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Issue 196 | 23 February 2023
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Court reform report: Bar Council responds
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The National Audit Office report ‘Progress on the courts and tribunals reform programme’ was published earlier today. The problems it outlines echo the experiences we hear from barristers on the ground. Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said: “The Bar Council supports the need for court and tribunal reforms. It is essential reform is delivered efficiently, effectively, and in ways that do not come at the cost of access to justice.”
Read our full response
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Bar Council reacts to courts and justice announcements
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Last week the Bar Council reacted to both the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announcement on Nightingale courts, and the speech by Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Steve Reed MP outlining his party’s proposals and priorities for the justice sector.
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Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar, said: “The Bar Council is pleased that Nightingale courts will continue hearing cases ... We also want to see progress made on the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board". Adding: "We welcome the views of all those who recognise the importance of the legal services sector and its contribution to maintaining access to justice and the rule of law ... The Shadow Lord Chancellor has made proposals for the civil justice system, the introduction of community and rape courts, and further technological reform. These are interesting proposals, and we look forward to considering them in detail."
Read the Bar Council's full response
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Benefits of the Bar Representation Fee for you
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During the Authorisation to Practise process, starting soon, you will have the opportunity to subscribe to the Bar Representation Fee (BRF). This is a voluntary minimum contribution of £160 a year (or under £13.50 per month via Direct Debit). As well as supporting the Bar Council’s vital work, by subscribing to the BRF you will receive exclusive benefits including: a 20% discount on all Bar Council training courses and events; a monthly subscription to Counsel magazine (worth £134); the facility to request the free appointment of an arbitrator, mediator or expert by the Chair of the Bar (worth £500); access to discounts on a wide range of retailers such as Apple and John Lewis; and a free listing on the Direct Access Portal.
Find out more about the BRF
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The Chancery Bar Association has published a charter on fairness in work allocation and earnings. Nicola Rushton KC said the Chancery Bar gender pay gap of 39% was not the biggest at the Bar but was still much higher than the national average of 15%.
Read about the charter in Counsel magazine
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The Bar Council's Young Barristers’ Committee and the Young Bars of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague have joined forces to organise this year’s exchange programme, which will be held in London from Monday 5 to Thursday 8 June. For now the Bar Council is asking people to save the date and for London-based barristers to volunteer to host a guest if they have the space at home to do so.
Find out more information and register to get involved
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Sharif A. Shivji KC of 4 Stone Buildings has been appointed as the new Chair of Advocate, the pro bono charity of the Bar. Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said: "Sharif takes the helm at an incredibly important time for the charity. Pro bono has always been a central aspect of the Bar’s commitment to access to justice. But in the current cost of living crisis, it is more important than ever." Sharif A. Shivji KC, Chair of Advocate, said: "Our work has the power to change the direction of someone’s life for the better. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together."
Read the full Advocate press release
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A day at the Bar for Ukrainian lawyers
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'A day at the Bar for Ukrainian lawyers' is for Ukrainian lawyers who wish to learn about the operation of the legal system in England and Wales from a practical perspective.
If you are a barrister based in England or Wales with a valid Practising Certificate and are willing to give an insight into the working life of a practising barrister and host a Ukrainian lawyer for a day to shadow your work in your chambers, your organisation or in court, please register your interest. Registration for both volunteers and applicants will be open from Friday 24 February until Friday 3 March.
Register your interest
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Share your views on delegated legislation
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The Hansard Society is seeking views and feedback on a new working paper that sets out 13 proposals to reform how Statutory Instruments are designed and scrutinised. The reforms have been proposed in response to increasing discontent with the delegated legislation system across the political spectrum and legal community. The Society is inviting views from legal professionals and others on the paper ‘Proposals for a new system for delegated legislation’. Please send your comments to by Monday 20 March 2023.
Read the proposals
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Despite the recent rise in Base Rate, there is some good news for borrowers as lenders have continued to reduce the price of their fixed rate products this year. The market remains challenging though and we would recommend speaking to a qualified advisor if you are considering buying or remortgaging.
For free independent mortgage advice Charles Cameron are always delighted to help with:
· First time buyers
· Remortgaging
· Moving home
· Buy to let
· Lending into retirement including equity release
· Bridging loans
Please contact
Telephone 020 7953 7040
E-mail ?subject=Enquiry%20from%20BarTalk
www.ccameron.co.uk/barco
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
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Cameras in court
This blog post is drawn from barrister John Battle’s speech to mark the implementation of the Crown Court Order allowing cameras to broadcast sentencing remarks.
Read John’s speech
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Diverse and inclusive on paper, but not in practice?
