Latest news with #BarStandardsBoard
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rules forcing barristers to promote diversity dropped after backlash
Plans to force barristers to promote diversity initiatives have been scrapped after the proposed overhaul sparked a backlash from top legal figures. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) said it will not be moving forward with plans to overhaul rules requiring barristers to actively advance diversity in their jobs. The proposals, which were first put forward last September, would have seen barristers obliged to 'act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion' as one of the 10 'core duties' expected of them professionally. Currently, the BSB's core duties simply say that barristers 'must not discriminate unlawfully against any person'. However, the BSB was planning changes that would 'place a positive obligation' on barristers to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Barristers who failed to comply with the new rule would have risked serious sanctions from the BSB, including permanent disbarment and fines of up to £50,000. The BSB said on Tuesday it has now abandoned its plans to amend 'Core Duty Eight' following the launch of a public consultation last September. It comes after senior barristers and large industry groups raised concerns over the regulator's proposals. The Bar Council, a trade body which represents over 18,000 barristers in England and Wales, had opposed the BSB's plans on the basis that the plans lacked clarity. Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar Council, said: 'A change to Core Duty Eight would lack the clarity needed for barristers to be able to comply.' Some barristers had separately opposed the plans on the basis that ambiguity surrounding the interpretation of the rules left them open to abuse. Naomi Cunningham, a barrister specialising in discrimination law, warned the proposed amendment risked being 'ruthlessly weaponised by activists to suppress dissent.' Meanwhile, Andreas Gledhill, KC, and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, a former justice minister, branded the planned changes as 'coercive, illiberal and dangerous', saying the BSB was effectively setting in statute 'vague, uncertain and in some cases highly subjective' value judgments that had no legal basis. They added that they 'unequivocally' supported equal opportunity and opposed discrimination in 'all its forms'. The BSB said it will now seek to increase diversity at the Bar using other regulatory tools, including by setting 'clear expectations for the progress that we want to see over the next five years'. 'We remain determined to see a step change in progress in encouraging a diverse legal profession,' the BSB said. Mark Neale, director general at the BSB, said: 'The challenge here is a practical one, not an ideological one ... at root, this requires a change of culture. Such a change requires the support and active collaboration of the profession.' The BSB's reversal comes as an array of major businesses, including some of the world's largest law firms, have overhauled their own approaches to diversity initiatives amid Donald Trump's war on DEI. Law firms including White & Case and Freshfields both dropped their diversity targets in the US in response to the Trump administration's attacks on corporate diversity initiatives. Some law firms have effectively been banned from working for the US federal government amid the DEI backlash. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rules forcing barristers to promote diversity dropped after backlash
Plans to force barristers to promote diversity initiatives have been scrapped after the proposed overhaul sparked a backlash from top legal figures. The Bar Standards Board (BSB) said it will not be moving forward with plans to overhaul rules requiring barristers to actively advance diversity in their jobs. The proposals, which were first put forward last September, would have seen barristers obliged to 'act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion' as one of the 10 'core duties' expected of them professionally. Currently, the BSB's core duties simply say that barristers 'must not discriminate unlawfully against any person'. However, the BSB was planning changes that would 'place a positive obligation' on barristers to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Barristers who failed to comply with the new rule would have risked serious sanctions from the BSB, including permanent disbarment and fines of up to £50,000. The BSB said on Tuesday it has now abandoned its plans to amend 'Core Duty Eight' following the launch of a public consultation last September. It comes after senior barristers and large industry groups raised concerns over the regulator's proposals. The Bar Council, a trade body which represents over 18,000 barristers in England and Wales, had opposed the BSB's plans on the basis that the plans lacked clarity. Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar Council, said: 'A change to Core Duty Eight would lack the clarity needed for barristers to be able to comply.' Some barristers had separately opposed the plans on the basis that ambiguity surrounding the interpretation of the rules left them open to abuse. Naomi Cunningham, a barrister specialising in discrimination law, warned the proposed amendment risked being 'ruthlessly weaponised by activists to suppress dissent.' Meanwhile, Andreas Gledhill, KC, and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, a former justice minister, branded the planned changes as 'coercive, illiberal and dangerous', saying the BSB was effectively setting in statute 'vague, uncertain and in some cases highly subjective' value judgments that had no legal basis. They added that they 'unequivocally' supported equal opportunity and opposed discrimination in 'all its forms'. The BSB said it will now seek to increase diversity at the Bar using other regulatory tools, including by setting 'clear expectations for the progress that we want to see over the next five years'. 'We remain determined to see a step change in progress in encouraging a diverse legal profession,' the BSB said. Mark Neale, director general at the BSB, said: 'The challenge here is a practical one, not an ideological one ... at root, this requires a change of culture. Such a change requires the support and active collaboration of the profession.' The BSB's reversal comes as an array of major businesses, including some of the world's largest law firms, have overhauled their own approaches to diversity initiatives amid Donald Trump's war on DEI. Law firms including White & Case and Freshfields both dropped their diversity targets in the US in response to the Trump administration's attacks on corporate diversity initiatives. Some law firms have effectively been banned from working for the US federal government amid the DEI backlash. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business News Wales
