Annual Bar Conference and Young Bar Conference 2015 Saturday 17 October 2015 Westminster Park Plaza, London Book by Friday 3 July 2015 to receive the early booking discounts The Bar Council Integrity. Excellence. Justice. Programme 09:30 - 10:30 This year’s theme has been developed to ecompass issues that are both current and important. The Advocate: Our role in the The opening keynote session will set the tone to ensure a full day of balance between state and sessions focussing and addressing the increasing pressures facing the Programme Programme citizen. Bar due to economic or other political pressures, as well as a widening of Welcome alternative services available to the public. Kama Melly, Conference Chairman, Park Square The Keynote Address will ensure the importance of maintaining ‘The Barristers Advocate’ as the focus in all discussions, with regards to what the Chairman’s Address elements of change or restrictions mean for members of the Bar and Alistair MacDonald QC, Chairman of the Bar how they can be used as an advantage or overcome to ensure continual Council success. Keynote Address Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws QC 09:30 - 10:30 The bringing together of the two Conferences provides a fantastic opportunity for the Young Bar to take part in a day that provides Young Bar Opening Keynote learning opportunities from many sectors. However, the day is also Welcome about addressing areas of concern or potential areas of development that Daniel Sternberg, 9-12 Bell Yard, Young Bar are specific for the Young Bar. Committee Chairman Sir Terence Etherton was called to the Bar in 1974, Grays Inn. In 2006, he Keynote Address became the Chairman of the Law commission and from 2009 to 2012, he Sir Terence Etherton, Chancellor of the High was the President for the Council of the Inns of Court. In addition, Sir Court Terence Etherton is Vice President of the Court of Protection, Chairman of the Trust Law Committee, President of the Property Bar Association and an Honorary Professor at Kent University. Apart from his legal YB career, he was also a member of the Great Britain International Fencing Team (1977-1980), in his last year he was selected for the Moscow Olympics in 1980. 11:00 - 12:30 Morning specialist sessions 1. You cannot be serious! The Bar Standards Board Handbook’s duty to report serious misconduct by another barrister and the duty to ensure fair allocation of working in Exploring serious misconduct chambers. and fair allocation of work. This interactive session from the BSB will hep you to understand the Bar Standards Board (‘BSB’) regulatory rationale for these rules and consider some of the situations in which they might arise in practice. All Questions will be asked such as how do you excercise your professional judgement to ensure these rules are complied with? Where can you get help? Do you have some examples of good practice to share with your colleagues? There will also be an opportunity to discuss the situations in which one might be expected to report serious misconduct. The BSB will also explain what is required by its equality and diversity rules, with a discussion about how chambers’ might ensure that these are complied with, in particular the fair allocation of work. Moderator Speakers Sir Andrew Burns, Chair of the Bar Standards Patricia Robertson QC, Fountain Court Chambers Board Ewen Macleod, Director of Regulatory Policy, Bar Standards Board 2 Other speakers to be confirmed An overview of issues relating to Youth Justice, from Guidelines and Programme Programme 2. Youth Justice Youth Court Hearings to homicide. Richard Wright QC and Paul North Eastern Circuit Greaney QC who appeared on opposing sides of Cornick, R v [2014] EWHC 3623 (QB) (teacher stabbed by 16 year old pupil) discuss the approach of the courts in relation to homicides by youths and All reporting restrictions. Moderator Speakers Jason Pitter QC, New Park Court Chambers Paul Greaney QC, New Park Court Chambers Richard Wright QC, Park Square Barristers Other speakers to be confirmed 3. Securing the future of the The financial challenges for recently qualified criminal barristers have never been greater and, for too many, represent an Criminal Advocate unacceptable risk in pursuing their original ambitions. This Criminal Bar Association problem has far-reaching consequences, and finding solutions is vital to all practitioners, senior and junior alike. This workshop is designed to provide the latest generation of All talent with access to practical resources, hope and a reason to remain at the Criminal Bar Moderator Speakers To be confirmed Mark Fenhalls QC, 23 Essex Street, Vice Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association Daniel Sternberg, 9-12 Bell Yard, Young Bar Committee Chairman Other speakers to be confirmed 4. The role of a justice This