*/
The Legal Services Board (“LSB”) will have powers to enter and search the premises of the Bar Council and other legal profession regulators under government proposals. The Ministry of Justice is consulting on the enforcement powers of the LSB when it assumes its role as oversight regulator early next year. Th ese include the power to take over some of the functions of any persistent or seriously failing regulator. Th e LSB will be able to apply for a court warrant to enter and search the regulator’s premises, and retrieve any documents needed to ensure a seamless takeover. Th e consultation asks whether any material should be exempt from search warrants and what a judge should take into account when deciding an application. It ends on 21 January 2010. In a first for the legal profession,
the LSB has appointed an independent consumer panel of eight lay persons to help shape the regulatory framework for lawyers. An early priority for the panel, which meets for the fi rst time at the end of November, will be the issue of referral fees. The experience of panel
membe r s cove r s t r ading standards, housing, business advice, employment law, health care, policing and refugee policy. Dr Dianne Hayter, the former vice-chair of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, who will chair the panel, said it would assess proposals “from the standpoint of users of legal services”. It will publish its advice.
The Legal Services Board (“LSB”) will have powers to enter and search the premises of the Bar Council and other legal profession regulators under government proposals. The Ministry of Justice is consulting on the enforcement powers of the LSB when it assumes its role as oversight regulator early next year. Th ese include the power to take over some of the functions of any persistent or seriously failing regulator. Th e LSB will be able to apply for a court warrant to enter and search the regulator’s premises, and retrieve any documents needed to ensure a seamless takeover. Th e consultation asks whether any material should be exempt from search warrants and what a judge should take into account when deciding an application. It ends on 21 January 2010. In a first for the legal profession,
the LSB has appointed an independent consumer panel of eight lay persons to help shape the regulatory framework for lawyers. An early priority for the panel, which meets for the fi rst time at the end of November, will be the issue of referral fees. The experience of panel
membe r s cove r s t r ading standards, housing, business advice, employment law, health care, policing and refugee policy. Dr Dianne Hayter, the former vice-chair of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, who will chair the panel, said it would assess proposals “from the standpoint of users of legal services”. It will publish its advice.
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Animal sexual abuse is a distressing and taboo subject. Yet, write Christina Warner and Maya Badham, this hidden crisis, where legal, ethical and psychological factors converge, requires frank discussion
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
