ISSUE 68 - JULY 2007 HEALTH WARNING: This magazine contains comments that may disturb the bar

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The Bar Council is to consult its members on proposals for parity of appearance in court. Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips has announced reforms to court dress which are due to take effect from 1st January 2008. For the first time, are going to be permitted in criminal cases to wear wigs, wing collars and bands. This will not be the case in civil and family courts, where wigs and gowns will no longer be worn by anyone. So next year, the question may be: When is a robing room not a robing room?

Whatever happened to the weather? It feels like the summer has been and gone before the long vacation. I’m left with no choice but to enlarge the size of my Bob Moss carbon footprint. Oh well, at least it’ll soon be the new football season!

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES TO: When it comes to national legal conferences, different disciplines have different [email protected] agendas. What is important to a criminal lawyer may not interest a commercial lawyer, and vice versa. According to the President of the Law Society Andrew Holroyd, this is part of the thinking behind the Law Society’s decision not to hold EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES TO: an Annual Conference this year, originally scheduled to take place in Harrogate in [email protected] October. Instead, he will be chairing Conferences for local Law Societies, recognised groups and practitioner associations. The keynote speech he would This edition of the Clerksroom probably have delivered to the Annual Conference will instead be given at the Magazine has been kindly supported opening of the Legal Year on 1st October. by the following companies: Focusing on the issues facing by reference to their area of law rather than generally, appears a more focused approach. I wonder if there’s something in Advantage Office Supply Systems Ltd Unit 10, Poole Hall Industrial Estate, that for the Bar Council. Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH66 1ST. T: 0151 357 3500 I understand lawyers are swapping stories as to how their blackberries are F: 0151 356 3459 destroyed by their other halves. The better the story the higher the status. The E: [email protected] Sunday Times reported earlier this month that toilet flushing has become too common, as have swimming pools, whilst a stiletto heel is highly rated. Sounds like time for some time management training. Corner House Design & Print Ltd The Old Chapel, Manchester Road, Carrington Village, It was nice to see an article in the Sunday Times about solicitors earning more Manchester M31 4BL than £1,000 an hour with over 400 in city firms earning in excess of £1m this T: 0161 777 6000 year, but without a single reference to any member of the Bar. Then I realised the F: 0161 777 6060 purpose for the article. It’s a little preliminary marketing for what may prove to be E: [email protected] the sale of the 21st century when outside investors are invited to inject capital into law firms (alternative business structures proposals). The suggestion is that firms Clerksroom Magazine is produced under licence by JAR Holdings Limited, No 10 The Technology Centre, would be valued at 15 times their annual earnings, placing the top firms in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 3EN. 0151 357 3828 the £3b - £7b bracket. If it can be done for solicitors as a group, why can’t it be done for an individual to sell his profitability to an outside investor? I don’t see it happening, but who knows?

Please keep sending me your emails on whatever topic takes your fancy. Email to [email protected]

1 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE Master/Servant or Employer/Employee?

In June 1971 S G Newland, President of the Barristers Clerks Association, gave a lecture to clerking students entitled “The Barristers Clerk”. In that lecture he referred to an essay by Charles Lamb, whose father had been a clerk to Mr Salt KC towards the end of the 18th century. The essay, called “The Old Benchers of the ”, included a description of his father’s relationship with his principal, much of which was still true 200 years later.

clerk, his good servant, dresser, his friend, his flapper, his Charles Lamb wrote about his father: “He was at once his looking at a one to one relationship when there may only be a guide, stopwatch, auditor, treasurer. He did nothing without handful of tenants. It is impossible to deliver the same service consulting him or failed in anything without expecting and to 20 or more tenants, let alone 120. As a result, there has to fearing his admonishing. He resigned his title almost to respect be a structure and a Manual so that everybody can sing from as a master, if his clerk could ever have forgotten for a moment the same hymn sheet. that he was his servant”

. So if one particular member of Chambers wants a menial task to be undertaken, you may have to decline if to carry out the

Mr Newland commented on the phrase “his good servant” by task would distract you from more urgent duties defined by the suggesting that in the 1970s many barristers still regarded their Chambers Manual. Furthermore, if you’re going to deliver the clerk as their servant and that if you should get called upon to same service to every member of Chambers, then it would only do some menial task, then you should do it with good heart as be right for you to carry out the menial task for all the it is part of the tradition. members, and some or possibly most members might regard the menial task as not good use of valuable clerking time.

