Bar Conference 2009

Around 500 people were present at the Bar Council Conference on Saturday which has been judged a great success. The keynote speech was delivered by Sir Nicolas Bratza, following the opening address by Chairman of the Bar, Desmond Browne QC. The full text of Desmond Browne’s speech is available here.

There was lively press interest in the conference. An interview with Desmond Brown QC appeared in the Times written by Frances Gibb. The Chairman also appeared on the Today programme on the morning of the conference.

The presentation from the South Eastern and Midlands Circuit session, Honour Killing, a different type of Homicide is available here.

Delegates chose from 13 workshops, hosted by the following Specialist Bar Associations and Circuits (information about each workshop can be found by clicking the relevant links).

Access to the Bar Committee: Direct Access to Justice

ADR Committee: Is Mediation an Opportunity that the Civil Justice System Has Missed? The presentation for this workshop is available here.

Association of Women Barristers: The Treatment of Women in the Criminal Justice System - Victims and Perpetrators

Bar Human Rights Committee: Regional Access to Justice: Building Norms and Jurisprudence in San José, Strasbourg and Tanzania

Bar Pro Bono Unit: Justice for All – the part that Pro Bono plays

Bar Standards Board: Disclosure of Disciplinary Findings and Service Complaints

Chancery Bar Association: Does One Size Fit All? Costs Rules and Chancery Litigation

COMBAR: Access to Justice in the Commercial Court

Criminal Bar Association: Justice for Witnesses and Victims of Crime

Employed Barristers’ Committee: Access to Justice: What Price Justice?

Family Law Bar Association and the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Committee: Access to Justice, Cuts to Family Funding: Who Loses Out?
Judicial Appointments Commission

South Eastern and Midlands Circuits: Cultural Practices – Victims’ Injustices

Young Barristers’ Committee: Access to Justice – Access for All?

The following are direct quotes from delegates who attended the conference:

"All speakers were outstanding and very thought provoking"

"My first attendance - fantastic and very well organised"

"Highly relevant and up to date"

"As always an interesting and enjoyable day"

"Inspiring speeches - one gets in touch with the real issues affecting the profession"

"A good opportunity to step back from day to day work and reflect on some important themes"

Cavanagh Wealth Management ran a prize draw at the conference. The winner was James Willan from Essex Court. The prize was a case of fine wine from Cadman Fine Wines.

All feedback forms that the Bar Conference organisers received were entered into a prize draw. The winner was Charles Kellett of 1 Paper Buildings who received a free registration to the next Bar Conference as well as a bottle of champagne.