2011

1 September 2011 - Max Hill QC, who today begins a year-long term as Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, which represents criminal barristers in England and Wales, has sent a stark warning to the Government about the long-term effects of legal aid cuts. In a rallying call to criminal barristers, he has warned that if legal aid cuts cripple the criminal Bar, it will be almost impossible to restore.

17 August 2011 - Statement from Adrian Vincent, Head of Remuneration and Policy following discussions between the Bar Council and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) on the limitation period in debit note cases.

9 August 2011 - The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today responded to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on amendments to the funding of civil and criminal defence work.

3 August 2011 - The Bar Council has continued to receive complaints from barristers regarding delays and other problems since the Legal Services Commission took over the processing and payment of Crown Court legal aid fees. On 8 June 2011, the Bar Council posted a news item on its website detailing the reasons for the delays.1 Since then, the Bar Council has made further representations to ensure that these matters are resolved.

28 July 2011 - The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has today welcomed the confirmation from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) that the date from which pupillages may be formally offered will not be deferred from Tuesday 2 August 2011, and will go ahead as planned.

27 July 2011 - With one year to go until the opening of the Games, Sport Resolutions, the Bar Council, Law Society and the British Association of Sport and Law have today announced the names of the 17 barristers’ chambers and solicitors' firms and the 19 individual advocates who have been appointed to the London 2012 Pro Bono Legal Advice and Representation Service.

26 July 2011 - The Crown Prosecution Service has asked the Bar Council to remind barristers who are filling in CPS Panel application forms, to adhere to the word limits specified on the forms.

25 July 2011 - The Chairman and Chairman-Elect of the Bar have written to members of the profession. Click here to read their update for July 2011.