News

Constitutional law
The House of Lords EU Committee has launched an inquiry into the use of the United Kingdom opt-out from EU police and criminal justice measures and its potential implications for the UK. It will be conducted jointly by the EU Sub-Committee on Justice, Institutions and Consumer Protection and the EU Sub-Committee on Home Affairs, Health and Education. 

International
The Bar Council and Law Society jointly hosted Russian Law Week in London from November 5-7. The Bar Council and Law Society have also launched the Russo-British Young Lawyers Exchange programme, which aims to give promising young lawyers from both jurisdictions an opportunity better to understand each other’s legal system and professional standards. 

Profession
The actor Martin Shaw denounced the prospect of industrial-scale legal practices when delivering the 2012 Kalisher Lecture. An Honorary Bencher of Gray’s Inn and a Kalisher trustee, he described himself as an “informed outsider” who has grown to respect and admire the legal profession “more than I had ever imagined possible”. In addition, he has a daughter beginning the “long and arduous road” into the profession. 

Criminal
The new Chief Coroner, Peter Thornton, has set out his thoughts on the purpose of the coroner system, in a speech to the Howard League for Penal Reform. 

“Who regulates the regulator – breaking the silence” 

Legal practitioners are invited to a one-day conference where our expert panellists will address the problems in the current system of regulation. 

Profession
Barristers have been invited to contribute their views on the future of the practising certificate fee (PCF). 

BPTC Online is now open for September 2013. Students applying are to note that for 2013 entry the Bar Council Aptitude Test (BCAT) will be a requirement, however this test will not be available until Spring 2013. 

Profession
More international and commercial arbitrations take place in London under English law than in any other city of the world, the Legal Services Board has noted in its paper, ‘Market impacts of the legal Services Act 2007’, published at the end of October. 

Inner Temple, 18 December, 18:00 

The International Committee is delighted to announce Mark Mulholland QC, Chairman of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, as the keynote speaker at its Sixth Annual International Rule of Law Conference. The title of the lecture is ‘Global Terrorism and the Rule of Law. An international problem from the Northern Irish perspective’. Mr Mulholland will share with us his experiences gained from appearing in some of the key cases arising from the “troubles” in Northern Ireland and what we can learn from the Northern Irish experience for the development of the international rule of law. 

Judiciary
Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers has joined King’s College London as Dickson Poon Distinguished Fellow and Visiting Professor in The Dickson Poon School of Law.