THE GENERAL COUNCIL of the Bar has recently issued a
further series of rulings on professional conduct and etiquette. For example, the prior consent of the Bar Council is now required before a barrister, cloaked in anonymity, may give an interview to the press or may broadcast on a legal topic. The Council's consent is also neces- sary before a barrister may address or—what is more remarkable—attend an organised gathering of surveyors, accountants, solicitors, in fact any- one in danger of sending him directly or indirectly some work. Is a dinner given by the Law Society (i.e. solicitors) an 'organised gathering'? A barrister must not be photographed by a profes- sional photographer without a written acknow- ledgment that he owns the copyright, and he must not 'seek out the company of or associate unduly with persons (other than personal friends)' who can influence the sending. to him of profes- sional work. Perhaps a ruling will soon follow defining an undue association as distinct from a personal friendship. I should also mention the curious prohibition on a barrister being married to his clerk. Self-advertisement, touting and so. on by members of the Bar is no doubt undesirable and in any case rare. But what a waste of energy in devising these intricate rulings, when the real danger to the profession—under-employment for the many and over-employment for the few— continues. An obsession with the niceties of etiquette is all too reminiscent of the court at Versailles—in its last moments. Or the House of Commons last week.
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