session will highlight the different approaches taken in the criminal and civil jurisdiction and whether the family courts can (criminal and civil) system in learn from the criminal courts. protecting women and girl. The session aims to develop an understanding across the two An exploration of the issues jurisdictions of the impact of non-registration. It will also develop surrounding the non- delegates’ understanding of the impact on victims and witnesses registration of marriage and including forced marriage and honour-based violence alternative legal provision. Association of Women Barristers and Family Law Bar Association All Speakers Moderator Teertha Gupta QC, 4 Paper Buildings Frances Burton, Co-Director and Research Fellow at International Centre for Neelam Sarkaria, Independant Criminal Justice Family Law, Policy and Practice. Consultant, Chairman of the Association of Detective Chief Superintendent Gerry Campbell, Taskforce OCU Women Barristers Commander and Deputy Policing Lead for Forced Marriage, Honour Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation. Polly Harrar, The Sharan Project 3 5. Dealing with Litigants in How should barristers, and their profession, best deal with Litigants in Person and McKenzie friends? Members of the Chancery Bar Association, Person and McKenzie Friends. the Bar Council, Education and Training Committee, members of the Chancery Bar Association and Judiciary and the Bar Pro Bono Unit explore the latest guidance through the medium of role play, debate and audience participation. Programme Programme Bar Council Education and The session will consider what the profession should do to uphold Training Commitee proper administration of justice. All Speakers Moderators HH Judge Karen Walden Smith Penelope Reed QC, 5 Stone Buildings Joe Curl, 9 Stone Buildings Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC, Falcon Chambers Ruth Hughes, 5 Stone Buildings Simon O’ Toole, 5 Pump Court Other speakers to be confirmed 6.Surveillance and privacy in There have been calls for increased State powers to monitor communications and to retain and analyse the data that accompanies a modern democracy. them. Law Reform Committee This session will consider legal professional privilege. Surprisingly, since a House of Lords ruling in 2009, it is clear that the State may legally snoop on legitimate and highly confidential communications between All lawyers and their clients. The session will look at whether protection of LPP should be built into any legislation that regulates state surveillance powers. It will further consider whether other confidential communications, between journalists, their sources and MP’s should also receive further protection. Moderator Speakers Sir John Mummery, President of the Peter Carter QC, Red Lion Chambers Investigatory Powers Tribunal Nicholas Griffin QC, 5 Paper Buildings, Chairman of the Bar Council Surveillance and Privacy Working Group David Anderson QC, Independant Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Mike Schwarz Partner, Bindmans LLP 4 Programme Programme 7. The Advocate: surviving This session will provide members of the Bar with advice and guidance on working on different circuits and how this can at the modern Bar. Advice contribute to surviving at the modern Bar and guidance from the circuit Each of the circuit leaders will provide information to assist with leaders. the expansion of practices outside publically funded work. They Joint Circuit Leaders will take questions from delegates on any aspect affecting their relationships with their circuits. All Moderator Speakers Andrew Langdon QC, Guildhall Chambers, Richard Atkins QC, St Philips Chambers, Midland Circuit Leader Western Circuit Leader John Elvidge QC, Dere Street Chambers, North East Circuit Leader Max Hill QC, Red Lion Chambers, South Eastern Circuit Leader Paul Lewis QC, Farrar’s Building, Wales and Chester Circuit Leader Andrew O’Byrne QC, St Johns Building, Northern Circuit Leader 8. Entity regulation and the In April 2015, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) was authorised to regulate organisations owned and managed by barristers and other Bar. lawyers. This was a significant change to how barristers can choose Legal Services Committee to organise their practice while remaining regulated by the BSB. This workshop session will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn more about the practicalities of the entity authorisation process and what becoming an entity means for the nature of their All practice. The session will be interactive and allow attendees to discuss questions with the workshop speakers. Moderator Speakers Dereck Sweeting QC, 7 Bedford Row, Natalie Darby, Policy Analyst, Bar Council Chairman of the Legal Services Committee Fiona Fitzgerald, Chief Executive, Radcliffe Chambers Duncan