar. 

On 29 January, the Fundraising Committee of the Bar Council staff organised a sponsored lunch to raise money for the earthquake victims in Haiti. 

An impressive number of delicious dishes were prepared by the Committee. The staff showed up in great numbers and as a result more than £500 were raised for Partners in Health (“PIH”), an NGO which has been working in Haiti for over 20 years. PIH is the largest non-governmental provider of health care to the poor in the country and is currently working hard to provide emergency healthcare to the victims of the disaster. 

A working group of media professionals and lawyers has been set up by the Ministry of Justice to consider whether libel laws are having a chilling effect on freedom of expression. It will examine all aspects of substantive libel law but will exclude issues relating to costs in defamation proceedings. It is due to report back with recommendations by mid-March.  

Guy Richard Newey QC of Maitland Chambers has been appointed as an additional High Court judge in the Chancery Division to help with an increased workload. 

This Conference, taking place over Easter in Sydney (1-4 April 2010), brings together the members of the eight referral bar professions in  the world. It is an excellent opportunity to meet fellow barristers from around the world for professional education and networking. This is a first class opportunity to collect much of your CPD points as well as spend a great Easter holiday in the sun! There are plenty of conference tours on offer, in addition to listening to excellent speakers. Please see the separate advert in this section for more details. For more information please contact Christian Wisskirchen cwisskirchen@barcouncil.org.uk

Equality & Diversity

In response to a growing demand from the Bar for Equality and Diversity Awareness Training, and to the recommendation for such training in the Neuberger Report on Entry to the Bar, the Bar Council Equality and Diversity Committee has produced a diversity training toolkit. The model is designed to raise awareness of the equality issues that arise at the Bar through a series of worked exercises and is drawn from the practical experience of applying equality and diversity policies in chambers. The course is accompanied by written information on the equalities legislative framework and sessions are aimed at providing a brief and practical introduction to the diversity compliance requirements that affect the Bar. The programme runs for one and a half hours and qualifies for CPD accreditation. Courses based on the diversity toolkit are open to barristers, pupils, clerks and practice managers. Chambers Equal Opportunity Officers are particularly encouraged to attend. If you would like to attend a course please contact Angela Campbell at the Bar Council in the Equality and Diversity Unit acampbell@barcouncil.org.uk