But is it true or indeed should it be true of the relationship in the 21st century? In the early 1970s there were estimated to be 240 clerks in England and Wales. The figure is more than 10 times that

At the time of Mr Newland’s lecture, the majority of clerks number now. The definition of clerking has moved on and the wouldn’t have a contract of employment let alone a detailed concept of a master/servant relationship has also moved on to a job description, and Chambers Manuals hadn’t been invented. proper employer/employee footing.

The truth is, with the modern pressures experienced in every clerks room every working day, there just isn’t the time to deliver the master/servant relationship. Historically, you are

3 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE Court working dress: Lord Chief Justice announces reforms By The Editor

Reforms to simplify judicial court working dress in England and Wales were announced recently by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers.

to what is worn by the Bar in criminal proceedings but in civil proceedings wigs, wing collars and bands will no longer be worn.

Other advocates, as defined in section 27(9) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, will be permitted to wear wigs, wing collars and bands, in circumstances where these are worn by the Bar. These changes will be brought into effect on 1 January 2008 by a Practice Direction that will be handed down by the Lord Chief Justice.

Financial Implications These changes will be reflected in the dress allowances made to judges. Furthermore, newly appointed Circuit Criminal Jurisdiction Judges will no longer receive an allowance to buy full- High Court Judges will have a single set of robes for bottomed wigs. Substantial savings will result. Whilst criminal proceedings throughout the year. These will be the one-off cost of supplying the new civil gown is those that they currently wear in the winter. Apart from estimated at about £200,000, annual savings in the this there will be no change to court dress worn by region of £300,000 will thereafter be made. judges when sitting in criminal proceedings. Lord Phillips said: Civil and Family Jurisdiction “At present High Court judges have no less than five Judges will no longer wear wigs, wing collars and different sets of working dress, depending on the bands when sitting in open court in civil and family jurisdiction in which they are sitting and the season of proceedings. The Circuit Bench, in accordance with their the year. After widespread consultation it has been current wish, will continue to wear the same gown. All decided to simplify this and to cease wearing wigs, other judges will wear a new, simple, gown which is in wing collars and bands in the civil and family the course of design. jurisdictions. While there will never be unanimity of view about court dress, the desirability of these Advocates changes has a broad measure of agreement.” It is expected that advocates will adopt a similar dress code to that of the judge. Thus there will be no change

4 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE Magistrates’ Courts Trials – The Same Hymn Sheet By The Editor

