The Bar

Articles

12 Aug 2010

QCs face compulsory reaccreditation under new advocacy scheme

The most experienced criminal advocates in the country will be subject to compulsory reaccreditation every five years under plans for a joint quality assurance scheme launched this week by the Bar Standards Board, the SRA and ILEX.

10 Aug 2010

Expect redundancies, MoJ director tells staff

About £2bn will be sliced off the Ministry of Justice's £9bn budget over the next two years, some of which through redundancies, according to a letter leaked to the Public and Commercial Services Union.

9 Aug 2010

Beyond reasonable belief

If you use the Mental Health Act, writes David Hewitt, it seems you can believe what you like

15 Jun 2010

Court strikes down "unlawful" cap on defence costs

The government has defended its predecessor's “unlawful” attempt to save £20m by limiting recoverable defence costs to legal aid levels.

20 May 2010

Coalition government unveils civil liberties, crime and legal aid reform

Radical reforms of the criminal justice system and a review of legal aid are two of the main planks of the coalition government's programme, alongside a commitment to roll back the state and protect individual freedoms.

18 May 2010

Fresh vision

The regional Bar cannot continue with the current model – it must be prepared to evolve over the next decade if it is to thrive, says Robin Tolson QC

18 May 2010

Cut out and sell

Increased competition for criminal work may be no bad thing in itself, but the latest LSC proposals risk treating clients as commodities, says Christopher Kinch QC

18 May 2010

Strength to strength

The Bar must embrace change to strengthen its position in the face of recession and play its part to guarantee the survival of the legal aid system, says Nicholas Green QC