News

GREATER co-operation between employed and self-employed barristers in difficult economic circumstances, including an increase in the number of barristers trained by commercial bodies, has been urged by the Chairman of the Bar, Desmond Browne QC. 

Speaking at a joint Bar Council/Bar Association for Commerce, Finance and Industry (BACFI) reception, he told an audience from a wide variety of backgrounds: 

‘As financial pressures mount, we must work more closely together on matters of mutual interest – particularly if the traffic between the employed and self-employed Bar is set to increase.’ He thanked those many BACFI members who were also loyal consumers of the advocacy and advisory services of the self-employed Bar.’ The full press release is available on the Bar Council website. 

THE Bar Council held its Annual General Meeting on the 13 June 2009 at the offices of the Bar Council. The meeting was preceded by a full Bar Council. 

Desmond Browne QC, the Chairman of the Bar, said: 

“There has never been a more challenging time for the Bar and its members. The economic downturn is having a direct effect on public expenditure which will continue to place the publicly-funded Bar under increasing strain. Added to the economic pressures are potentially
far-reaching regulatory changes which will affect the ways in which barristers practise their profession. Our latest Annual Report describes how the Bar has been addressing these challenges over the past year and what we are doing to promote the specialist advisory and advocacy services of barristers, in the public interest, in an extremely demanding environment. 

Barristers and solicitors responding to a survey on judicial appointments have displayed a “widespread and underlying perception” of “inherent prejudice”. 

The Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board have published The Bar Handbook 2009/10. 

The Bar Council has issued revised guidance on court dress and the informtion has  been sent to all chambers. For the appropriate court attire visit www.barcouncil.org.uk/news/latest/371.html. 

MPs have launched an all-party Parliamentary group on legal aid, to promote understanding of the role of publicly funded legal services. 

As part of the Review of Pupillage programme, Derek Wood QC has written to all pupils inviting them to talk about their pupillage experiences at a drinks reception. 

This event will take place on Monday, 13 July, at 5:30pm in Lincoln’s Inn. 

All pupils are invited to attend – including those that have recently completed pupillage. It is hoped that Heads of Chambers will encourage pupils to participate in this discussion, and explain about their positive and negative experiences in pupillage. 

If you are a pupil who would like to attend please email Andrea Clerk:aclerk@barstandardsboard.org.uk 

SENIOR representatives of the Bar Council and the Law Society attended a reception in Temple Church which marks the opening of an exhibition commemorating the suffering endured by Jewish lawyers under the Third Reich. Mounted by the German Federal Bar (BRAK), the Jewish Museum London, and Temple Church, the exhibition reveals the persecution of lawyers by the Nazi regime in the run-up to the Second World War, which led, in 1938, to a ban which prevented Jewish lawyers from practising in Germany. 

The exhibition sets out the lives and fates of some of the lawyers who suffered at the hands of the Nazi regime. Out of 19, 276 lawyers in Germany, many were Jewish or considered to be Jewish by the German Government. Of these, huge numbers became victims of the holocaust. The majority of those who managed to escape persecution sought refuge abroad; among those who fled to Britain were Otto Kahn-Freund, Michael Kerr and Gunter Treitel, all of whom were later knighted in recognition of their services to the law. 

Judge John Lafferty will be taking part in the Martin Currie Rob Roy Challenge on 20 June as part of the Sightsavers’ team, just after Counsel goes to press. He  will be walking and cycling part of the route tandem with a colleague. Sponsorship information etc is available at www.justgiving.com/sightsaversrobroy.team/ 

HMRC has recently launched Business Payment Support Service (“BPSS”) to help self-employed people and businesses who may be having difficulties in meeting their tax liabilities.