Weekly Round Up 03.08.12
Chairman’s Update
I returned from my short break to find the very kind words Michael Turner included in his message to you last week. We must all pledge our full support to Michael and to Nigel Lithman as they take our work forward. Meanwhile, I shall do all that I can for the remaining four weeks of my term.
You know about the QASA consultation which runs until 9th October. Please log in to the CBA website, read our draft consultation response HERE, and use the discussion forum we have provided to register your views HERE. Michael and others need your support as they perfect our response in September.
Whilst on our website, please view the information on CBA Bursaries HERE, the result of excellent work by our Treasurer Ed Vickers.
You may have seen the article in the Times online yesterday, HERE. Note the use made of my words at the CBA Dinner. I have never claimed that the Bar stands alone in suffering at the hands of the government onslaught into publicly-funded work. Those responsible for the Times article appear to agree with everything I said. I return this favour by agreeing with every word in the final paragraph of the article. What are we going to do about ‘dodgy’ or ‘shady’ solicitors? Root them out and remove them from practice. Good solicitors should be grateful. We have always upheld the highest professional standards, and we will work with those who recognise the vital importance of maintaining a strong and independent Bar within the criminal justice system.
Have a good Olympic weekend
Triennial Reviews of LSB and OLC published
The report of the Triennial Reviews of the Legal Services Board and the Office for Legal Complaints is now published and available on the Justice website
Health Support and Advice for the Bar – Law Care:
LawCare provides an independent and confidential service which assists members of the Law Societies of England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the Isle of Man; the Institute of Legal Executives; the Bar Councils of England and Wales, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland; the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland; the Department of Justice; the Institute of Barristers Clerks; and the National Association of Paralegals. This is a confidential advisory service to help lawyers, their immediate families and their support staff to deal with the health issues and related emotional difficulties that can result from a stressful career as a lawyer, or working with lawyers. LawCare is there to support and assist you, too.
LawCare offers you the opportunity to discuss problems that are interfering with, or have the potential to interfere with, your work performance and / or your family life and to seek to help in resolving these problems.
Through LawCare, help is available to those who are suffering from stress and/or depression, or who have alcohol, drug or other dependency concerns, or eating disorders.
There is a helpline which is open 365 days a year:-
9am – 7.30pm, Monday to Friday
10am – 4pm Saturday, Sunday and UK Bank Holidays
0800 018 4299
Further details can be found on the website here
Follow the chairman on twitter:
CBA Events:
A Dinner in honour of Hooper LJ
Friday 28th September 2012
Stationers Hall, London
Online booking HERE
CBA Autumn Conference:
Experts
Saturday 3rd November 2012
Venue to be confirmed
Booking details to follow.
Old Bailey Lecture:
Work of the Sentencing Council
Tuesday 6th November 2012
The Old Bailey
Booking details to follow.
Old Bailey Lecture:
Research on Juries
Tuesday 4th December 2012
The Old Bailey
Booking details to follow.
The Kalisher Essay Competition 2012
The Criminal Bar Association Of England & Wales & The Kalisher Scholarship Trust Present:
The Kalisher Essay Competition 2012
1st Prize – £5,000 2nd Prize – £2,000
“Is there an imbalance in the extradition arrangements between the UK and US? If so, how might the rights of UK citizens be better protected?”
Entry Conditions
- Maximum word length is 2,000 words on above topic (exc. reasonable footnotes)
- Prize is open to all pupils in criminal sets in England and Wales
- Pupils must be sponsored by their chambers to enter at a cost of £100 per pupil with no limit on entries.
- Cheques to be made out to the Kalisher Scholarship
- Chambers must indicate an intention to compete for the prize and provide sponsorship by Friday 29th July
- Essays (showing an alias) must be sent electronically to the Secretary by 1600 Friday 6thAugust
- Prizes will be awarded by this year’s speaker at the Kalisher Lecture in October
All enquiries regarding entry to be made to:
Max Hardy
Secretary to the Kalisher Scholarship
Email: [email protected]
Other News:
Criminal Law Week – updates (issue 30)
Key updates from this week’s issue of Criminal Law Week:
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 – squatting offence brought into force on September 1, 2012: S.I. 2012 No. 1956 (CLW/12/30/8).
Police powers – lawfulness of arrest and search of persons on and around the day of the Royal Wedding: R. (Hicks and ors) v. Commr of Police of the Metropolis; R. (M.) v. Same; R. (Pearce and anor) v. Same; R. (Middleton) v. Bromley Magistrates’ Courts and Commr of Police of the Metropolis, D.C. (CLW/12/30/3).
Admissions and confessions – when waiver of the right to legal advice will be effective: R. v. Saunders (Gabrielle Yinka), C.A. (CLW/12/30/1).
Admissions and confessions – there is no presumption that evidence obtained in breach of section 30 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (arrest elsewhere than at police station) is evidence obtained unfairly: R. v. King, C.A. (CLW/12/30/2).
International News & Events
For the latest upcoming international Events and opportunities click here
What makes a good witness? Presenting evidence in the courtroom.
Visually-recorded evidence in chief is thought to produce the most comprehensive and accurate record of the interview process and be best evidence. But is this really the case? We are currently conducting a research project examining views from criminal justice professionals regarding the issue of the medium in which evidence in chief is presented. A topic that has driven interesting debate nationally. The research concerns three inter-related areas; (i) your views regarding your perceptions of witness testimony and certain terms that are often used when determining its credence, (ii) your views on the way the police gather information and how this impacts on witness evidence in chief, and (iii) your perceptions of the medium in which evidence in chief is presented in the courtroom. As part of the on-going research we would be grateful if you could take some of your valuable time to complete the questionnaire using the link provided below. It should take about 15 minutes to complete and participation is anonymous. If you would like to discuss this further or for any other information relating to the research and for related publications on these issues please contact either Jemma Hodgkins, [email protected] or Dr Rebecca Milne, Reader in Forensic Psychology, Director of the Centre of Forensic Interviewing, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth. [email protected] or on (+44) 2392 843 927. Thank you for your assistance.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/witnessevidencequestionnaire
Other Events:
Science and Justice Conference: The Criminal Court
Guy’s Hospital, London Bridge, London SE1, Robens Suite
For further details and to register your attendance please contact Lesley Nott, BAFS Administration on: [email protected]
Please visit the BAFS website for more information
The Slynn Foundation are delighted that The RT Hon the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers KG, who will retire as President of the UK Supreme Court in September, has agreed to deliver the 10th Slynn Foundation Lecture on Monday 12 November 2012. More details will follow but please note the date.
AWB Dinner
A date for your diary – the Association of Women Barristers will be holding their annual dinner in Manchester on 25th October 2012, with Lady Hale as the keynote speaker. Further details to follow.
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