Government proposals to allow judges to return to practice could 'create a market for senior judges' and should be introduced with caution, it has been claimed.


Responding to a government consultation, human rights group Justice said the change should be tested at the junior end before being introduced across the judiciary.



Director Roger Smith said: 'It will create a market in senior judges both at the bar and in corporate law firms. Safeguards would have to be much stronger to deal with this.'



The Law Society responded strongly in favour of change and said there should be no restrictions on the provision of advocacy services by former judges. President Fiona Woolf said: 'In principle, judges should be able to return to legal practice immediately.'



But Geoffrey Vos QC, the chairman of the Bar Council, said he was unconvinced that the move was either 'necessary or desirable'.



Catherine Baksi