Following on from the publication of its Anti-Racist Statement in 2020, the BSB has now launched its Anti-Racist Strategy covering the period 2024-2027. This new Strategy sets our internal commitment to anti-racism in how the BSB operates with its people, outlining how we intend to lead by example by setting and meeting high standards in our own approach. In developing the Strategy, the BSB’s workforce were surveyed and focus groups were held. Based on the evidence obtained through this work, an internal Anti-Racist Working Group (ARWG) was formed co- chaired by Ewen Macleo ..read more

“Oh dear, how sad, never mind.”  This is the almost sotto voce retort from anyone in power with responsibility for every aspect of the Criminal Justice System for the last 15 years.  They don’t care and they aren’t interested.  It’s not a justice system anymore because there is no justice. The police aren’t coming.  If you are a victim of crime unless it is violence or sexual violence or perhaps drugs you are unlikely to see a policeman.  If burgled you will be lucky to see a policeman.  If you do, it is to give you a crime number to hand to your insurance company ..read more

In June 2023, the BSB issued a consultation document seeking views on proposed changes which would widen the powers of the BSB and of Disciplinary Tribunals to protect the public by restricting or suspending a barrister’s ability to practise on an interim basis. In December 2023, we published a summary of responses to the consultation, and the BSB’s response. Following approval from the Legal Services Board we have now implemented the following rule changes: 1.) Giving the Disciplinary Tribunal the power to impose interim restrictions on a barrister’s practising certificate, or ..read more

Though it’s approaching four years since the world as we then knew, was plunged into chaos, think back to March 2020 and just how quickly everything changed almost overnight. There was an outbreak of a worldwide virus and the postulation at that time was that nobody was safe. It sounds like the film set of a Hollywood dystopian movie, rather this wasn’t limited to Hollywood, this was everywhere, including England and Wales. England and Wales like many a place has a wide-ranging diaspora, varied tiers of economic class, a democratic state with comprehensive beliefs. Nevertheless, the government ..read more

I was recently very honoured to speak at the launch of The City University 2024 Law Review. The Editorial team of the City Law student’s own academic publication run by Alexander Cleveland Ng and others demonstrated how The City Law Review was created as another font of independent critical thinkers adding to the wealth of existing academic resources which ultimately enables practitioners to function in court. As every lawyer well knows, an entire case can turn upon the discovery of 1 academic work even when contained within a foot note which leads that lawyer upon a chain of further enquiry ..read more

   By Dr Stephen Castell CITP MEWI and Jonathan Bolls, Attorney at Law  Abstract The Law Commission’s proposed Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2024, seeking to create a new categorisation of cryptocurrencies as property, is unnecessary. ‘Crypto’ is an algorithmic data object, an unremarkable example of, and exactly like, any such assemblage of digitally created and recorded 1s and 0s. The Law Commission has again misunderstood the essential technical truths of computer science. It is attempting to put in place another egregious legal construct potentially as damaging as its 19 ..read more

By Malcolm Trotter, global education and training professional If you are going to invest in yourself and your legal future career prospects by studying to gain a recognised qualification, this will come at a cost both financially and in the commitment of your time and effort. When making an investment (or any expenditure), you really want to be sure that the future value you will receive is likely to exceed what you have put in. So what are the potential benefits to be gained from achieving qualifications? Will they be worth the investment? Before looking at what the range of benefits flowing ..read more

By Mike Taylor, Managing Director, i-Lit Limited  Introduction Professor Karim Lakhani of Harvard Business School helpfully contextualises AI technology when he states, “Just as the internet has drastically lowered the cost of information transmission, AI will lower the cost of cognition.” On 30th January 2024 the Information and Technology Panel of the Bar Council released a document called “Considerations when using ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence software based on large language models”. Its purpose was to “assist barristers in understanding the technological basis ..read more

Edward Henry KC of Mountford Chambers is a highly experienced legal commentator for TV, radio, online articles, and newspapers who is representing 5 former sub postmasters/mistresses at the Post Office Horizon Inquiry. He is available to speak with journalists, editors, and TV researchers on all topics relating to criminal law and matters which have social justice issues at the heart of them. Unlike many other barristers, he is comfortable speaking with the press, in a manner that is  engaging, eloquent and authoritative. He has appeared on BBC News, BBC Newsnight, Sky News, ITV News, IT ..read more

Louis Browne KC from Exchange Chambers appeared before the First Tier Tribunal – Criminal Injuries Compensation, representing the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and also acted as amicus curiae (“friend of the court”). The case concerned an application made under paragraph 13 of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 1990 to reconsider a case involving a young woman who has substantially outlived her life expectancy. The 1990 Scheme is a forerunner of the tariff schemes now in place. It is a non-statutory ex gratia scheme which was created under prerogative powers and designed ..read more