Direct access barristers will make up nearly half the entire bar by the end of next year, it was revealed last week in the Bar Standard Board and Bar Council’s second survey of its members, Barristers’ Working Lives. This means clients can consult them directly, without having to go through a solicitor. The survey revealed falling earnings from publicly funded work, with 67% of criminal barristers reporting their earnings had fallen between 2011 and 2013. The report covers employment status, practice area, working hours, earnings, career aspirations, and views about the profession.
25 June 2014
Barristers’ lives
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles
Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles
Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards
Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards
Lime Solicitors—four promotions
Lime Solicitors announces four promotions
NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
A polished legal defence may owe more to artificial intelligence than legal merit—and creditors risk paying the price in delay and expense
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
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