Barristers overwhelmingly voted to retain the 'cab-rank rule' which stops them cherry-picking cases by forcing them to accept the next one in line - as long as they are available and appropriately qualified - at last weekend's Bar Council annual conference.


The informal vote followed a seminar debate during which Neil Addison, barrister with New Bailey Chambers in Liverpool, proposed to abolish the rule because it might breach lawyers' own human rights by forcing them to act against their moral or religious convictions in some cases.



However, delegates backed David Etherington QC's view that the rule should be preserved as the best means of not only ensuring all clients are properly represented, but also protecting those lawyers acting for frequently vilified clients such as paedophiles. The conduct rule also helps prevent barristers from refusing to take on difficult cases they might lose.



'I have no doubt that the cab-rank rule should be an enforceable rule and not aspirational... one of your human rights is that you don't have to be a barrister,' Mr Etherington said.



The keynote speech at the conference was delivered by Sir Sidney Kentridge QC, who told attendees the government should not extend the current 28-day time limit for holding terror suspects without charge. Sir Sidney, who has worked at the South African and English bars and has defended Nelson Mandela, said there was no evidence to support extending the period to 56 or 90 days.



Geoffrey Vos QC, chairman of the Bar Council, used the conference to highlight lawyers' public service contribution and compared the profession's legal aid and pro bono work to that of nurses, teachers and doctors. He also said privately paid practitioners contribute hugely to the UK's economy.



Anita Rice