Barristers
Significant leap in number of women applying for silk
Some 116 new QCs were named yesterday, with the appointment body revealing that more women applied for silk this year and the majority were successful – unlike men.
Female advocates “will lose work” if court hours are extended
Advocates unable to cover extended operating hours in the courts will likely lose work and could be driven out of the profession as a result, a high-profile group of women barristers has warned.
Commercial sets back scheme to fund criminal law pupillages
Eight commercial chambers have signed up to a Bar Council scheme to fund criminal law pupillages that would otherwise not be available because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tribunal “right” to disbar barrister over misconduct in case involving own children
A tribunal was entitled to disbar a barrister over her conduct of a dispute with the father of their children, the High Court has ruled in the latest case to consider the reach of regulation into personal lives.
Children’s charities urge action over youth court advocacy standards
Children’s charities have criticised the failure to take forward recommendations that youth court advocates receive mandatory training to ensure they have the right skills.
Second national newspaper settles libel claim brought by barrister
A barrister has secured a second retraction and damages from a national newspaper after being wrongly accused of making death threats to a law student.
Litigant in person threatened opposing lawyers with violence
A High Court judge has expressed concern that a litigant in person has threatened violence against lawyers for the people he is suing while dismissing a bid to disqualify the solicitors from acting.
No-comment barrister reprimanded for breath test refusal
A barrister convicted of refusing to undergo breath tests when suspected of drink driving has been reprimanded by a tribunal, which criticised him for giving a no-comment interview to police.
Barrister “of good judgement” was not negligent over client’s conviction
A barrister of “good judgement” who had to make rapid decisions in a “pressurised environment” was not negligent even though it turned out her client was wrongly convicted.
BSB stats and Beckwith ruling put focus on misconduct outside practice
There has been a significant increase in the number of complaints about the conduct of barristers outside of practice, it has emerged, as the implications of the Beckwith ruling continue to reverberate.
Blog
Change in regulator shouldn’t make AML less of a priority
While SRA fines for AML have been climbing, many in the profession aren’t confident they will get any relief from the FCA, a body used to dealing with a highly regulated industry.
There are 17 million wills waiting to be written
The main reason cited by people who do not have a will was a lack of awareness as to how to arrange one. As a professional community, we seem to be failing to get our message across.
The case for a single legal services regulator: why the current system is failing
From catastrophic firm collapses to endemic compliance failures, the evidence is mounting that the current multi-regulator model is fundamentally broken.
