Counsel Magazine

The appointments of 96 new King’s Counsel (also known as silk) are announced today 

In conversation with Frances Gibb, Kirsty Brimelow KC outlines an ambitious reform agenda for her term, spanning issues from child justice to Bar culture. Yet she leaves no doubt about her immediate priorities: protecting jury trials and securing urgent funding for the justice system 

Stephanie Harrison KC reflects on 35 years as a legal aid practitioner and some of the very real dangers of not learning lessons from the past

With pupillage application season under way, Laura Wright reflects on her route to ‘tech barrister’ and offers advice for those aiming at a career at the Bar

Human rights cases don’t come bigger than this. Tim Otty KC, lead counsel for the Government of Ukraine in its case before the European Court against Russia, talks about the significance of this landmark ruling and  other pro bono highlights from his career at the Bar. Interview by  Anthony Inglese CB

The Bar Council could not provide all the services it does without your contributions through the Bar Representation Fee. By William Dean 

Feeling stuck at a careers crossroads? Lost your legal mojo? The answer often lies in knowing what you truly want – but how to figure that out? Nikki Alderson shares some practical strategies to help you gain clarity and move forward with confidence 

Sam Thomas surveys the cyber security scene – from the Legal Aid Agency attack to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill – and suggests one small day-to-day change we can all make to help thwart cyber crime

Make some time and efficiency gains this year! Bar Standards Board research shows ‘micro-tech’ admin solutions gaining traction amid Bar’s cautious approach to new technology 

Georgia-Mae Chung on the challenges of navigating grief within the legal profession and her work with Sarah Lucy Cooper to create a bereavement policy for chambers. With the policy recently endorsed by the Bar Council, they urge chambers to prioritise its adoption 

Resolution of the criminal justice crisis does not lie in reheating old ideas that have been roundly rejected before, say Ed Vickers KC, Faras Baloch and Katie Bacon 

Why after so much time and so much investigation are maternity and neonatal services still failing? ask Sara Sutherland and Anna Mills Morgan

The judiciary is familiar with addressing bias but GenAI presents new challenges. Sophie Mitchell examines how, why and when gender bias might present itself in judicial use of AI tools and calls for urgent debate 

Legal thinking needs to keep pace with the very disturbing realities that chatbots can create. Matthew Lee looks at emerging litigation in the US around conversational chatbots and their sinister influence on children 

Baffled by the government’s proposed s 41 reforms and by the Law Commission’s preferred model, Laura Hoyano looks at what won’t work, and what will 

Abolishing juries is nothing new. By William Byfield 

Or swimming the Channel and eating cake. By Sarah Branson 

A major exhibition of the surrealist photographer Lee Miller, reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC 

Professor Dominic Regan and Seán Jones KC present their best buys for this holiday season

Alexander Bailey on the holistic benefits of carpentry, cycling and other out-of-court pursuits directing concentration away from the inner critic

Brie Stevens-Hoare KC looks at the range of initiatives aiming to increase diversity in judicial appointments. What’s making the difference? What more needs to be done?

Fiona Butler offers some tips and advice on how to make the move in-house and what to expect – for both aspiring barristers and established practitioners contemplating a new chapter

One year on, Nardeen Némat reflects on the violent disorder in Merseyside following the Southport knife attacks and the collaboration between police, courts and Crown Prosecution Service in bringing a swift end to the riots

Nicholas Khan KC, the only lawyer to have taken silk while working in a European Union institution, discusses his fascinating professional life beyond the Inns of Court – in the Legal Service of the European Commission 

Mike Jones KC, the first Senior Crown advocate from Wales to take silk, talks about his career pathway, the ‘one Bar’ philosophy and what the future holds

Senior barristers reflect on the progress made since the publication of Race at the Bar: A Snapshot Report  in 2021, as well as the persistent challenges and cultural shifts still needed. Interviews by Mariam Diaby 

From a traumatic formative education to exceptional criminal silk – Laurie-Anne Power KC talks about her path to the Bar, pursuit of equality and speaking out against discrimination (not just during Black History Month)

Following the Lincoln’s Inn EDI Forum in Leeds, Glenn Parsons considers the tools required to increase diversity at the Bar – now and in the future

Championing underrepresented talent, 10K Black Interns 2024 is open for applications. Mentee Tendai Chiguvare and mentor Anna Walsh share their experience of the summer internship scheme at the Bar 

Bibi Badejo reports from a packed Inns of Court Women’s Alliance event examining the experiences of Black women barristers and imparting crucial advice for Black women navigating the legal profession 

How much longer can AI companies collect and monetise other people’s IP? Phoebe Whitlock investigates

Despite increased awareness, why are AI hallucinations continuing to infiltrate court cases at an alarming rate? Matthew Lee investigates

Neither magic wand nor existential threat, AI is a tool. And like any tool, its impact depends entirely on how we learn to wield it, says Paul Schwartfeger

Don’t start your time in Chambers as a cyber risk! Sam Thomas flags the online vulnerabilities of working at the Bar and offers security tips

How will the EU AI Act, in full force from August 2026, affect barristers in the UK? If advising EU-linked clients or handling cross-border disputes you must grasp its risk-based approach, says Bamdad Shams

The Bar Council crunches the data to tell the real story of who gets pupillage... and when 

Newly minted Bar graduates compete at a ratio of 300:1 for a golden ticket to Wonka’s Criminal Justice Factory. The Secret Barrister explains why…

The Bar Standards Board on what you need to know about training to become a barrister in England and Wales

Laurence Cooper explores the high-stakes world of choosing a Bar training course provider

How to fund training is often a student’s biggest concern. Here, Rose Malleson takes a look at the types of scholarship and financing options available