Press releases
Edinburgh to Host the National Final of the Bar Mock Trial Competition 2009/10
15 March 2010
On Saturday 20 March 2010 students from 16 schools across the UK will compete in the national final of the 2009/10 Bar National Mock Trial Competition, which this year is being held at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. The students have prepared two cases for the national final that have been drafted by practising barristers and cover relevant and topical issues: possession of drugs with intent to supply and criminal damage at an environmental demonstration. By working to present the most compelling cases for the prosecution and defence, the students will demonstrate their argument and reasoning skills.
The 8th Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture
8 March 2010
‘The case for an International Court for the Environment’
Stephen Hockman QC of Six Pump Court, former Chairman of the Bar Council will give this year's 8th Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen International Law Lecture.
Bar Council Welcomes Government's Decision to Create New Executive Agency to Administer Legal Aid
3 March 2010
The Bar Council has welcomed the Ministry of Justice’s decision announced today to create a new executive agency to replace the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to administer legal aid. The Government’s announcement follows the publication of the Review of Legal Aid Delivery and Governance by Sir Ian Magee, which had been commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and a highly critical report of the Public Accounts Committee published in February (9th Report, HC 322) which accepted the findings of a review of the procurement of criminal legal aid by the National Audit Office in 2009
Bar Chairman Calls for Bar to Modernise
1 March 2010
The Chairman of the Bar, Nicholas Green QC, will today call for the Bar to continue to modernise as it enters a new era of legal services provision. Speaking at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Legal and Constitutional Affairs in the House of Lords, Green will set out the challenges facing the Bar following the implementation of the Legal Services Act and will outline how the Bar is responding.
129 Queen’s Counsel Appointed in 2009-10 Competition
26 February 2010
The fourth round of appointments as Queen’s Counsel was announced today. These appointments are made following consideration by the independent Selection Panel, which recommends who should receive this highly sought-after award. All those appointed have demonstrated excellence in advocacy in the higher courts.
Bar Council Welcomes Report on Judicial Diversity
24 February 2010
The Bar Council has today welcomed the publication of the final report from the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity. Chaired by Baroness Neuberger DBE, the Panel has published a report which sets out proposals for a co-ordinated programme designed to deliver ‘sustained progress towards a more diverse judiciary’.
Bar Council Chairman Calls for Protection for Legal Aid at Vienna Conference
12 February 2010
Changes to legal aid system in England and Wales are incompatible with rule of law
Speaking in Vienna today at the 38th Annual Conference of European Bar Leaders, the Chairman of the Bar, Nicholas Green QC said the latest round of proposed cuts in criminal legal aid in England and Wales, coupled with the absence of a clear strategic vision for the future of legal aid were placing the country’s justice system at risk.
Bar Council launches Judicial Review of Government's Consultations on Criminal Legal Aid
10 February 2010
In accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review Claims, solicitors acting for the Bar Council have today written to the Legal Aid Minister, Lord Bach and to the Chairman of the Legal Services Commission, Sir Bill Callaghan in order to advance proceedings for judicial review of the Government’s consultations on criminal legal aid.
Bar Council Moves Toward Judicial Review of Government’s Consultations on Criminal Legal Aid
5 February 2010
The Bar Council has taken the first step toward a judicial review (JR) of two consultations on Advocates Graduated Fees and Very High Cost Cases (VHCCs) which are being conducted by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Legal Services Commission (LSC) respectively.
Junior Criminal Bar under threat from botched Legal Aid Reforms warns Commons Committee
2 February 2010
The influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has today published a damning report on the Legal Services Commission’s handling of legal aid reform.
The report on criminal legal aid procurement also warns that the increased use of solicitors to conduct work in the Crown Court is threatening the long-term future of the junior criminal Bar and may be affecting the quality of advocacy provided in those courts.
