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Issue 126 | 23 January 2020 |
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Sky News, BBC News, ITV as well as national newspapers, local radio stations and even The New York Times turned to the Bar Council for its views on government plans to introduce televised sentencing in the Crown Court.
Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar, took to the airwaves to welcome the move, but urged that the new initiative came with risks that needed to be guarded against.
Amanda Pinto QC told the likes of Sky News, The Times, Financial Times, The Sun, Daily Mail and LBC radio that: “Open justice gives an insight into our justice system and our courts to the public, many of whom will never personally go to court, but who value justice. This initiative will help people understand the realities of our criminal justice system. However, sentencing must not become an armchair, spectator sport.” |
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The Bar Council has warned of the imminent crisis in the criminal justice system following the publication this week of a new report from the Western Circuit, This Doesn’t Look Like Justice, showing how justice is being denied to victims and their families, as well as all other users of the criminal justice system.
Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar, responding to the findings, said: “This is a national issue which is fast becoming a national crisis. Currently, crime is rising but courts are sitting empty.” |
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The Prime Minister’s plans to reform judicial review, announced via The Times last week, should not restrict the holding of government to account, warns the Bar Council.
Speaking to The Times, Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar, warned: “Judicial review exists to challenge decisions including government decisions, which are sometimes wrong. When a government seeks to limit judicial review, alarm bells start ringing because it suggests that it does not wish to be properly held to account and effectively wants to put itself above the law. We’ll wait to see the detail of any review, but attempts to restrict the holding of government to account should be opposed.” |
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Since September 2018, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), in partnership with the Bar Council, has been trialling the ‘professional users’ access scheme’ across England & Wales, to enable easier access to court and tribunals for members of the Bar. The scheme, which is being rolled out nationally, allows our members to access HMCTS buildings via a smartphone identity application (ID app) or ID card without the need for a full security search each time.
This week the scheme has been extended to go live in the following buildings:
• Bromley Magistrates’ Court • City of London Magistrates’ Court • Thames Magistrates’ Court • Leicester Crown Court • Loughborough Court • North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court (Newcastle under Lyme) • Kingston-Upon-Hull Combined Court • Newcastle Civil & Family and Tribunal Centre • Sheffield Combined Court • Liverpool Combined Court • Manchester Magistrates Court (PFI) • Preston Combined Court • Brighton County and Family Court • Brighton Hearing Centre • Cambridge County Court • Bristol Civil Justice Centre • Bristol Combined Court • Gloucester County Court • Caernarfon Criminal Justice Centre • Mold Justice Centre
How to register: Members of the Bar can access their identity information via the Bar Council’s secure My Bar portal.
Electronic ID cards verify users’ practising status and are only available to legal professionals who regularly use a venue which is participating in the scheme.
To find out if your local court or tribunal building is operating under the scheme, you can check the HMCTS GOV.UK website. |
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Existing anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations were updated by the new Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 on 10 January 2020. These changes were brought in by the EU 5th Money Laundering Directive (which the UK will continue to comply with post-Brexit). Key changes include an expanded definition of tax advisors, further requirements for carrying out Customer Due Diligence, and a new requirement to report discrepancies on the Companies House register.
Legal sector guidance is being updated and will be available soon. |
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The newly appointed QC’s were announced last week. Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar, offered her congratulations and added that more was being done to improve diversity across the profession.
Unveiling some of the initiatives the Bar Council has planned for the year, Amanda Pinto QC, said: “The legal professions have just marked 100 years since women were allowed to practise law. Progress is speeding up and barristers and the Bar Council aren’t going to wait another 100 years to see substantial improvements on diversity." |
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This year’s Justice Week is fast approaching and we want the Bar to get involved. Taking place throughout the week commencing 24 February, Justice Week will see the Bar Council, CILEx and the Law Society team up with other organisations help young people to understand the importance of the justice system.
See below how you or your chambers can be involved:
• if you are planning any events/activity so we can publicise them • ?subject=Volunteer%20to%20deliver%20a%20%E2%80%98Big%20Legal%20Lesson%E2%80%99 to deliver a ‘Big Legal Lesson’, part of Young Citizens’ activity during the week • Set a challenge for the Legal Design Sprint • Use the hashtags before and during Justice Week - #JusticeWeek2020 and #OurJusticeTeam
Check BarTalk in the coming weeks to find out how else to support Justice Week. |
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The winners of the 2019 Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards have been announced with reporting on jury trials and the prorogation of Parliament case grabbing the judges’ attention. |
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Following the General Election and return of Parliament, we have briefed Peers for The Queen’s Speech debate on justice matters in which we were positively referenced by Lord Carlile of Berriew. Furthermore, we briefed members of the House of Lords (peers) ahead of the first reading of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. Our General Election manifesto was sent out to all new MPs and we are in the process of meeting with a number of them.
We have met with the Attorney General, Rt Hon Geoffrey Cox QC MP and discussed a range of issues including the present challenges in the justice system and the criminal legal aid review, the importance of legal services post-Brexit, the upcoming Budget and how the Bar Council can help the Government with their new programme which has a large focus on law and order. We have a similar meeting with the Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, next week. |
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Wellbeing blog: Support needed in dealing with suicidal clients |
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Guest blog: Lawyers in danger; where's the justice in that? |
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Patrick Duffy, barrister and member of the Bar Council's International Committee, blogs ahead of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer (Friday 24 January) on why the dangers lawyers face in Pakistan and elsewhere across the world has consequences for the rule of law. |
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Family Justice Council – junior barrister needed |
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If you are raising money for a good cause, ?subject=Fundraising%20on%20BarTalk to feature in this section of BarTalk. |
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Tuesday 4 February Social Context of the Law Series: Is the Presumption of Innocence Alive and Well? The Rt Hon The Baroness Hallett DBE, other speakers tba. Introduction by Geoffrey Nice QC
The Temple Church |
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Monday 17 February Inner Temple Reader’s Lecture Night: Memory as Evidence Professor David Shanks (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Brain Sciences, UCL) The Law Society |
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Wednesday 19 February Inner Temple History Society Lecture: The Supreme Court: A rabbit pulled out of a hat? Frederic Reynold QC The Temple Church |
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Wednesday 4 March Temple Women's Forum: Planned Breaks and Return to the Bar Speakers: Helen Davies QC (Head of Brick Court Chambers), Elaine Banton (7BR), Lucy Barbet (Senior Clerk, 11 KBW) and other speakers tbc The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple |
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Wednesday 8 - Thursday 9 April World Bar Conference 2020 Hong Kong |
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Much of the Bar Council’s work would not be possible without funding from the Bar Representation Fee (BRF): a £12.50 per month voluntary subscription. Find out more and sign up to help support the Bar. |
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