IS JACK STRAW A QUALIFIED LAWYER?

Charon QC as ever provides excellent coverage of the Iraq Inquiry.  He notes the following exchange between the Chair and today's witness:

 I did enjoy Wilmshurt’s response when Sir John Chilcot asked  if it made  a difference that Jack Straw himself is a qualified lawyer?.  Elizabeth Wilmshurt replied…“He is not an International Lawyer”. Rather sums it up, I think?


I understand that Straw was a practising barrister from 1972 to 1974 only.  He remains a door tenant of Valios Boardman Chambers at 4 Bream Buildings (or at least he appears on their door as such).  He became special adviser to Barbara Castle in 1974 and I note that from 1971 to 1974 he was a member of the Inner London Education Authority and Deputy Leader from 1973 to 1974.


He therefore probably did not practice very much in his limited 2 year career.  


This probably puts a gloss on the idea that the former Foreign Secretary and current Lord Chancellor is to be considered a qualified lawyer.


Also this deserves reading: http://www.headoflegal.com/2010/01/27/the-legality-of-the-iraq-war/