For once, the Law Society and the Bar Council seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet. Both have made attacks on the Government proposals to allow non-legally qualified Crown Prosecution Service staff to conduct trials in the Magistrates’ Courts. An innovative Business and People consultancy service for Chambers There may well be a variety of circumstances where the If the opportunity for this experience dwindles further, Short of time in your Clerks Room? Lack the spare capacity for important issues? use of non-legally qualified prosecutors is appropriate the long term quality of advocacy may be affected. • Quality Mark and Bar Mark Compliance consultancy and cost effective. However, when it comes to Traditionally, the main criteria for Silk appointment • Business Development and Marketing conducting the trial, there is a wider long term view to centred on advocacy skills. So to take away a further • Human Resource Management/Development be considered. opportunity for legally qualified lawyers from both sides • Coaching and Mentoring of the profession may dilute the standards of advocacy • Software Training For tens if not hundreds of years top lawyers have cut available for future generations. their teeth on trials in the Magistrates’ Court. Whether • Investors In People consultancy prosecuting or defending, there is no better place to To those who suggest that this is simply an argument Project Management – including relocation • learn the art of advocacy than under the watchful eyes to pay lawyers unnecessarily, I would point out that Financial Management • of an experienced Chairman of the Bench and his or her dumbing down when it comes to trial advocacy may be Interim Management – including relief clerking • knowledgeable clerk. a short term win, but it’s a long term serious loss. Jackie Maskew is a qualified professional Jonathan Maskew is a qualified professional coach and a chartered member of the coach with 19 years experience in Clerking What better way to produce an adrenalin rush in a Most lawyers can remember their first trial, and Chartered Institute of Personnel and a previous member of the IBC young than to be handed the brief with less thereafter some of the lessons learned the hard way. Development with 18 years experience in management committee. than an hour to prepare? There are a variety of reasons No doubt from time to time mistakes are made, but Chambers Administration and 10 years in why a brief for a Magistrates’ Court trial might become those are the best lessons of all. It’s just like growing Solicitors practices. available at lunchtime for a 2 pm start. up. They can’t be taught in the classroom. They have We also offer training and mentoring for key personnel tailored to Chambers’ and to each to be experienced first hand. person’s individual development needs. Presently working with Tony McDaid, Practice Director Many of the anecdotes told by the senior members of and Sandra Astbury Office Manager of the countries leading set No.5 Chambers, along with the profession, and repeated the older they get, reflect Russell Hobbs, Senior Clerk of KCH Chambers in Nottingham, in partnership with Footsteps to their advocacy roots in the Magistrates’ Court. Of allow this innovative scheme of CPD and forward thinking approach to enter Chambers and course it is beneficial to watch and learn as a Junior in drive them forward with their “Staff of tomorrow”. big cases, but there is no substitute for getting on your feet in court. T: 07941 478463 E: [email protected] www.footstepsms.co.uk 7 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE Clerking: North of the Border By Iain Murray Advocates Clerk

In recent years it is that a clerk seek appropriate counsel from across the whole not only Faculty membership thus protecting the strong collegiate government which philosophy of the Bar. The jewel in the Faculty’s crown [wig?] is has devolved. What the advocates’ library, widely regarded as the finest working is clerking life like law library in the British Isles, also under the one roof here in in Scotland? How Edinburgh. This is deemed to be counsel’s place of business different is it? and most members are here most of the time which means that What’s going on in very quick responses to client queries can often be affected. Scotland? So this Counsel can research their case, consult with their client, month we decided appear in court and harangue their clerk all without getting to take a different their feet wet. approach to “What makes a clerk The clerks also work under one roof in a spectacular 19th tick?” and go North of the Border to ask Iain Murray to century law library. The economies of scale are significant but give us some insight. in recent times some stables have challenged the “one size fits all” approach. There are presently 470 members of whom around 1/5th are senior counsel or “silks” split into “Stables”; our equivalent of Consequently, many of the existing stables have devolved from chambers. In modern times there have been approximately this central model to take control of their own promotional 10 stables with memberships of 30-57. The stables are all activities and in setting their own standards of service. We subsidiary business units within Faculty Services Limited, a have seen the growth of specialist commercial and PI sets in company wholly owned by the Faculty, which has for the addition to the three predominantly criminal stables. Two last 30 years provided clerking, credit control and other members have even left the comforting umbrella of FSL backup services to members in exchange for a small altogether and have set up independently. percentage of their gross fees. The Murray Stable (named after the eponymous clerk) with its 3 Scotland has had its own independent legal system for many deputies and assistant, has embraced this new devolved model. hundreds of years and the can trace its My stable has retained its strength in depth providing expertise origins back to at least 1532 when the College of Justice was in all aspects of Scots Law and particularly public, private and constituted by an act of the Scots Parliament (the previous one!). administrative law, concentrating always upon improving the level of service we provide to clients. In particular we All stables can provide services to all members although encourage discussions on fees at the point of instruction. obviously ones own stable takes priority. A client can request ...continued on page 11 8 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE

