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Life at the Bar Council is nothing if not varied. In his latest Counsel column, Nick Vineall KC updates on the “trouble brewing” over fixed recoverable costs, reflects on the Bar’s first sustainability summit and a recent roundtable discussion on menopause at the Bar, and highlights overseas work through a new memorandum of understanding with the Bar of India and a successful Anglo-Dutch Exchange.
Read Nick’s column
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 Earlier this week, Nick Vineall KC and Vice Chair Sam Townend KC took part in useful discussions with the Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC MP. They picked up the issue of fixed recoverable costs, as well as court backlogs, the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board, and the opening up of the Indian legal market. They were joined by Kirsty Brimelow KC, Tana Adkin KC and Mark Watson from the CBA to discuss criminal fees, in particular for section 28 hearings.
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No place at the Bar for misogynist and bullying behaviour
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 The cover story of July’s Counsel magazine – ‘Speaking up’ by Dr Charlotte Proudman – looks at how women at the Bar have experienced bullying and harassment via social media. Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said: “There is absolutely no place at the Bar for misogynistic, sexist, or bullying behaviour…
“The use of Twitter provides a space for lively debate amongst the legal community. But all professional people ought to stick to debating the issues without resorting to personalised attacks. If you would not say something to someone’s face, don’t say it to them, or about them, on Twitter.”
Read ‘Speaking up’ in Counsel magazine
Read Nick’s statement
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Congratulations to the Legal Aid Awards winners
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 Last night we were delighted to join the ceremony for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023 (LALYs). Huge congratulations to all the nominees and winners and a special congratulations to Dr Kathryn Cronin who won Legal Aid Barrister of the Year – the award sponsored by the Bar Council.
Catch up via the LALYs Twitter account
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Themes announced for Pro Bono Week 2023
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 The 22nd annual Pro Bono Week will take place on Monday 6 to Friday 10 November 2023. Pro Bono Week offers an opportunity to recognise and support the voluntary contribution made by the legal profession across the UK in giving free legal help to those in need.
Barristers, chambers, and legal organisations are encouraged to organise events or initiatives under one or more of the following themes:
- Changing lives through pro bono
- Maximising the impact of pro bono
- Pro bono within ESG (environmental, social and governance): from climate to sustainable development
Find out more and submit your event plans and ideas
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Bar Council responds to latest judicial diversity data
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The latest official statistics on judicial diversity were released this morning. Responding, Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said: “The latest diversity statistics show that progress is being made, but it is not being made equally across the board. For example, Black candidates are disproportionately less likely to succeed than White candidates. We need to continue efforts to understand why we are seeing this pattern.”
Read Nick’s statement
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Have your say: HMCTS communications
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Help shape future HMCTS communications by completing this survey, which is designed to gather feedback on how HMCTS communicates and engages with court and tribunal users, including legal professionals, and what needs to be improved. Covering social media and GOV.UK, blogs and e-bulletins, working groups, forums and webinars, the survey is open until Monday 31 July and should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.
Complete the survey
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Post Office Inquiry considers the role of lawyers
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The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry has entered phase four, which will consider the role of lawyers, and the Bar Council will be following the proceedings carefully. Chair of the Bar Council Nick Vineall KC said: “The Post Office scandal was a catastrophic miscarriage of justice, and it is important that we understand how and why the justice system wasn’t working, and the role played by lawyers throughout the process. There are bound to be important lessons for us to learn.”
Read Nick’s statement
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Join our mission to Mexico
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 We’re looking for barristers with relevant practice experience to lead workshops on international arbitration and international corporate investigations as part of our third business development mission to Mexico on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 September 2023.
To apply, download and complete the application form and return it to us with your CV by Monday 31 July.
Find out more and apply
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Culture shift needed to deliver court reform programme
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In June the Public Accounts Committee published its report on the court reform programme expressing serious concerns. Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said: “Looking forward there needs to be a culture shift at HMCTS which leads to earlier and better engagement with those who will actually use the new systems, and that includes barristers.”
Read Nick’s statement
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Rebuilding Ukraine's legal system
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Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC MP announced plans to fund a study into challenges affecting the Ukrainian justice system following the Russian invasion as he met with international counterparts at the G7 in Japan. The Ministry of Justice will work with the Government of Ukraine to direct the study towards the most pressing issues hindering investment and confidence in the system, helping to increase transparency and build trust in the judiciary and the consistent enforcement of laws.
