*/
New Bar Chairman’s inaugural speech
Peter Lodder QC, the new Chairman of the Bar Council, has called on publicly funded barristers to diversify their practices.
The Chairman reassured barristers who do legal aid work that they have a “realistic future”, but urged them to follow the lead of the privately funded Bar and to be “creative and entrepreneurial” in their pursuit of opportunities.
“The message is not that barristers must leave publicly funded work, but that in order to sustain that type of practice, they will almost certainly need to develop a mixed practice, incorporating privately as well as publicly funded work. The cuts to legal aid rates have been too numerous and too deep for young barristers to continue to rely upon publicly funded practice,” he said, in his inaugural speech to the Bar Council.
“Traditionally, barristers, within reason, have turned their hands to different areas of practice. It is the skill set, core values and the training which define us as much as the practice area.”
Last month, the Ministry of Justice restricted legal aid for civil and family matters as part of a £350m cuts package.
Lodder said he supported judicially assessed Quality Assurance for Advocates (“QAA”), and had plans to develop the work of the Advocacy Training Council.
“The message is not that barristers must leave publicly funded work, but that in order to sustain that type of practice, they will almost certainly need to develop a mixed practice, incorporating privately as well as publicly funded work. The cuts to legal aid rates have been too numerous and too deep for young barristers to continue to rely upon publicly funded practice,” he said, in his inaugural speech to the Bar Council.
“Traditionally, barristers, within reason, have turned their hands to different areas of practice. It is the skill set, core values and the training which define us as much as the practice area.”
Last month, the Ministry of Justice restricted legal aid for civil and family matters as part of a £350m cuts package.
Lodder said he supported judicially assessed Quality Assurance for Advocates (“QAA”), and had plans to develop the work of the Advocacy Training Council.
New Bar Chairman’s inaugural speech
Peter Lodder QC, the new Chairman of the Bar Council, has called on publicly funded barristers to diversify their practices.
The Chairman reassured barristers who do legal aid work that they have a “realistic future”, but urged them to follow the lead of the privately funded Bar and to be “creative and entrepreneurial” in their pursuit of opportunities.
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
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
Leading drug, alcohol and DNA testing laboratory AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Beatson Cancer Charity in Glasgow as part of its Giving Back campaign
Girls Human Rights Festival 2025: a global gathering for change
Exclusive Q&A with Henry Dannell
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
Patrick Green KC talks about the landmark Post Office Group litigation and his driving principles for life and practice. Interview by Anthony Inglese CB
Desiree Artesi meets Malcolm Bishop KC, the Lord Chief Justice of Tonga, who talks about his new role in the South Pacific and reflects on his career
Sir Nicholas Mostyn, former High Court judge, on starting a hit podcast with fellow ‘Parkies’ after the shock of his diagnosis
Exclusive QA with Henry Dannell
