website telling solicitors how to brief counsel!

etymon

A new venture which must be for the REALLY incompetent solicitors - http://www.briefcounsel.ie/
In fact, I'm not sure if it's meant to be serious. Funny though. Any solicitors have any thoughts on it ?

McCrack

I havent heard of this company but I don't really see a market for it.
Reading the site it's basically a referral service for solicitors to use but it does not in any way tell a solicitor how to go about briefing a barrister like you seem to suggest.

The solicitor/barrister relationship is a personal one it's not difficult for a solicitor to make subtle enquiries him or herself on finding a new and good barrister, the legal business and the people in it is really a small shop and everybody knows somebody that knows somebody if you get my meaning.

That's why I don't see a market for this service.

maidhc

Probably a website set up by a bunch of barristers who realise they are part of a defunct profession

(ducks for cover...)

Wantobe

Just had a quick look at that website but in fairness don't see how it is telling you how to brief counsel?

If it is though, def set up by barristers. I recently rang a barrister about a case and she was hilarious- she started telling me what vouchers I should include with the brief, what information and told me at the end that if I needed guidance on how to put the brief together that she could talk me through it.:rolleyes:

I managed to refrain from saying what I would have liked to say, but honestly she won't be getting too many briefs from me!

nuac

Interesting idea, but I think more suitable for a larger jurisdiction such as UK. If a solicitor does not already know some barristers specialising in a particluar field, a few phone calls to colleagues or other barristers will enable the solicitor to find a suitable barrister.

Further the bar outside Dublin is divided into various circuits - again one needs local knowledge as to the best choice.

Furterh, we all know barristers who are superb in court but will not deal with paper work.

Horses for courses!

I hope beginners at the bar are not being asked to pay to be nominated by this service.

sh_o

I love this bit

2. Inside knowledge of the Law Library
No one knows the qualities and weaknesses of individual barristers better than their colleagues in the Law Library. However, this invaluable information is rarely available to solicitors and their clients. Brief Counsel Ltd uses unique inside knowledge to act as a "legal talent spotter" for solicitors. Our staff are around the Four Courts every day, and make it their business to know who's good and who's not.

Tom Young

Tut tut - The market reality is evidencing another trend, which is helping the Bar.

maidhc wrote: »

Probably a website set up by a bunch of barristers who realise they are part of a defunct profession

(ducks for cover...)

maidhc

Tom Young wrote: »

Tut tut - The market reality is evidencing another trend, which is helping the Bar.

How do you mean?

Tom Young

What I mean is that the partnership and non-commercial focus of some larger and medium sized firms are seeing solicitors being laid off.

Litigation is busy at the moment.

Barristers are self employed, of course briefed by solicitors, lest we forget and frankly things are busy in an acute number of areas.

Nothing sinister meant be the comment, I was merely picking up on your bait above:

Ducks for cover ...

Tom

etymon

Wantobe, hilarious story, but in practice you would not BELIEVE some of the briefs that float into the library!
Got a 'one-liner' there a few weeks ago - yup, all my 'instructions' in one line. Thought it was an April fool.
I would never tell a solicitor how to go about compiling a brief but have itched to many times! Glad you're on the ball in that regard!
Yeah, the thread title wasn't entirely correct but some members of the bar are of the opinion that that's what the site is attempting to do - something solicitors can do for free at www.barcouncil.ie on the 'search for a barrister' section because that is ALL the information ANYBODY in there holds on any of us and our practice!

Ah, sure, fair dues for trying to set up a new angle on the briefing system, I suppose. Who knows - it might work!

McCrack

etymon you shouldnt be surprised how fast and far a legal persons reputation is flung around(good or bad but usually bad) amongst lawyers. It spreads like wildfire and I can only assume the law library is worse for it.

TJM

Perhaps an enterprising barrister might make a Data Protection Act request to this company to see what "invaluable information" they hold on him/her?

Tom Young

Indeed. 2 or 3 thousand letters to follow!