I agree although I raised with many members of the Bar my concerns last year with the work of Mr Fitzgibbon QC the then Chairman. I raised directly with Mr Fitzgibbon QC the fact that the changes
he was advocating were adverse to the interests of the Bar and to the Solicitors profession. Despite my concerns that the proposals would be catastrophic to the profession generally neither Mr Fitzgibbon QC nor any other members of the Bar that I raised it
with seemed concerned at all.
I will always support action in the circumstances that have arisen I only wish the Bar had taken action a year ago!!
Tony Marshall
Alexander Johnson Solicitors
246 Bethnal Green Road
London E2 0AA
Tel: 020 7739 1563
Fax: 020 7729 9326
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From: members@mail.lccsa.org.uk <members@mail.lccsa.org.uk>
On Behalf Of DAWN BURROWS
Sent: 28 March 2018 12:22
To: Lucinda Nicholls <nichollsnichollslaw@gmail.com>; LCCSA <members@mail.lccsa.org.uk>
Subject: Re: Supporting the Bar post 1st April
As a freelance solicitor advocate I am delighted to see solidarity across the unnecessary divide between the Bar and Solicitors. We stand or fall together.
The cuts simply cannot be justified.
We, as lawyers representing some of the most vulnerable in society at their time of most need, have been squeezed by successive Governments until the pips have squeaked.
There is no more to give.
If there is to be any future for publicly funded criminal defence work we have to stand up and be counted. No more nonsense about "fat cats", "expensive handbags" or "snouts
in a trough". If we want the public to support us they need to understand what we do and what we do it for. None of us expected to be rich as criminal lawyers but we expect to be paid a fee that is commensurate with our training, skills and responsibilities.
I am not apologising for expecting to be paid properly for the work I do.
Proper payment allows firms to represent clients properly.
We fight for our clients daily, now is the time to fight for ourselves - for their future and our own.
Dawn Burrows
Solicitor Advocate
From:
members@mail.lccsa.org.uk <members@mail.lccsa.org.uk> on behalf of Lucinda Nicholls <nichollsnichollslaw@gmail.com>
Sent: 28 March 2018 10:29
To: LCCSA
Subject: Supporting the Bar post 1st April
In light of the meeting on Monday and the continued announcements from chambers (Garden Court, 5PB, Doughty and now 25BR that I’ve seen thus far), I’m hoping there’s some agreement with other law firms about
the stance we should be taking to support our colleagues who are likely to be taking action wef next Tuesday? (Of course subject to the result of tomorrow's CBA survey).
We're looking to put provisional plans in place because of the above imminent date of action. As a firm, Nicholls & Nicholls have decided that we will be undertaking the following but are willing to take guidance
from colleagues and our representative bodies accordingly-
1. We will still be applying for representation orders post 1st April.
2. We will be trying to instruct our chosen counsel from our approved lists who will no doubt be unavailable.
3. We will document attempts to instruct alternative counsel who are not on our approved list to comply with our contract requirements.
4. We will write to the Court and advise that we do not have approved counsel available nor (it is anticipated) unapproved counsel and therefore are not in a position to have an effective hearing.
5. If the case is listed despite the above (which no doubt it will be especially where clients are in custody), we will not be using HCAs in-house or freelance to hold or cover matters on behalf of the Bar as
this progresses the case and defeats the purpose of what the independent bar are trying to achieve.
6. We will ensure a representative (likely/preferably a paralegal) from the firm is present at Court to advise the client and to demonstrate that we are complying with our contract requirements by providing
representation as a law firm.
7. Any solicitor who attends court to assist our client who does have rights of audience, will not be attending with gown/wig but in the role of ‘sitting behind counsel’.
8. We have no intention of utilising HCAs to merely fill the gap so to speak whilst the Bar are taking action.
Does anyone have any views on the above? Agree? Disagree?
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Nicholls
Nicholls & Nicholls
15 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6AU
0207 842 1995 (24 hours)
DX 162 Chancery Lane
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; SRA Number 633851
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