...continued from page 8

In Scotland we do not operate a brief fee and refresher system The Murray Stable set about reviewing its membership and but charge a flat daily rate in court which is deemed to include internal practises a couple of years ago and with devolution all reasonable preparation. If the case does not proceed we comes the opportunity to deliver services tailored directly to the then charge a fee in respect of the cancellation of the booking. needs of our own members and the ability to market and develop In my experience the cost outcome is similar whichever way it is members as individuals and as part of professional interest divided up. One big difference is that counsel tend to call to groups. The days of sitting around waiting for the phone to ring the Bar in Scotland after practising as solicitors for a number of are long over (except on Fridays when we read the Clerksroom years, so when I am asked for a junior of under 5 years call, Magazine, do the puzzles and have buns with our tea). what you may get is counsel who has been an assistant or even partner in a Scottish firm for 10 or more years and who will The bottom line here is just the same as in England which is bring considerable experience to the table. matching the expectations of counsel and agents and getting the best person to do the work at the best price and preferably 15 years ago the Murray Stable published a flyer which by yesterday! To that extent our jobs are the same. However, contained a list of our members and their areas of practice although practice development (marketing by another name) is which was roundly condemned by colleagues as touting. Just now part of our remit, all our other functions remain under the recently we revamped our web site www.murraystable.com auspices of FSL- credit control, fee processing, cash room, IT, HR which contains CVs of all members and have started holding and all those other admin tasks which I know cause such receptions and seminars for clients. This is an indicator of how headaches for my colleagues south of the border. attitudes have changed. There are more changes afoot as we sharpen up our businesses The website has been of great assistance in providing access to but for now in Scotland the clerks can leave aside the counsel for English agents with Scottish cases particularly in the backroom admin. The challenge is to focus all our energies on fields of employment and immigration where travel costs and the familiar mantra “Get me more work”. Corporate Identity - Creative Design for Print - Printing overheads are a problem. Direct rights of audience are also Promotional Point of Sale - Photography - Packaging Design being developed as the Faculty itself modernises. We are happy Large Format Display Material - PR & Copywriting to accept instructions by email which can be vital as cross- Clearly they use different terminology but our out for the same border legal delivery services sometimes take two days (an end result! Web Design - Illustration important caveat arising out of bitter experience). A number of members are dual qualified which we find helpful in dealing with cross border issues.

The modern clerking challenge is to move the focus onto our clients and markets and away from the cosy inward looking supply of services to our own members. In furtherance of this the clerks have all been re-designated “Practice Managers”.

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Redbag Recruitment Putting Barristers and Chambers Together ARTICLE Home Information Packs and Energy Performance Certificates By The Editor

On the off-chance that a few clerks may have been able to afford 4 bedroom houses, the 1st August is a bit of a milestone in the sale process. Below are the important parts from Government press releases.

pack - rather than making them wait until they have received them.

As a temporary measure, EPCs can be up to twelve months old when the property is put up for sale and will consult further on the long-term arrangements for the age of EPCs.

Towards the end of 2007 we will assess the implementation of HIPs and consider what further steps might be needed to maximise the reduction in carbon emissions and drive forward the reform of home buying “HIPs are for 4 bedroom houses or bigger” and selling.

This assessment will be informed by the operation of The Government recently announced that it will be the market from 1 August; by the results of the area implementing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) trials; and by a further consultation on the next steps in and Home Information Packs (HIPs) from 1 August implementing HIPs and EPCs, which we will begin in instead of 1 June. The Government has also reached an the summer. agreement with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) on their judicial review of Energy Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said: Performance Certificates. "Energy ratings for homes will help cut carbon emissions and family fuel bills. Given the serious threat From August 1 HIPs - including energy performance from climate change, it would not have been acceptable certificates - will be required for the sale of four for energy certificates to be subject to long legal delays bedroom properties and larger. These are the properties and uncertainty." which are the most energy inefficient. We will phase in packs for smaller properties as sufficient energy By May this year there were 2,500 energy assessors in assessors become ready to start work. training, a further 3,200 who have passed their exams, and 1,500 who have been accredited or have applied Until the end of 2007, we will allow people to market for accreditation but only 520 of these have been fully their properties as soon as they have commissioned a accredited.

