International News March 2008
International and European Committee Under One Roof
Since the beginning of the year, the International Committee and the European Committee are working in a structure under the joint Chairmanship of Michael Brindle QC. This will allow the two committees to ensure that synergies are achieved and overlaps avoided. Notably in the field of the promotion and defence of the common law we expect advantages from the new way of working, since both in Europe and internationally we wish to operate with a coherent approach.
Strategy
In addition to setting up the aforementioned new structure and adjusting the name of the "International Relations Committee" to simply "International Committee", the Chairmen of the Bar Council, Tim Dutton QC, has asked the International Committee to prepare a three year strategy plan, so that initiatives of great importance for the profession can be sustained as required.
The strategy will provide for a balance between the two main aims of the Committee, namely to promote professional values world-wide and to develop international business for the profession. In addition the Committee will continue to ensure input into the professional issues debates within the relevant international organisations in Europe and world-wide.
International Business Development Group
One of the Chairman's priorities is the cohesion of the constituent parts of the Bar. For the IC this means closer cooperation with a number of stakeholders in the profession, notably with the Specialist Bar Organisations. A permanent Working Group has been set up which brings together the SBAs, the Institute of Barristers Clerks and the IC to ensure that joint strategies are developed in relation to international business development which are fully supported by the SBAs and that they will be able to follow through on initiatives spearheaded by the IC. The Group will have input into strategy and activities in relation to the key overseas markets of the Bar as well as delivering marketing materials and ensuring targeted representation at international trade fairs.
The key priority markets in 2008 remain India and China, where a number of initiatives are under development. In addition we are hoping to put together a mission to the Middle East.
Vienna Bar President’s Conference 2008
Tim Dutton QC attended the 36th European Bar Presidents Conference on 1 and 2 February, which discussed ways of improving Access to Justice. He reported on the situation in England & Wales, saying that by creating block procurement of funding criminal cases there is a real risk of a two-tier legal system. He said that proposed changes to the funding of certain cases in England and Wales could create a second class service unless an approach is agreed which recognises that a case is not a commodity. The Conference also discussed the pros and cons of conditional fee arrangements and legal expenses insurance.
Dav-Bar Council Seminar
On 4 April 2008, the Bar Council will be hosting a delegation from the German representative bar association the Deutscher Anwaltverein. Following an informal roundtable on the implementation of the Legal Services Act and other professional issues, there will be an afternoon seminar on topical issues in European law. All interested members of the profession are welcome but space is limited. Please see the separate advert in this issue of Bar News.
The Lord Chancellor’s Training Scheme For Chinese Lawyers
This year's group of fifteen young Chinese Lawyers who are being trained since the summer under the Lord Chancellor's Scheme, is one of the most successful groups we have hosted to date. Having studied the UK's legal system at SOAS, the lawyers were placed in law firms in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Cambridge for three months. The lawyers began their placements at a number of London based commercial chambers in late January and will work closely with their mentors at their respective sets until Easter. The Bar Council is delighted to welcome Maitland Chambers and Hardwicke Building on to the group of hosting chambers.
Following completion of their chambers' placements the lawyers will travel to mainland Europe to visit the International Criminal Court, the War Crimes Tribunal, the European Parliament and the European Courts of Justice. To finish the programme they will depart for Hong Kong in April where they will complete solicitors placements lasting two months.
Candidates for next year's programme are currently undergoing selection processes, and will be confirmed by March.
The programme is to run for another three years, hence we have begun work on develop a follow-on Scheme, to run hopefully from 2011 onwards.
China Interest Group
A China Interest Group has recently been formed in response to a recommendation by the Bar Council delegation that visited Shanghai and Beijing in September 2007. This new working group is comprised of Barristers that have experience practicing in China and a strong interest in developing the Bar's relationship with China. The aim of the interest group is to promote the business interests of the Bar in China. It will do this though sharing expertise with each other and the wider bar, informing the International Committee's business development strategy in China and participating in international networking and marketing events.
The China Interest Group is open to expressions of interest to join the group from members with a substantive interest in China. If interested, please contact Sarah Richardson, SRichardson@BarCouncil.org.uk
