B. Listen to the interview with Janet Stephenson, the new Bar Chairman and fill in the blanks.

Interviewer (I): Today I'm talking to 1)… …, the new 2)… ... . Now, Janet, you have a year in office. How do you intend to use that year? What is the most 3)… … on your agenda?

Janet (J): Well, there are a number of very 4)… proposals being put forward by the 5)… which will have an enormous effect both on members of the Bar and on small firms of 6)… .

I: Like what, for example?

J: Well, notably the proposals concerning taxation changes. They will have a dramatic effect on the entire 7)… … .

I: In what way exactly?

J: Well, the government wants to 8)… … according to when they earn their fees rather than when they receive them. This poses an enormous problem for both 9)… and 10)…, particularly small firms of solicitors doing publicly-funded work.

I: So, for once, 11)… and 12)… won't be at each other's throats.

J: I don't think that's a very fair comment. We do have our differences, it's true - particularly when Lord Mackay reformed the rights of audience - but, in this particular case, when solicitors will be as badly hit as we are, we have good cause to join forces with the Law Society.

I: You are not what one might call a typical 13)… …, are you? Your background, the fact that you are a woman...

J: That's true, yes, and I hope to be able to 14)… the image of the 15)… a little. People don't realise how lucky they are with the 16)… … in this country, and yet the man-in-the-street still has this image of the barrister as very 17)…, male, middle-class, wearing a pin-stripe suit and a bowler hat. And it doesn't help when the media continue to 18)… this stereotype. They seem to derive some sort of pleasure from stirring up public opinion against us.

I: Why do you think that is?

J: Well, they have this idea that we are privileged, overpaid and generally rather decadent, I think. They attack us rather as they like to 19)… the monarchy from time to time.

I: And you don't think this image is justified?

J: Not at all. You mentioned my background. I come from a very ordinary background, I had a grammar school 20)…, and I wouldn't say that I'm 21)…!

I: Is that because you work in 22)… cases and not commercial ones?

J: To a degree, yes. I think it's fair to say that criminal 23)… are the poor relations.

I: And it's the commercial lawyers who rake it in.

J: Let's say that their briefs can be more financially rewarding.

I: So you wouldn't say you are as conservative as previous Bar Chairmen?

J: It depends. In many ways no, but I do want to uphold certain traditions.

I: Like keeping 24)… out of the 25)… …?

J: No, not at all. I am not opposed to greater numbers of 26)… advocates in the higher 27)… if they are adequately qualified, but I do believe that the pressures and economics of running a solicitor's office will usually make it preferable to use specialist advocates. And, unless you are one of the big firms of solicitors, barristers are very cost effective. 28)… … of solicitors in Exeter or somewhere can get the best quality of advocacy at a very reasonable price. It's not worth the while of most fully-qualified solicitors to 29)… to 30)…, with all the delays and hanging about and the rest of it.

I: I gather you are also rather conservative when it comes to wigs.

J: Yes. I just feel that wigs make us anonymous, rather like a 31)… … . And they help to define the various roles in 32)… .

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 653