CBA Chairmans’s Message – 09.12.14

CBA Monday Message:
Tony Cross QC 

Monday 15 December 2014

 

Four Hotels
 
When you are my age there are fewer and fewer opportunities for a first time for anything. Friday morning saw a first for me when having arrived at floor 8 of the fourth hotel that I had stayed in since Sunday night I quickly realised that I had no idea what room I was in-I did though the sensible thing- I rang reception and they quickly informed me where it was I was supposed to be.
 
My confusion though was nothing to the confused thinking in Government as to the dual provider provisions.  My problem was solved by a quick telephone call.   I can give equally straight forward advice, read again the CBA Response HERE and follow our advice.  Isn’t it time again for Government to pause and as we say in the North (well I do), think on?  This article HERE might provide some food for thought. 
 
As I promised on Friday Mark and I met with Bill Waddington (CLSA), Jon Black and Julian Hayes (LCCSA).  As you know we had arranged this meeting to enable us to discuss the scope and effect of the Government’s dual contract scheme and its likely effect upon both professions.
 
All three of our organisations have previously warned government that we believe these changes would have a devastating effect on the criminal justice system.
 
We enjoyed an open and frank dialogue and have agreed to continue discussions as to the appropriate way forward in the near future.   I shall now be consulting the Officers and Executive for their views. Our meeting is on Wednesday.
 
CBA Elections
 
We have a record field for your consideration. My challenge to weeks ago seems to have generated an appropriate response. You will find a link here to the details for the upcoming elections. Please study the biographies of the candidates and register your vote. We need a strong Executive representing the Bar of England and Wales.

Name	Chambers	Call	Proposed by	Chambers	Seconded by	Chambers
Kerim Fuad QC	Churchcourt Chambers	1992	Richard Bentwood	Goldsmith Chambers	Mike Turner QC	Garden Court Chambers
Rebecca Herbert	36 Bedford Row	1993	James Vine	5 St Andrews Hill	Mary Aspinall -Miles	12 College Place
Nigel R Edwards	St Paul’s Chambers	1995	James Vine	5 St Andrews Hill	Rebecca Herbert	36 Bedford Row
Nick Worsley	Zenith Chambers	1998	John Elvidge QC	Dere St Chambers	Simon Csoka QC	Lincoln House Chambers
Claire Davies	Farringdon Chambers	1999	Christopher Whitehouse	Farringdon Chambers	Martin McCarthy	Farringdon Chambers
Mary Aspinall -Miles	12 College Place	1999	Rebecca Herbert	36 Bedford Row	Ed Elton	12 College Place
Cathy (Acheson) McCulloch	St Edmunds Chambers	2002	Thom Dyke	Great James St	Simon Spence QC	18 Red Lion Court
Rebecca Lee	187 Fleet Street	2004	Simon Mayo QC	187 Fleet Street	Leon Kazakos	187 Fleet Street
Joanne Cecil	Garden Court Chambers	2005	Sam Parham	Garden Court Chambers	Tom Wainwright	Garden Court Chambers
Chris Moran	No 6 Chambers	2007	Matthew Harding	Park Square Chambers	John Elvidge QC	Dere St Barristers
Stephen Knight	Garden Court Chambers	2011	Catherine Oborne	Garden Court Chambers	Vikki Kerly	Garden Court Chambers
Abimbola Johnson	25 Bedford Row	2011	Paul Keleher QC	25 Bedford Row	Dermot Keating	25 Bedford Row

   
CBA Autumn Conference
 
Yet more good news came my way as a result of the Autumn Conference. I owe James Mulholland QC and his team and Aaron of course a huge debt of thanks for what was by all accounts a superb day.  Government would be well advised to remember just how much effort the CBA expend on educating and training those that conduct cases in the Crown courts of this land.  Our fantastic contributors, Mr Justice Goss, Her Honour Judge Wendy Joseph, Professor David Ormerod QC, Bobbie Cheema QC, Miranda Bevan, Dr Eileen Vizard, and Professor Penny Cooper gave up their time and energy for free. Who will be the ultimate beneficiaries of their kindness – the public who will see their cases prosecuted and defended by the best.  This cooperation though will only go so far. I wonder if those great factory firms rumoured to be the beneficiaries of the dual provider provisions with their growing advocacy departments will produce Barristers and Judges of the calibre seen at our conference on Saturday. I think not!
 
The Spring Conference will be held in Manchester on Saturday April 25. Book early so soon as details are released.
 
CBA Bursary
 
Ten days ago, the officers had the privilege of determining who should be awarded CBA Bursaries this year.  We had a record number of applicants and we took a decision to make more awards than in previous years.  I was extremely sorry that I was unable to make it to London to present the awards myself at the CBA lecture that took place last Tuesday.   The quality of the candidates (pupils and junior tenants alike) was humbling and Mark and the officers have spoken in glowing terms of their abilities and dedication.  The levels of debt that young barristers carry nowadays is shattering and the profession has a tremendous responsibility to continue to do what it can to ensure that able candidates who have no economic support from families can pursue a career at the self employed Bar.  The continued fee cuts and the imminent changes seem designed to ensure that all the advances in the social diversity of the profession in the last two decades are reversed.

 Tony 

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