15 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 LONDON CITY CLEANING LTD Gill Butchard Specialists in cleaning Principal of Butchard Associates Sue and Neal take a for the legal profession …thorough and close interest in the professional in every work of their staff and job they do; I would ensure customers’ • Established for 25 years• not hesitate in requests are dealt with recommending them. How exactly can Gill Butchard promptly. • Personal service guaranteed• (Kathryn Williams, (Lindsay Gowland, 2TG) 8 New Square) help your Chambers? • Consistently high standards of professional• conduct • Full range of ancilliary services• • Members of the British Institute of Cleaning• Science You may think that you have no need of her services at this time, but she can help with any of the following from as Call Neal or Sue on little as a couple of hours: 01707 643260 Good, reliable and …always easy to contact well supervised. or E-mail us at and quick to respond. (Yvonne Probert, [email protected] (Valerie Piper, I Business reports and analysis (one-off, monthly, quarterly, annual, etc) Crown Office Chambers) Maitland Chambers)

I Cleaning up your database as well as providing help with keeping it clean I Job training and mentoring for Fees Clerks PLAYA BLANCA - NEW VILLA ON LANZAROTE I Reviewing old debt Stuart Sellen at Thomas More Chambers has a new villa on Lanzarote and it should be ready for holidaymakers Available I Backlog clearance early September (when the other properties on the plot August are also finished). 2006 I Marketing Assistant: Mailshots &/or Marketing Event Management Playa Blanca is regarded as the most “up-market” part of the onwards Island and the warmest. The villa has 5 beds and can sleep 10 to 12 comfortably, 2 baths, 2 living rooms, 1 kitchen and 1 utility with a private Basically, Gill is the extra resource you need to get a job done, without pool c. 150 yards from the sea, with views of Fuerteventura. having to take on a new member of staff, who can turn up in chambers, The plot is next to the Hotel Rubicon which has at least 4 restaurants and bars which can be used by people staying in roll up her sleeves and get to work with little or no training !! the Villa.

Stuart will offer reduced rates to colleagues and friends. I suggest you contact him direct. For more info: See Gill’s website at www.butchards.co.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: 0772 591 1320 Email [email protected]. www.butchards.co.uk PLAYA BLANCA ARTICLE Ethical Issues (Part Three)

At the IBC Annual Conference, a series of scenarios had been prepared by Paul Shrubsall for discussion. There were a total of 5 questions that were discussed and then a model answer produced. These are the sort of issues that are faced by Chambers up and down the country week in week out. For those of you unable to attend the Conference, it was felt that it would be helpful over the coming few months to repeat the questions to raise debate within your own clerks room. The answer will appear in each edition as well. Should you wish to debate the issues further, please e-mail the editor at [email protected].

4. Under the new graduated fee scheme only the Instructed Junior Clerk receives a call from a Solicitor asking whether he Advocate will receive payment and therefore will need to has a barrister to do a Six day trial the following day. Do you: pay any other Advocate who has attended on the case (This Advocate can be either a Solicitor advocate or a Barrister). 1. Ask how many preliminary hearings have taken place The case fee includes the first and second day of the trial so he can work out for amount of money left in the (which will make up 70% of the total fee), PCMH (which pot before making a decision. will make up 15%), up to three conference and up to four 2. Accept it because it’s a regular chambers solicitor and mentions. Additional appearances over the four mentions, you have someone free. PII hearings, Special and Wasted preparation, Sentence 3. Say no because not a regular chambers solicitors hearings, Ineffective Trial hearings and addition conferences 4. Accept it. allowable under the funding order will still be paid on a fixed fee bases. Solicitor rings back you having accepted the case and Informs you he will only pay £500 of the remaining £700 of the Therefore what should you do if the following happens: case fee. Do you:

Junior Clerk receives a call from another set of Chambers 1. Return the case telling the Solicitor you will not do asking could he cover a mention in Grad fee case. Do you: case for that fee. 2. Accept the reduction and hope the barrister do not 1. Accept it because he has a Barrister in the same court find out. and clear to do it. 3. Inform the solicitor if he gives you £50 you will accept it. 2. Ask how many hearings have already taken place before making a decision. New ground - who knows what the answer is? 3. Say no because chambers only helps its friends. e-mail the editor: [email protected].

