Alistair MacDonald QC reviews the highlights of life at the Bar in 2015
As the year nears its end and with it my tenure as chairman of the Bar it is, perhaps, a good time to look back on some of the more positive aspects for the Bar of 2015.
We can’t ignore the ongoing challenges the Bar and our justice system continue to face, including the impact of legal aid cuts, increased court fees and the risk to legal professional privilege (LPP) under the Draft Investigatory Power Bill, to mention a few.
However, while much of the Bar Council’s efforts are focused on dealing with these issues, there have been highlights for the Bar in 2015 which are reminders of the important role the Bar continues to play in society.
Advocacy consultation
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), headed up by a new Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Michael Gove, published what I believe to be one of the most important consultations for the Bar and the wider advocacy community of our time, Preserving and Enhancing the Quality of Criminal Advocacy
