Profession

How can BVC students maximise their chances of obtaining a pupillage? Yvonne Kramo believes a traineeship with the European Parliament will help her achieve her goal 

Dear Editor 

The July 2009 edition of Counsel published an article entitled “Since you pay for it....” (pp 14-16) about the cover that Bar Mutual offers for disciplinary complaints to the Bar Standards Board. Unfortunately, Bar Mutual’s address as published in text box “Support and Assistance” was incorrect. We are now at 90 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4ST. 

The Qatar Law Forum in May 2009 brought together global leaders in law to mark a shared commitment to the rule of law, reports Khadija Ali.  

The Qatar Law Forum took place in Doha from 29 to 31 May 2009 under the patronage of His Highness the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. 

“Have you embellished your evidence?” Joyce Plotnikoff and Richard Woolfson, the authors of Measuring up?, examine the challenges of questioning young witnesses at court 

Shelley White sets out the revised guidance on court attire.  

What are the functions of the Inns of Court in the 21st Century? Robert McCracken QC presents his case 

Perhaps the first and fundamental feature of the Inns of Court is that they are associations of members, and aspirant members, of a learned profession. The second is that they all have certain core facilities. These include a dining hall, library, garden, quiet courtyards and chambers for professional and residential use in a tranquil atmosphere removed from the noise and pollution of the metropolis outside. 

Fawcett’s Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System recently published a report identifying institutional sexism in practice. Laura Prince considers their proposals to improve court proceedings, and to deal with the under-representation of women at the Bar and in the judiciary.  

Over the last five years Fawcett’s Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System (“the Commission”) has examined the experiences of women as victims, offenders and workers in the criminal justice system (“CJS”). Their final report, Engendering Justice – from policy to practice, was published in May 2009. It concluded (p 7) that: “The experiences of women within the CJS provide countless examples of institutional sexism in practice through processes, attitudes, and behaviour which amount to discrimination which disadvantages women.” 

David Pittaway QC outlines how Inner Temple, working in conjuncture with the National Educational Trust, is making the Bar more accessible as a career path for school children.  

The Neuberger Report marked a step-change in the thinking of the Inns of Court as to how they should address the issue of access to the profession, as well as being the providers of education to Bar Vocational Course (“BVC”) students, pupils and new practitioners. For some years the Inns have run their own programmes, in an increasingly co-ordinated way, largely focussing on universities and providing substantial merit or means-tested scholarships or bursaries to give financial assistance to students whatever their background wanting to join the profession. 

Lord Justice Jackson has recognised the advantages of third party funding in his interim report on civil costs. The Bar needs to be aware of this mechanism, believes Timothy Mayer 

What happens if a professional complaint is made against you? Luke Blackburn explains how recent changes to Bar Mutual funding can assist.  

It will be one of the more worrying letters you will ever read, but if you receive a letter from the Bar Standards Board (“BSB”) seeking your comments on a complaint you don’t have to deal with it alone. The chances are that just the same bruising ordeal has been experienced by a number of barristers you know.