...continued on page 23 18 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE ARTICLE The Movie Dingbats Quiz Result The Eldon Golf Society This proved to be a difficult competition. There were not many correct answers. Perhaps there are not as By Charles Charlick many who have time to be serious film-goers. This year The Inter Chambers Cup will be played for at I am away w/c 11th August and would like to receive The Movie Quiz 3. A fist full of dollars Shendish Manor Golf Club near Hemel Hempstead. your cheques before going away. Please make cheques You were asked to identify the titles of 10 films from 4. Gone in 60 Seconds Visit website www.shendish-manor.com for details. payable to "The Eldon Golf Society". Your prompt the clues. 5. 9 1/2 weeks attention would be appreciated. 6. Lost in Translation The cost is £300-00 per team and you are welcome to Take a look at number 8. The correct answer is “Grosse 7. Back to the future Point Blank”. Some missed the “e” off “Grosse”. Well, 8. Grosse point blank bring clerks, members of chambers or even Solicitors to Regards a miss is as good as a mile! 9. First Blood make up your four ball team. Charles 10. Once upon a time in America Anyway, the winner is Sam Biggerstaff from Essex Court The price will include bacon roll/coffee on arrival - 18 p.s In future I intend to alternate this event between Chambers. His email reply was worth a mention: Thanks Sam holes of golf - tee off about 10am, not confirmed yet North and South of the Thames and The Addington has Bob and lunch, probably Ham, Egg and Chips and of course been suggested for next year. Sam Biggerstaff prizes. Good quiz, got the old brain ticking which is just what I Essex Court Chambers needed after a stag weekend in Prague with a two hour 24 Lincoln's Inn Fields delay on the way home resulting in me hitting the sack You will be playing for The Barristers Clerks at 2.10am!!! A bottle of Champagne will be on its way to the winner Association Benevolent Cup. Proceeds of the day will shortly! go to that charity. 1. High Noon 2. My left foot I hope the phrase quiz is not too tough. Good luck!

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20 21 JUNE 2007 ~ ISSUE 67 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 ARTICLE

...continued from page 18

5. You are asked to advise the Chambers’ and, in your mind, there is a choice between him and Secretarial selection committee. They have received an an equally academically qualified man of 25. Would application from a candidate who has a First Class you advise the committee to take him on in light of the degree and a Very Competent from the BVC. following information? Solutions Judging from other details on the application form, it looks as though he is in his early 60s. Would you (a) he discloses that he has a disability which will mean a professional typing service recommend an interview in the following that he will be unable to practise for more than a We do exactly what it says in the leaflet circumstances: couple of years (and may die before then), but “it’s been my life’s ambition to practise as a barrister”; Our clients agree: (a) the applicant has had a varied career starting in 1. YES “Geraldine at Secretarial forestry, then going into teaching, nursing, a period 2. NO Staff Problems? Solutions is m arvellous - as a self-employed potter, followed by an abortive everything has com Our team of legal secretaries can: e back attempt to become a minister of religion; (b) he discloses that in the course of his career he has fine - so much better than 1. YES gained a number of contacts with major firms of reduce staffing costs free up support staff the temping agency. No com 2. NO planners and specialist solicitors, none of whom are solve recruitment problems avoid employment issues plaints at all.” 3 yet clients of Chambers; Visit website: (b) the applicant has had a long and distinguished 1. YES www.secretarialsolutions.biz "The change over to career as a doctor and is particularly keen on 2. NO Secretarial Solutions medical negligence work, which is not one of produced excellent results Chambers’ specialities (c) in response to questions about how he sees his and the services offered by 1. YES career he says, “well I’ve always felt that a part- Digital Dictation Equipment Geraldine Eaton were 2. NO time career at the Bar would be an amusing way of We can supply and set you up with appropriate digital second to none." moving into retirement.”? dictation equipment and the necessary software to ensure Edward Hughes, Solicitors (c) the applicant has had a long career in planning, an 1. YES compatibility with our equipment. "Geraldine Eaton who area in which your Chambers is slowly gaining a 2. NO created Secretarial Solutions puts a lot of effort niche Confidentiality into providing an 1. YES The Code requirement is at 305. See the outsourced typing service 2. NO Guidance on age discrimination. We take this very seriously designed to meet the typing needs of legal offices." We undertake to keep any and all information supplied by the (d) the committee take the view, with which you agree, The starting point should be Chambers’ client strictly confidential. Southw ark Law Centre that he is too old and that he is likely to be a recruitment procedures – how far do the skills We do not use information supplied by the client for any nuisance if taken on. They suggest just binning his shown match Chambers’ requirements? There is purpose other than typing/ transcribing "Manuscripts faxed through application. Do you go along with that decision. an entitlement to expect a reasonable length of e back accurate - cam 1. YES service; If you choose the older candidate, will We restrict all such information to those typists who have signed and on time." a Confidentiality Agreement 2. NO the younger have an action for indirect 14 Grays Inn Square discrimination – you will need to get the If you would like a leaflet or to try our services, The committee decide to give the candidate an reasons for your selection clear. please ring Geraldine direct on interview, which you attend. It goes very creditably 0151 355 4433 23 № 10 The Technology Centre, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 3EN JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 Tel: 0151 355 4433 Fax: 0151 355 9165 Email: [email protected] ARTICLE Photogenic or What? By The Editor

