News and press releases

9 December 2014 - Legal chiefs and academics today demanded new laws to stop police and security services from spying on meetings between lawyers and their clients. The Bar Council and the Law Society have for years argued that codes to protect legal professional privilege from state surveillance and acquisition of communications data are weak and ineffectual. Today, together with the Faculty of Advocates, they issued a declaration to pursue the goal of tougher legislation.

9 December 2014 - Incoming Chairman of the Bar Council, Alistair MacDonald QC, has pledged he will “continue the excellent work” started by predecessors Maura McGowan QC and outgoing Chairman, Nicholas Lavender QC, in preventing further cuts to legal aid, in order to defend a “proud and independent profession.”

8 December 2014 - Just one day before the Lords vote on Government attempts to restrict judicial review, Bar Council Chairman Nicholas Lavender explains why the Lord Chancellor cannot be the judge in his own case.

4 December 2014 - The Bar Council responds to the Bar Standard Board’s (BSB) authorisation approval by the Legal Services Board (LSB) to become a regulator of entities

2 December 2014 - Former Vice-President of The International Court of Justice and Former Prime Minister of Jordan, Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh, will tonight provide a unique insight into the challenges of developing rule of law in the Middle Eastern region when he delivers the Bar Council’s Annual International Rule of Law Lecture.

1 December 2014 - UK legal academics and lawyers will welcome their Russian counterparts to London this week as part of Russian Law Week, an event established to promote legal and business links between the two countries.

28 November 2014 - This article, published by Politics.co.uk, was written by Bar Council Chairman Nicholas Lavender QC in advance of Commons consideration of Lords amendments to Part 4 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.

27 November 2014 - The Ministry of Justice response to the “Transforming Legal Aid: Crime Duty Contracts” consultation, published today, will be of concern to all lawyers engaged in criminal defence work, and especially to solicitors firms with criminal legal aid contracts.