Bar Council to Address Social Mobility and Law as an Export at Lib Dem Conference

21 September 2012

The Chairman of the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will address social mobility in the legal profession and the value of the law as an export industry during the forthcoming Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton.

Michael Todd QC will speak at two fringe events, both hosted by the Liberal Democrat Lawyers' Association. The first will take place on the evening of Sunday 23 September, and will focus on the challenges posed by, and the progress achieved in, attracting individuals from low-income backgrounds to join the legal profession.

And, at 13:00 on Monday 24 September, Todd will speak on a panel discussion entitled "Law as an Export Industry", discussing the legal sector's importance in fuelling economic growth.

On social mobility, Chairman of the Bar, Michael Todd QC, will say:

"In December 2011, Nick Clegg gave a speech on the 'open society' in which he criticised the legal profession for remaining 'woefully unrepresentative'.

"I'm not here simply to take a defensive stance, but it should be acknowledged that the Bar has made impressive progress over the past decade.

"Of course, there are limits to what we, as a profession, can do to improve social mobility more widely.

"The Government must practise what it preaches. The soaring cost of obtaining an undergraduate degree will not only deter some from going to university in the first place, but also renders the cost of legal training even more intimidating, coming as it does on top of £30,000 of undergraduate debt. And repeated cuts to publicly-funded fees are making legal aid practices difficult to sustain; particularly for the junior Bar.

"There is help available for those with the will and ability to succeed at the Bar, but without the financial means. The biggest challenge is in attracting talented individuals from low-income backgrounds to aim for the Bar in the first place.

"For that reason, the Bar Council funds and is involved in a wide range of initiatives aimed at communicating to school pupils that the Bar is open to all with the talent to achieve, irrespective of where they have come from.

"There is more work to be done but, as the Cabinet Office has recognised, the legal profession is leading the way in working together to heighten aspiration and improve social mobility."

On the law as an export industry, he will say:

"Our judicial and legal system has long been one of the most important factors contributing to London's position as a leading global financial centre. In the aftermath of the banking crisis, that remains the case; arguably even more so.

"The integrity and incorruptibility of our judges and the quality and skill of our lawyers are attracting more international litigants to the UK every year, who, with them, bring business to the UK for a number of other sectors, from financial services to hospitality.

"Law is an extremely valuable export. Overseas' exports of UK legal services have been valued recently at more than £2.8 billion per year, to which the Bar makes an important contribution.

"Government actions have the ability, if not the propensity, to undermine the functioning and reputation of our justice system. To date, the Government has been largely supportive in promoting legal services, recognising their value to the UK.

"The opening, last year, of the new Rolls Building - the largest business court complex in the world - consolidated this effort. This work must continue. The British economy needs it."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525.

2. The Bar Council has published a 2012 Party Conference briefing - please click here to read it.

3. "Fair Access to the Legal Profession - is Access Denied?" will take place from 20:00 - 21:15 on Sunday 23 September at the Hilton Metropole, Edinburgh Room.

4. "Law as an Export Industry" will take place from 13:00 - 14:00 on Monday 24 September at the Grand Hotel, Pavilion Room.

5. The Bar Council is involved in the Unlocking Disputes campaign, which seeks to promote London as the world's leading centre for dispute resolution. For more information, please visit www.unlockingdisputes.com.

6. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:

• The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
• Fair access to justice for all
• The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
• The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.