The essential guide to conduct, compliance and competence, and the Legal Services Act
Barristers
Lawyers told: don’t be put off social media by barrister fined over tweets
Lawyers were this week told not to be discouraged from embracing social media after a barrister who was among the legal pioneers on Twitter was fined for messages he posted on the service. However, the case does raise questions over the role of regulators in policing lawyers’ activity on Twitter.
“Pessimistic” barristers lukewarm about ABSs
Barristers are showing only “cautious interest” in alternative business structures, although they are keener on barrister-only entities, according to a major survey released yesterday. It also found a “worrying lack of optimisim” in the profession.
Common training and even regulation of solicitors and barristers on the cards, says Law Society chief
The time is coming when the distinction between solicitors and barristers will be “more a matter of tribal culture than function”, the Law Society president has predicted, with common education, training and even potentially regulation on the agenda.
LSB issues Bar Standards Board with warning notice over cab-rank rule changes
The long-running saga over standard contractual terms between barristers and solicitors has hit another hurdle after the Legal Services Board issued a statutory warning notice that it is considering whether to reject changes to the cab-rank rule that would underpin them.
BSB initiates review over huge rise in complaints against barristers by litigants in person
The Bar Standards Board is to conduct a review of the massive growth in complaints made against barristers by litigants in person – although it said this is likely to be caused by legal aid cuts.
Barristers falling foul of “ridiculous” CPD system are impeding BSB focus on serious misconduct
The Bar Standards Board is operating an “antiquated and wholly inadequate” paper-based continuing professional development system that is diverting resources away from serious misconduct matters, its board was told last week.
5% Solution Group set to meet Lodder over demand to cut Bar Council costs
The 5% Solution Group – a barrister lobby looking to reduce the level of practising certificate fee – is to hold off calling an extraordinary general meeting of the Bar Council pending a meeting with Bar chairman Peter Lodder QC.
Bar aptitude test could be a “one-time-only opportunity” for students to prove themselves
Students taking an aptitude test designed to weed out those likely to fail the Bar training course could be given a once-only opportunity to pass, it has emerged, after members of the Bar Standards Board raised questions about the policy of allowing unlimited attempts.
Bar Council accuses solicitors over referral fee pressure and “abuse”
Some solicitors are putting barristers under “increasing pressure” to enter into referral fee arrangements, while others are trying to take “improper advantage” of advocates by abusing the ‘one case, one fee’ rules in criminal work, the Bar Council has complained.
Bar Council working on scheme that enables barristers to hold client money
The Bar Council has begun work on providing central client account facilities for barristers, it emerged last night as incoming chairman Michael Todd QC set out his stall for 2012 with a call for barristers to invest in their future.
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Associate News
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