Counsel culture: the business of law podcast
The special guest on this podcast episode is barrister Elaine Banton, Co-Chair of the Bar Council's Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee. The podcast covers wellbeing, career progression for female lawyers, racism in the legal industry and using AI to tackle court backlogs.
Listen to the podcast
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Mental health at work
The Legal Mind podcast
LawCare are now into their third series of podcasts which explore a range of issues around mental health both from an individual and organisational perspective. The latest episode is about workplace banter and how this relates to mental wellbeing.
Access the podcast series
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Wronged
The Slow Newscast podcast
Inside Justice, the charity dedicated to investigating miscarriages of justice, is the subject of a new podcast episode featuring the story of Patryk Pachecka and Grzegorz Szal who were wrongly convicted of murdering a man in London in 2016.
Listen to the podcast
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Guide to business and property work at Central London
The Property Bar Association guide to business and property work at Central London has been updated to include up to date email addresses for judge’s clerks and to incorporate the annexes within a single document. The updated document can be found in the Property Bar Association online library.
Access the Property Bar Association library
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Women in Criminal Law in Wales
Wednesday 8 March
17:00 - 19:00
In-person, Cardiff Crown Court
Barristers are invited to a celebration for International Women's Day to mark the launch of Women in Criminal Law in Wales. The event will take place at Cardiff Crown Court and light refreshments will be provided.
?subject=Women%20in%20Criminal%20Law%20in%20Wales%20RSVP
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Constitutional values in the common law of obligations
Cambridge Freshfields Annual Law Lecture
Friday 10 March
17:00 - 19:30
In-person, Cambridge
At this year's lecture Lord Philip James Sales will be the guest speaker at the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Lord Sales became a Justice of the Supreme Court in January 2019.
Find out more information
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Cricket and the Law
Leeds Business and Property Courts Forum
Tuesday 14 March
17:30 - 19:00
In-person, Leeds
High Court Judge Mr Justice Foxton is the guest speaker at this event where he will be discussing commercial cases which will be of interest to lawyers and sports fans alike.
Book your place
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Justice in the Archive
INQUEST X Bishopsgate
Saturday 11 March
13:30 - 16:00
In-person, London
To mark their 40th anniversary, INQUEST is depositing its archive at the Bishopsgate Institute. Started by families in 1981, INQUEST is the only charity providing expertise on state related deaths in the UK. The event provides an opportunity to explore displays of photographs, magazines and ephemera from the archives and special collections.
Find out more information
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Private Nuisance in the UK Supreme Court: Fearn v Tate
UCL Private Law Group
Monday 13 March
18:15 - 19:30
In person, London
The UK Supreme Court’s recent decision in Fearn v Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery [2023] UKSC 4 is a landmark ruling in the law of private nuisance. It has generated considerable interest and is sure to be the subject of debate for many years to come. To discuss the judgment and its significance, the UCL Private Law Group is hosting a panel event including Tom Weekes KC (who acted as lead counsel for the claimants), Professor Donal Nolan (Oxford) and Dr Vicki Ball (KCL).
Book your place
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Chair of the Bar Evensong Address
Temple Church
Wednesday 22 March
18:00 - 19.00
Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC will deliver a short address at Choral Evensong at the Temple Church. Those attending the service are welcome to join the Master and the Reader of the Temple, Robin Griffith-Jones and Mark Hatcher for drinks with Nick afterwards. The service will also be livestreamed on the Church’s YouTube channel
Find out more
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Work distribution and monitoring
Monday 17 April
12:00 - 14:00
In-person, London
This Bar Council training is focused on how to monitor the distribution of work within your chambers and how to generate data to inform practice management. This practical course will equip you to implement fair allocation policies, better understand disparities in earnings and enable you to make the most of your existing chambers’ software.
Find out more information
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LawCare: Fit for Law
Wednesday 8 March
12:30 - 13:30
Online
LawCare is launching part two of the Fit for Law programme with a webinar on Wednesday 8 March focused on exploring how to manage relationships with clients, colleagues and other professionals. The programme was developed in collaboration with Dr Emma Jones at the University of Sheffield and her colleagues at the Open University.
Sign up to attend
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The Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel (London) will be opening for competition on Tuesday 28 February and closing on Wednesday 5 April. The work of the panels is not limited to just public law and there is a need for counsel with a variety of specialisms.
Find out more information
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Civil Justice Council
The Civil Justice Council (CJC) is currently seeking to recruit a legal executive member, an advice sector member, a lay member, an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) member, and a digital technologies and information technology member. The application deadline is 8 March at 11:00.
Find out more information
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If you would like to unsubscribe from all marketing emails and newsletters or update your preferences for all Bar Council communications, as a practising barrister you can do so by logging into your MyBar profile.
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The Bar Council (England and Wales) · 289-293 High Holborn
London, London WC1V7HZ · United Kingdom
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