News

Eighty-four new Queen’s Counsel have been announced in the 2012-13 Silk round. Of the 183 applicants for the award, 130 were interviewed. Forty-six per cent were successful and range in age from 36 to 61 years. 

Profession
The two representative bodies of the professions have come together to issue a joint statement following their clash over the Bar’s new standard contract terms, which came into effect at the end of January (see Counsel  news, March). 

Legal aid
Amendments to the Crime and Courts Bill will allow the unfreezing of wealthy defendants’ assets to meet the costs of legal aid. 

Civil
The key recommendations made by Sir Rupert Jackson in his Review of Civil Litigation Costs  come into force this month. 

These events off er excellent opportunities for barristers to meet international practitioners from other jurisdictions. Over 1,300 international practitioners from 80 countries attended last year’s spring meeting in New York and approximately 1,100 are expected to attend the Spring Meeting in 2013. 

Profession
The cab rank rule has no place in the modern legal services market, according to research commissioned by the Legal Services Board (LSB). 

Saturday 2 March, 10:00 at the Bar Council offices. 

This new bilateral association aims to bring together English and Brazilian lawyers for joint CPD and networking events. 

Back in 2010, a BSB survey found that around 40% of barristers expressed an initial interest in BSB regulated entities. 

The Bar Council’s International Committee is organising a comparative law seminar in New York in late Spring / early summer, with the aim of raising the profi le of the Bar in the American legal market.