Bar chairman Timothy Dutton QC discusses his plans for his year in office
It is a tremendous privilege to be elected as chairman of the Bar Council. 2007 was a busy and interesting year for the Bar, with outgoing chairman Geoffrey Vos QC and his team contending with the passage of the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA 2007), legal aid reforms, and mooted constitutional changes, as well as promoting equality, diversity and access through the Entry to the Bar Working Party, chaired by Lord Neuberger.
The Bar has continued to grow and specialise, offering a first class quality of service, both domestically and overseas. One of my key roles this year will be to oversee the implementation of internal Bar reforms and programmes, and also to ensure that the Bar continues to compete in the new legislative climate.
I want every member of the Bar to know the important fact; that the Bar Council works in their interests across all ranges of discipline.