Weekly Round Up 15.06.12
CBA News:
Chairman’s Update:
Referral payments and arrangements are still occurring. We know which firms of solicitors are inducing the Bar to pay for work, and we know who is succumbing to the pressure. Many of you are taking the time and trouble to write to the PPC or elsewhere to report this activity. Please keep going, and please make sure you copy any reports or evidence to the CBA via Aaron Dolan. We need to act together and maintain a central file of information, if we are to stop this abuse of the legal aid system.
Our campaign for the controlled release of restrained funds, to ease pressure upon the legal aid fund and to ensure that those who can afford it pay for their legal representation, continues as before. I hope and believe there will be further significant publicity on this issue via the media, as soon as we can manage.
The CBA has instructed Mark Borkowski to develop our public image and messaging. He will attend the CBA national Committee meeting next Tuesday, 19th June, to discuss our plans.
I attended an event for the African Prisons Project yesterday. Their vision is ‘that prisons in Africa are places of positive transformation and that entering prison does not have to mean losing hope’. Their Patrons include our former Chair Linda Dobbs J. Their Director General is barrister Alexander McLean. Their work is inspirational, and includes an Access to Justice programme which ‘will focus on raising awareness of inmates’ rights and responsibilities and empowering them and their lawyers to provide the best defence possible in court, in order that justice might be done’. Go to www.africanprisons.org to read more.
Have a good weekend
Nominations for Vice Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association:
Nominations for this position will open next week, if you had a candidate in mind please note that those wishing to stand must be either Queen’s Counsel or Senior Treasury Counsel and must be a member of the CBA and be proposed and seconded by members of the CBA. The successful candidate will be expected to take over as Chairman in September 2013, having served as Vice Chairman for the previous year.
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:
Child Injury and Expert Evidence: The Lessons of Al-Alas
The Association of Lawyers for Children and the Criminal Bar Association jointly present an evening seminar
Wednesday 4th July 2012
6pm-8pm; followed by drinks and canapés
Michael Turner QC, Jo Delahunty QC and Kate Purkiss speaking with Martha Cover, Co-Chair of the ALC Chairing
Book online or download the booking form from the CBA website
Other News:
Criminal Law Week – updates (issue 23)
Key updates from this week’s issue of Criminal Law Week:
Harassment – whether repeated references by newspaper to bisexuality of the mistress of a married cabinet minister protected as a “reasonable” course of conduct under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, s.1(3): Trimingham v. Associated Newspapers Ltd, Q.B.D. (CLW/12/23/2).
Investigations into proceeds of criminal conduct – lawfulness of search warrants and disclosure orders under POCA 2002, ss.352 and 357,made long after confiscation order: R. (Horne and others) v. Central Criminal Court (Crown Prosecution Service and H.M. Revenue and Customs (interested parties)), D.C. (CLW/12/23/4).
Prisoners’ rights – compatibility with Article 3 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights of disenfranchisement of prisoners serving sentences of particular lengths specified in Italian legislation, without judicial decision: Scoppola v. Italy (No. 3), E.C.H.R. (Grand Chamber) (CLW/12/23/6).
Corruption (cricket) – conviction appeals by cricketer and agent of cricketers who had engaged in spot-fixing of matches for cash: R. v. Majeed; R. v. Westfield, C.A. (CLW/12/23/1).
International News & Events
For the latest update and further information from Advocates for International Development click here
Other Events:
South Eastern Circuit Lecture – How to Apply: The Art of Applying for CPS Upgrade / QASA / Judicial Appointment
Simon Clements, CPS and Martin Forde QC, JAC Commissioner
Monday 18 June at 6pm
Middle Temple
To reserve a place, please email: [email protected]
The Koestler Trust’s 50th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner – celebrating arts by offenders helping ensure our next 50 years
Guest of honour : Antony Gormley
Venue The Waldorf
7pm Thursday 28th June 2012
Black Tie
Being held at the Waldorf as its where Arthur Koestler, David Astor and Hugh Casson devised the Koestler Trust
It’s the very first event of its kind for us and we’re hoping to make it a biennial event for the years to come.
The response from our supporters has be fantastic but we still have a few places left to sell and it would be simply wonderful if we could sell out for the event.
We shall be having an auction which will include a Gormley, a Grayson Perry, a Maggi Hambling and a Mary Feddon as well as the chefs Table at Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant at Claridges and a master class for two with the world renowned chef Jean Christophe Novelli .
All in all a great night guaranteed but we’re grateful for all the support you can muster for us
South Eastern Circuit Bar Mess Foundation Advanced International Advocacy Course
(Bank holiday) Monday 27 August until Saturday 1 September
Keble College, Oxford
The aim of the South Eastern Circuit Bar Mess Foundation Advanced International Advocacy Course at Keble College, Oxford course, is to encourage and develop the highest standards of advocacy amongst practitioners. The course is the most demanding and intensive of any advocacy course in the UK, and was described by a former presiding judge of the Circuit as the “Best Advanced Course in the UK”
The application form is now available to download:
The Inns of Court are each offering funding for up to five of their members towards the cost of attending the Keble Advanced Advocacy Course. The deadline for applications for the scholarships has been extended to 25 May 2012 and for further details, please click here.
South Eastern Circuit Florida Criminal Law Advocacy course
The South Eastern Circuit seeks a Silk with a criminal practice to attend the South Eastern Circuit Florida Criminal Law Advocacy course, held at the University of Florida, Gainesville, from Sunday 5 August to Friday 10 August 2012. The successful applicant is expected to take part in advocacy exercises, to provide feedback to participants and, he or she will demonstrate qualities marking him or her out as an appropriate ambassador of our profession. The course fees, accommodation and flights are funded by the Florida Bar Association. Successful candidates will be expected to travel to Gainesville in time to attend the course on 5 August 2012 and if you would like further details, please click here.
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.
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