FUSION

Untitled Slide

FUSION

FUSION
ie: barristers & solicitors merge into one profession

FUSE

• To ensure efficiency
• Reduce costs
• Ensure uniformity of training

There's been a major debate as of whether to merge 2 professions or not .
However, 3 major changes has been brought about as an improvement in legal profession .

3 MAJOR CHANGES

• Legal services act 2007
• Direct access
• Right of Advocacy
• &certificate of advocacy

Legal services act 2007 sets up
1- Legal services board
@@to enforce high standards in legal sectors
@@ replacing various diff regulators with overlapping powers
2- an office for legal complaints
@@to handle complaints
@@restore consumer confidence
3. Enabling legal services to be provided under new business structure(ie: Alternative Business Structure)

Direct Access
-initially-
Solicitor---$---> Barrister
@unnecessary expenses for clients
-finally-
The Bar started a system:
Bar Direct
@allow certain professionals to brief barristers directly without using solicitor.
@sept2004, direct access was granted for civil cases ONLY

Rights of Advocacy and certificate of advocacy
-initially -
All solicitors allow to advocate in inferior cts. But their right of audience in higher cts are limited.
-Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 -
Granted solicitors the right to apply for Certificate of Advocacy , so that he can appear in higher cts.

CERTIFICATE WILL BE GRANTED IF

• Solicitor have experience of advocacy in Mag ct
• Taken short training course (1year)
• Passed examination on rules of evidence
• **Access to Justice Act 1999**
• ***granted this right to all solicitors***

Advantages of fusing
1- Reduced costs
(1 lawyer)
2- less duplication of work
3- more continuity

Disadvantages of fusing
1- decrease In specialist skills of advocacy
2- loss of second opinion in a case