Barristers
Bar Council chair rejects challenge from Twitter row barrister
The chair of the Bar Council has dismissed as nonsense the suggestion that it had to publicly support the barrister at the centre of a racism row over his comments on Twitter.
Pupil barrister uses hemp to create first vegan wig
A pupil barrister and animal protection activist has created what is thought to be the first vegan barrister’s wig, made from hemp rather than horse hair.
“Power of the purse” will bring diversity to Bar
The “power of the purse”, coming not from solicitors but from their clients, will “make the difference” in improving diversity at the Bar, a leading Black QC has said.
Senior barrister rails against ‘direct access discrimination’
Direct access barristers can be looked down on, and ignored by legal directories, because they do not have “well-heeled” solicitors singing their praises, a leading family law specialist has argued.
Quran-quoting barrister receives apology from counsel who asked him to stop
The barrister who asked a fellow counsel to stop posting quotes from the Quran on LinkedIn has apologised and said they should not have sent the message.
Barrister suspended after appearing in court when unauthorised – again
An experienced barrister who appeared in two courts without having a practising certificate has been suspended for four months, having been fined twice in previous years for the same offence.
Barrister asks Shariah law specialist to stop quoting Quran on LinkedIn
The head of Sharia law at a well-known chambers has expressed his shock after another barrister asked him to stop posting quotes from the Quran on LinkedIn.
Tribunal explains three-month suspension for “sexual touching” barrister
The actions of a barrister suspended for three months for the “intentional sexual touching” of two junior colleagues could amount to sexual assault and unlawful harassment, a tribunal has found.
Legal Services Board under fire for “neglecting impact of Covid”
The Bar Council and Law Society have accused the Legal Services Board of failing to take into account the impact of the pandemic on the profession in its latest draft strategy.
Tax barrister aims to make virtual chambers “biggest of its kind”
A barrister specialising in civil and criminal tax disputes has set up a virtual chambers with the aim of making it the biggest of its kind by the end of next year.
LSB to press ahead with continuing competence regime
The Legal Services Board is pushing ahead with plans to introduce continuing competence checks for lawyers. This could include feedback from consumers, judges and peers, assurance visits or revalidation.
Virtual chambers brings in first QC as it outlines global ambition
A virtual set of tax and revenue-specialist barristers has multiplied from its two founders to 11 members since it launched last summer, with several based overseas as it looks to build a global practice.
LeO “setting itself up to fail” with budget plans
The Legal Ombudsman is “setting itself up to fail” by proposing to give itself more work than it can cope with and asking for an “extraordinary high” budget increase of 19%.
New practising fee rules will allow “more meaningful debate”
The Legal Services Board has introduced new rules to ensure legal regulators explain more clearly how they spend the money they raise through the compulsory levies on lawyers.
Twitter row barrister expelled by chambers – after he resigned
The barrister who caused a storm of outrage for tweeting that “The Equality Act undermines school discipline by empowering the stroppy teenager of colour” has been expelled from his chambers.
Blog
The rising risk of cybercrime for law firms
Cybercrime has increased significantly in recent years, causing untold damage to businesses and essential services. Cyber-security breaches cost billions of pounds and account for half of all crime in the UK.
Legal education and training: Unfit for purpose
Legal education and training is not fit for today, let alone the future, and the approach of the main professional bodies to the need for greater accessibility and flexibility could not have been more different.
Reports
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