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Browne Jacobson Appoints First In-house Pupil Barrister in Wales
Browne Jacobson is taking a lead to supporting young legal talent in Wales by appointing what is believed to be the nation's first in-house pupil barrister within private practice. David Drew has enrolled on a two-year pupillage at the UK and Ireland law firm's Cardiff office. A pupillage is the work-based learning component of Bar training, which then qualifies individuals to practise as a barrister. Working under the supervision of experienced barristers, a pupillage is usually completed in chambers but Browne Jacobson is one of the few law firms to offer this within its in-house barrister team. It was the first of its kind to be recognised as an approved pupillage training provider by the Bar Standards Board in 2010. Samantha Paxman, Barrister and Partner who oversees the barrister team in Cardiff and was one of the firm's first pupil barristers, said: 'Browne Jacobson has a proven track record of producing and retaining excellent barristers, who work hand in glove with our solicitor colleagues during proceedings to provide clients with a truly full service. 'We are particularly proud of our reputation as a successful pupillage training provider in England and we're excited to now be rolling this out in Wales, where our presence continues to grow rapidly. 'As a trailblazer in improving social mobility in the legal profession – demonstrated by our firm's joint-top ranking in the Social Mobility Foundation's prestigious Social Mobility Employer Index for 2024 – this is another example of how we are widening the routes into a career in law, while lowering entry barriers by offering the extra financial security that comes with being an employed barrister as opposed to the more traditional self-employed path.' The pupillage programme is designed to equip aspiring barristers with the skills and knowledge required for a successful career at the Bar. During the 24-month programme, individuals will receive guidance from a dedicated pupil supervisor and shadow them in court proceedings, which include the High Court, Upper Tier Tribunal and County Courts, before conducting their own hearings in the practising period of pupillage. Prior to joining Browne Jacobson, David worked in IT while undertaking his law degree with the Open University, before completing his bar training course at Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics. Following a successful application for pupillage in 2024, David was hired by the firm as an Assistant Advocate in August last year, before starting his pupillage on 31 March 2025. David said: 'I wanted to join Browne Jacobson's barristers' team as not only would I be joining a nationally-renowned law firm but I would benefit from seeing the high-quality cases the team conducts. The fact that I get to shadow such a wide variety of barristers across a breadth of areas of law is fantastic and I'm enthusiastic about what I will learn during my pupillage. 'As someone with a young family, a career at the employed Bar with this firm gives me the security my family and I need while allowing me to pursue an interesting, exciting and varied role.' Browne Jacobson's in-house barrister team, which comprises 14 employed barristers (including nine trained pupil supervisors) and two pupil barristers, is renowned for its specialism in conducting high-profile and lengthy inquests for health organisations, public bodies and education providers, often before juries. The team is instructed to prosecute on behalf of national regulators, such as the Teaching Regulation Agency, and specialises in education matters before the First and Upper-Tier SEND Tribunals. Additionally, it receives instructions in Court of Protection, employment and civil litigation, including trials and injunctions. Applications for Browne Jacobson's mini-pupillage scheme, which offers people the opportunity to shadow the barrister team for a week, are now open until 31 May. For more information, click here. For more information about the pupillage programme and virtual work experience scheme for aspiring barristers, click here.
Business Mayor
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Bar lags behind law firms in tech take-up
Barristers are more reluctant than solicitors to take up new technology, the Bar Standards Board has revealed. A report published today, Technology and Innovation at the Bar, identifies 'significant barriers' to the effective adoption of technologies such as large language model artificial intelligence. The study, which included a literature review and interviews with stakeholders as well as practitioners, found 'unlike law firms, there is limited centralisation of documents and data, and therefore less benefit to implementation'. It added: 'Law firms can quickly see the relevance of an AI [large language model] tool improving when it works across a single large database of legal content whereas barristers don't have a large central data repository on which to train and test LLMs. 'Unsurprisingly, participants see the majority of investment in technology in legal services being undertaken by commercial law firms, as barristers' chambers face some challenges in terms of the economics. Overall, stakeholders and participants agree that the use of technology at the bar is less advanced when compared with large law firms.' 'Cautious' use of AI, the report says, is helping 'reduce the time spent on more routine tasks'. For many, however, 'the independent and practice-area-specific nature of the profession, with self-employed barristers working on their own devices in their own individual ways, according to their own autonomous workflow, limits the drive for change. The perception is that there is limited potential for efficiency gains. 'As the legal landscape continues to evolve, it will be essential for barristers to overcome current barriers to stay competitive. Embracing technology and seeking efficiencies where appropriate is a way that barristers can drive a better and more efficient service for clients.' The report's recommendations to the regulator include encouraging collaboration and standardisation, educating and informing barristers with a list of technology providers as well as guidance on how to adopt technology and providing a roadmap for development and implementation of technology at the bar. Mark Neale, the BSB's director general, said: 'Technology is developing quickly, and we need to help the profession to adapt to the risks and opportunities that this brings. We have discussed the findings of this report with the Bar Council. Both organisations recognise the need to work together to understand developments in technology at the bar and to support the safe adoption of new technology.' He said the regulator and Bar Council have agreed to set up a joint working group to share information about technology.
