Latest news with #DavidDrew
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.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lib Dems win Gloucestershire election but fall short of majority
The Liberal Democrats have become the largest party on Gloucestershire County Council, with the Conservative Party suffering significant Lib Dems took a total of 27 seats - one short of the 28 needed to gain overall control of the council - meaning they will have to negotiate with other parties to form a Conservatives, who have run the council for 20 years, took just six seats and lost more than 20 from the last elections in is now the second largest party on the council with 11 seats, with the Greens third with nine. Labour also lost seats and is now down to just one councillor, and there is one Independent councillor. Stroud Central, the ward formerly held by ex-Labour MP David Drew, was taken by the took 11 seats off the Conservatives, winning all five of the Forest of Dean seats up from grabs, taking four from the Tories and one from candidate Nick Housden - who is suspended from the Tory party - lost his seat to Reform. Gloucestershire Liberal Democrat leader Lisa Spivey said the party's message of delivering change had resonated with the electorate."We are delighted that voters in Gloucestershire have recognised hard working local Liberal Democrats councillors and rewarded us with our best ever results."We are looking forward to delivering for residents." Conservative leader Stephen Davies, who was re-elected in the Hardwicke and Severn seat, said he was "disappointed to see the loss of so many hard working Conservative councillors"."But we are in an interesting place with some very inexperienced councillors who will now have to make some tough decisions," he UK said the public had sent a clear message that they are fed up with the Conservatives and Labour."In Gloucestershire, just like around the country, we're seeing the disintegration of the two-party system," a Reform spokesperson said. The Green Party held its Forest of Dean seats of Sedbury and Blakeney and Bream and made gains in Stroud while losing its Tewkesbury gains include Stroud Central, Dursley, Rodborough, Haresfield and Upton, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Cameron, who won Prestbury and Swindon Village for the Green Party, said his party had made history in electing its first county councillor from Cheltenham."This achievement builds on the strong foundation laid by our three borough councillors."I am proud to continue that momentum. I am committed to working for the benefit of all our communities."Labour Party officials said they ran a "hard-fought" campaign but the results in Gloucestershire were said they will continue to work to build trust in the county while the Government implements the change people want to see.A Gloucestershire Labour Party spokesperson said: "We're going to keep working to build trust with people across our county while the government goes further and faster in pursuing the change people want to see."The makeup of Gloucestershire County Council is now 27 Liberal Democrats, 11 Reform UK, nine Greens, six Conservatives, one Labour councillor and one Independent.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mansfield's Armed Forces Day celebrations cancelled by organisers
An event paying tribute to service personnel in a Nottinghamshire town has been cancelled, the BBC Armed Forces Day celebrations in Mansfield will not go ahead on the 28 past years it had been organised by the Mansfield Business Improvement District (BID), an organisation formed of town centre Rowlinson, chief executive of Mansfield BID, said there would be an alternative event related to army recruitment later in the year - which the Armed Forces Day had been "swapped" with. However, David Drew, president of Mansfield's Royal Air Force Association (RAFA), said the charity and others were at risk of closing because the event had been Drew estimated roughly a quarter of its Wind Appeal collection money comes from Armed Forces Day, and it allowed RAFA to increase its visibility with the general public."I'm just so sad, the contrast between Mansfield and Newark [which is continuing its celebrations] just makes me all the more angry," he said."The Armed Forces are now at such a parlous state of membership, it's really not nice to see that the charity input is falling away. I really worry about it for the future." 'Not our decision' A spokesperson for Girlguiding Mansfield said: "We're disappointed as it was a great event last year. We had a lot of new young members and volunteers from the event and it was a massive fundraising opportunity for our local groups too."Everyone did really well from the support of the community last year. Also, it's a shame to not be seen in the community. "Mansfield BID has been approached for comment about the impact the event's cancellation will have on celebrations in 2024 had previously been hailed as a "resounding success" by the had featured a parade of military personnel, musical performances, stalls, and vintage military vehicles for District Council confirmed the decision on whether to hold the event was not theirs to make.A spokesperson said: "This event is led and organised by Mansfield BID.""The council has supported the event throughout the years operationally in terms of town centre operative support, [and] clearing the market place/market stalls."The authority added that it did not support the event financially, due to budgetary constraints.