Read more
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Bar Council visit to Kenya and Rwanda
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Register your interest to join us this October for our next trip to East Africa. On Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 October we’ll be in Nairobi for a two-day seminar programme to build on the MoU we signed with the Law Society of Kenya. On Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 October we’ll be in Kigali for a day of high-level meetings with senior legal officials and a day of seminars.
Email to register your interest for all or part of the visit by Monday 31 July ?subject=East%20Africa%20visit
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Webinar: UK Government legal advisory export services sanctions to Russia
HMG officials are hosting a webinar at 10:00 on Tuesday 18 July on the new UK legal advisory services sanction placed on Russia, which entered into force on 30 June. Speakers will include representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Department for Business and Trade, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Register by Friday 14 July.
Register and submit your questions in advance
Read more about the new legislation
Common Platform guidance
The next courts to go live with Common Platform will be: Barkingside Magistrates' Court; Romford Magistrates' Court; Snaresbrook Crown Court; Stratford Magistrates’ Court; and Thames Magistrates' Court. These HMCTS guides on using Common Platform cover activating your account, finding a case and fully accessing case details, serving documents and uploading case materials, and checking in to a Common Platform hearing.
Download the guidance
Bullying and harassment: recognise, record, and report
The Bar Council webpage on bullying and harassment includes links to information, advice, and resources to recognise, record, and report incidents of bullying or harassment. Plus guides and helplines.
Visit the bullying and harassment webpage
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 Keeping hold of the reins: The challenge of regulating third-party funding of litigation
In June the Brussels offices of the German Federal Bar (BRAK) and the Bar Council of England and Wales jointly organised a seminar on the need for regulation of third-party funding of litigation – co-chaired by Sam Townend KC. The Bar Council’s Consultant Director in Brussels, Evanna Fruithof, reports on the key issues raised at the event.
Read Evanna’s blog
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Opening up pupillage opportunities at the employed Bar
Chair of the Employed Barristers’ Committee Stuart Alford KC explores why the numbers of employed pupillages on offer have historically been low and discovers how the landscape is changing. He argues that more organisations should gain authorised status to open up more opportunities to promote career pathways to the employed Bar, in line with the recommendations of the Bar Council’s Life at the employed Bar report.
Read Stuart’s blog Employed Pupillage blog
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European Circuit Annual Conference
Hosted by the Czech Bar Association
Thursday 21 - Friday 22 September 2023
Prague, Czechia
Join the Chair of the Bar at the European Circuit Annual Conference in Prague for a programme covering a broad range of topics of interest to multi-jurisdictional practitioners and those with an interest in cross-border issues. Planned sessions include current issues in arbitration, legal issues arising from the invasion of Ukraine, and AI in disputes.
Find out more
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Developing an international practice
Bar Council, Gatehouse Chambers and COMBAR (Commercial Bar Association)
Tuesday 18 July 2023
18:00 - 20:30
In person, London and online
The event comprises two panels. The first panel will consist of speakers who, having developed a successful international practice themselves, will share their experiences as well as pointers on how other barristers might do the same. The second panel will aim to demonstrate how foreign languages can be used practically for developing an international practice at the bar. The event will be followed by a drinks reception.
Find out more and book your place
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Save the date – Southwark’s 40th anniversary
The Southwark judges are holding a reception at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand in the early evening of Thursday 5 October to mark the occasion of Southwark Crown Court’s 40th anniversary in 2023. Please save the date and pass the message on to colleagues.
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FLBA annual national conference
Family Law Bar Association
Saturday 14 October 2023
St George’s, Bristol and online
Register now for the hybrid FLBA annual national conference for in-person or online tickets. Topics for discussion include ‘ethnic diversity and the family justice system’ and parallel children and finance sessions will be delivered by eminent speakers, including Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, and Mrs Justice Judd as conference Chair. The event will be live streamed for those unable to travel to Bristol, but FLBA very much hopes to see many delegated there in person. The gala dinner will take place in the Great Hall, Wills Memorial Building.
Find out more and book
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Young Citizens trustees
Education charity Young Citizens is looking for up to four new trustees to join the board, including those with particular expertise in law and justice.
Find out more
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The Bar Council (England and Wales) · 289-293 High Holborn
London, London WC1V7HZ · United Kingdom
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