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most photogenic creature on this planet. However, in the new digital age it is possible for all of us to have our best side pointing at the lens. Sometimes the natural look (minus the cheesy grin) works the best.

I have to admit that I was prompted to write this short I would accept that the photographs have to be right. piece based upon a trip to the staff page of the 1 Pump Some Chambers spend a lot of money on getting the Court website. The full title is www.1pumpcourt.co.uk, right corporate professional image, which could be and the staff section can be found under the “Who we ruined by a couple of unprofessional looking Serviced Office Facilities: G are” dropdown menu. The photos look good – really photographs in the staff section of the website. 218 Strand offers UK and overseas lawyers the opportunity to professional. share resources in a serviced office suite, directly opposite the No doubt some clerks would suggest that their Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, London WC2. G So why was the picture of the back of a barrister’s head members CVs would come across so much better The reception is on the 3rd Floor and staffed 8am - 6pm. G wearing wig and gown displayed no fewer than 7 times without a photo. You may think that, but I could not Meeting Room available include Single rooms for 1-50 people instead of the rest of your team? Perhaps it is because possibly comment. up to Mediation Suites. the staff photographs had not arrived, or the named Accommodation: persons underneath each picture had refused to have “Photogenic - or Not!” G Fleet Street apartment available for short term rental to their photograph taken? No doubt they have good professional people when in London. reason, and I am not seeking an answer. I just felt G Superbly located studio apartment situated just off Fleet Street. uncomfortable with the wig and gown photograph, mainly because it appears 7 times. Perhaps the 1 Pump Disaster Recovery Suite: Court logo would be easier on the eye? G Suite with 24/7 availability of hot desk PC’s connected to the Internet. Having a quality digital photograph of everybody in Chambers can be a double edged sword. Whilst it’s good to show a professional appearance, not everyone comes across as portraying the Chambers corporate Contact Us: image. First impressions might spark the wrong 218 Strand, London, WC2R 1AT reaction, such as: “I wouldn’t buy a second hand …” T: 0845 083 3000 F: 0845 083 3001 and “He’d sell his own …” DX: 232 London Chancery Lane E: [email protected]

24 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 www.218strand.com QUIZ The Phrase Dingbats Quiz This month you have a phrase quiz. It is similar to last month’s movie quiz. Hopefully it will be as good a test. A bottle of Champagne for the winner! If there is more than one correct or best entry, the winner will be drawn out of the Editor’s hat as usual. Editor’s decision is final.

Email your answers numbered 1 to 10 to: [email protected] Deadline for emails is 5.00pm Friday 17th August 2007.

Can you identify the phrases from the following clues?

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

9 10

26 JULY 2007 ~ ISSUE 68 Personalised Plastic Mail Bags for Chambers I Do you send back 20 or more briefs a day? Or

I Does your Chambers get through 100 or so plastic mail bags every week?

I Would you like Chambers’ logo and details printed on your plastic mail bags?

I Interested?

I Send for details.

Email to: [email protected]

MAILPAC IS THE TRADING NAME OF JAR HOLDINGS LIMITED, № 10 THE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE ELLESMERE PORT CHESHIRE CH65 3EN