A great deal done; much more to do
It has been nine months since I commenced my role as Leader of the SEC and whilst it has been unquestionably a very busy time, I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. I am delighted to represent you and am pleased to say that our membership is up by 160 since the beginning of the year. The SEC is becoming more active and stronger by the day as we address problems of encroachment by others on our work and keep providing training to ensure we supply the best possible advocacy competitively. I would strongly encourage anyone within our jurisdiction reading this who is not already an SEC member to fill out the membership form on the back page and send it to us. As I never tire of saying, having borrowed this motto from Aesop, someone who has certainly stood the test of time: “United we stand, divided we fall.”
I’d like to congratulate all of the new Silks on the SEC. They provide both an example of excellence within the profession, as well as being an important symbol of the continuity of high standards of advocacy in a new generation. I would like to assist the most able members of the SEC who are still juniors to take Silk and/or sit, should they aspire to, in order that quality within the profession is continually improved and acknowledged; to that end, we will be announcing a mentoring scheme in the New Year.
Our Annual Dinner held in June in the Lincoln’s Inn Great Hall was a great success. The great and good of the SEC and the Judiciary enjoyed a marvellous evening of stimulation and revelry, which showcased the best that the legal world has to offer. Amidst the glamorous outfits, paraded in the balmy evening of Lincoln’s Inn gardens, the chaps made sure that they were not outdone by the ladies. I wore the Leslie tartan trousers and waistcoat which are pictured in these pages; this was certainly a first by a Leader and attracted comment! Some 300 people attended which is testament to the popularity of past Leader and great Circuiteer, Penry-Davey J. His outstanding after dinner-speech was so entertaining that following repeated requests for a copy, we have decided to re-print it in full in these pages; it brought the house down.
Many past Leaders attended, but in particular we missed much loved past Leader, Sir Anthony Hidden, who unfortunately could not attend but remains interested in the work of the SEC. He would be pleased to hear from members of the Circuit and those who would like to can forward emails to me. We have received lots of lovely messages, congratulating us on the success of the evening. This is in large part due to everyone who worked hard behind the scenes, the Recorder, Junior and in particular the ‘dinner lady’, Tracy Ayling QC of 2 Bedford Row, who assisted massively with all of the arrangements; if she is anything like as good an advocate as she an organiser, she must be a fabulous brief. Thank you to those who attended and to those whose input contributed to the evening being a truly memorable night – for all the right reasons!
The Circuit Committee and Executive have been very dynamic in dealing with all the issues facing us at present. My thanks to the outgoing members of the Executive Committee for their work and I would like to welcome the incoming Executive team for the next six months. Neil Saunders and Dee Connolly replace Sean Larkin and Jason Sugarman, and represent Elected Members; Sarah Forshaw QC replaces Karim Khalil QC, as Bar Mess Chairs representative; and Tanya Robinson and Jeremy Wainwright replace Kate Mallison and Matthew McDonagh, as Bar Mess Representatives. Please note these changes and contact the relevant people if you have any matters you wish to raise.
At my request, Calvert-Smith J, Bean J and Saunders J, have attended Circuit Committee meetings with the same purpose that Messrs Pogson and Budgen, Directors for London and the South East respectively, and Baroness Prasher attended Executive Committee meetings: to answer questions on judicial selection and sittings, courts operation, QAA, and other significant issues. We will continue to ensure that matters important to the Bar are kept vibrant and alive by meeting with the relevant individuals and informing them of our views and concerns.
Our new-look SEC website is now up and running. It can be visited at http://www.southeastcircuit.co.uk and it will bring you up-to-date on all matters Circuit-related. Many thanks to Faisal Osman for carrying out so much work on this. We strive to keep our news current and have reflected in our amended application form the position that employed barristers number amongst our members and are welcome. We have also had a marvellous response to the new-look Circuiteer, for which the Editorial Committee of Ali Bajwa, Fiona Jackson, Tanya Robinson, Tetteh Turkson and Emily Verity should be congratulated.
Turning to education, we have had a very successful Keble Advanced Advocacy Course in September. Lawyers from across the world, including Pakistan, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa and the International Court at The Hague, attended both to teach and to learn. For those Judges and teachers of advocacy who enjoy great standing in their own jurisdictions, there was the recognition that Keble is a very special programme with a world-wide reputation for honing students’ skills, while putting tutors through their paces. My attendance as tutor was quite an experience. I was truly impressed by the standards of advocacy exhibited as well as interested in how many other jurisdictions viewed our own. Students left clearly energised, with one enthusiastic student telling me he had completely revised his tentative early retirement plans to run a village post office, having been invigorated in a way he had not experienced since pupillage. All who attended owe a very special thanks to Philip Brook Smith QC, the course director.
Both Florida visits in May and August and the Masters of Advocacy lectures by Michael Mansfield QC and Jonathan Sumption QC in June and September respectively were very well received. We are fortunate to be able to launch next year’s programme with the Fifth Dame Anne Ebsworth Memorial Lecture being delivered by Lord Hoffman in February. For those of you attended the lecture last year when Lord Bingham spoke on royal pardons and were lucky enough not to be turned away by making use of standing room at the back of the hall, do book early. Bookings will open in December.
I would like to welcome Martin Forde QC, who is our new co-chair of the SEC Equality and Diversity Group, together with Frances Oldham QC. They both have so much energy and an outstanding Committee to support them; I am sure they will achieve much. I have no doubt that we can pull together to bring about the changes we want. For those who would like to help, please get in touch.
My meetings as Leader of the SEC are too many to detail here. Suffice it to say that I have 8 meetings a week, including at least two meetings that commence at 08.30. As well a lot of contact with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Bar, I have had a great deal of liaison with other Circuit Leaders, whom I meet, speak to and email regularly. They, like the Chairs of the specialist Bar Associations, with whom I am also often in contact, are extremely supportive.
SEC involvement in issues professional and social continues to grow. Much as I would like to detail all the kind invitations that have come my way, there is not the room here. However, I would like to give you a flavour of what my diary had included by listing the following engagements:
April – I attended a retirement dinner for HHJ Cedric Joseph in Sussex
May – I attended the Central London Bar Mess dinner, the Blackfriars S pring Party and chaired the Bar Remuneration Conference
June – On a very sad note, I attended a very moving and dignified ceremony for the former Resident Judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court, HH Andrew Brooks; fittingly held in Snaresbrook chapel
July – I attended the Midland Circuit Grand Day
August – I met with the Heads of the Legal Services
September – I attended a function to celebrate the work of the head of the CPS in London on her departure to pastures new. I also led discussions at the SEC’s Kent Roadshow.
We are greatly looking forward to the SEC trip to Bruges in October. It provides us with a fabulous opportunity to mix, exchange ideas and forge friendships with one another as well as lawyers and Judges in another jurisdiction. Next year we are tentatively planning a trip to Malta and Gozo, and have already made contact with the Attorney General’s department there to compare issues we are experiencing with their system; for those of you who are interested in coming along, please make your interest clear as early as possible.
So, to sum up – a great deal done; much more to do!