[UPDATED 27 NOVEMBER 2020]
The Circuit has a sub-committee of members who are working to help support the IT requirements of working remotely and preparing to conduct video hearings. Their guidance (Second Edition, 2 April 2020) is issued here and contains advice about the available programmes for video and telephone hearings. Advice will continue to be amended and updated on this page.
The Inns of Court College of Advocacy has produced a guide entitled Principles of Remote Advocacy – here and the CPS has produced a guide to remote hearings here – CPS Guidance for Appearing at Court via Video or Audio Links [30.03.20]
MacBooks and ClickShare
A number of barristers using MacBooks have encountered significant problems with ClickShare in the last few months. This results in the MacBook losing the ClickShare connection after a few minutes, or the video and audio stuttering.
Thank you to the Midland Circuit, who have worked out a relatively simple fix for this problem, which they are happy to share – it can be read HERE
Cloud Video Platform
27 May 2020 – HMPPS User Guidance for CVP Video Meeting Rooms – HERE
The Western Circuit is grateful to the North Eastern Circuit for providing us with the two Guides below for connecting to court hearings and prisons from our own computers.
The Cloud Video Platform (“CVP”) has been talked about for a long time and in April 2020 is being piloted on the North Eastern Circuit. It is very much hoped that with the success of that pilot the use of CVP will be rolled out nationally. The Western Circuit would encourage you to familiarise yourselves with the contents of these Guides:
Connecting to a Court Hearing via the Cloud Video Platform
Connecting to a Prison/YOI via the Cloud Video Platform
“How To” Guides
How To – Skype for Business [24.04.20]
[NB there appears to be a glitch if you update your MacOS to 10.15 – some are reporting that the microphone and or camera is being lost when using Skype for Business. You may want to be cautious before doing so at the moment.
If you have already updated, and are having problems, some members of circuit have reported the below have worked:
1) You may be able to allow Skype for Business to use your microphone: by going into System preferences > Security & Privacy > Microphone and ticking the box to allow it.
2) If this does not work, you might want to try deleting Skype for Business and downloading an older version:
https://download.microsoft.com/download/D/0/5/D055DA17-C7B8-4257-89A1-78E7BBE3833F/SkypeForBusinessInstaller-16.28.0.120.pkg
When you next join a call (you can reuse an old hearing link if you have one), you should be asked to grant permission for Skype for Business to access your microphone, which you should grant.]
How To – Skype Conferences [09.04.20]
URGENT UPDATE re Teams – following confusion, some people have been adding contacts into their own Chambers’ “Organisation” on Teams, which means that non-members can see the activity and other contacts within the Chambers group. Please see the “Organisations” section about ensuring that you are in the correct “Organisation” when adding contacts.
How To – Zoom for the Family Bar [30.03.20]
IT Support within Chambers and from the Circuit
As the bar moves increasingly online throughout this situation, it will be important to ensure that everyone is supported in accessing the correct programmes properly. Documents will be provided as quickly as possible regarding the various products, and as the courts’ positions develop. For now:
- Please consider making a list, within your Chambers, of who feels competent with each of the programmes covered in the initial guidance. This should be circulated so that less-confident members have someone to contact if they struggle to set up/use the various programmes in the coming weeks.
- If no one in Chambers can help, please contact the following members of circuit who now comprise the Covid-19 IT Committee:
Elizabeth Bowden: ebowden@college-chambers.co.uk
Holly Rust: holly.rust@devonchambers.co.uk
Piers Norsworthy: piers.norsworthy@devonchambers.co.uk
