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Editor’s picks

Legal Personality

199732

Employed Bar Awards 2024

And the winner is… the Bar Council introduces the barristers honoured in the 2024 awards celebrating the achievements of the employed Bar 

04 December 2024 / The Bar Council
195450

Where have all the criminal barristers gone? By Joanna Hardy-Susskind

Joanna Hardy-Susskind speaks to those walking away from the criminal Bar 

11 November 2024 / Joanna Hardy-Susskind
195454

Lessons Learnt: My journey – and my responsibility

The holder of three national awards on overcoming self-doubt, being selective about what advice you take, and giving back. Mani Singh Basi’s lessons learnt 

11 November 2024 / Mani Singh Basi
195458

2024 Bar Pro Bono Awards: winners’ stories (2)

In the second of a series celebrating the Bar Pro Bono Award winners,  Jake Rudman, Jennifer MacLeod, 4PB, Mark Ronson and Dads House share the stories behind their awards 

07 November 2024

May we continue to build together: Laurie-Anne Power KC

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)

14 October 2024 / Laurie-Anne Power KC

Practice Toolset

195473

Special focus: Breastfeeding at the Bar

The complexities of balancing practice at the Bar with breastfeeding are investigated by Sally Rickard IBCLC* with assistance from barrister Charlotte Baker 

11 November 2024 / Sally Rickard / Charlotte Baker
195477

Special focus: Returning to work – crucial clerking

Ben Heaviside explores the pivotal role of clerking, tailored practice management and an inclusive chambers policy in a successful return to practice – keeping talent at the Bar 

11 November 2024 / Ben Heaviside
195446

Special focus: Parenting in practice

Philip Hinks and Laura Newton report from a seminar discussing life at the commercial Bar as a working parent of young children. A number of common themes emerged relevant to all barrister parents 

11 November 2024 / Philip Hinks / Laura Newton
195443

Special focus: Baby at the Bar

Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon are researching where the solutions lie for parents returning to the Bar and how the profession can achieve positive change 

11 November 2024 / Emma Price / Emma-Louise Fenelon
195440

Living up to the hype? AI in chambers

Julie Ahadi on the shift from theory to implementation, spoils to be had, and converting the trepidatious barrister 

11 November 2024 / Julie Ahadi

Justice Matters

BSB update on the Equality Rules consultation

Mark Neale, Director General of the Bar Standards Board, offers an update on the Equality Rules consultation

20 November 2024 / Mark Neale
195427

Should the BSB impose a positive duty to promote diversity?

Imposing a professional obligation to act in a way that advances equality, diversity and inclusion is the wrong way to achieve this ambition, says Nick Vineall KC 

11 November 2024 / Nick Vineall KC
195424

The rule of law misconstrued?

The desire to enlarge the scope of the rule of law is understandable but where is the line to be drawn? asks Raymond Wacks 

11 November 2024 / Raymond Wacks
195069

Social workers not trained in CCB

An alarming gap in social workers’ knowledge of coercive and controlling behaviour compromises the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable individuals, say Joy Brereton KC and Lucy Logan Green 

11 November 2024 / Joy Brereton KC / Lucy Logan Green
195065

Planning reforms under Labour

Tom Cosgrove KC looks at the government’s radical planning reform and the opportunities and challenges ahead for practitioners 

11 November 2024 / Tom Cosgrove KC

Bon Vivant

195055

Secret E-Diary

Detachment or coldness? asks William Byfield 

11 November 2024 / William Byfield
192112

Secret E-Diary

When less is less. By William Byfield*

14 October 2024 / William Byfield
192108

Starlight Express

Audacious and unique, says Daniel Barnett

14 October 2024 / Daniel Barnett
187652

Secret E-Diary

And a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square. By William Byfield 

09 September 2024 / William Byfield
187646

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

The compelling courtroom drama is reviewed by David Langwallner 

09 September 2024 / David Langwallner

Employed Bar

EBC Chair’s report 2024: a year of progress

Heidi Stonecliffe KC, Chair of the Employed Barristers’ Committee for 2024, reflects on her year at the helm and progress made in implementing the Life at the Employed Bar Report 2023 recommendations 

06 December 2024 / Heidi Stonecliffe KC
199732

Employed Bar Awards 2024

And the winner is… the Bar Council introduces the barristers honoured in the 2024 awards celebrating the achievements of the employed Bar 

04 December 2024 / The Bar Council
187636

Pupillage special: Insight into an employed pupillage

David Fardy outlines what to expect, what you will learn, and what you can gain from a pupillage at the employed Bar 

09 September 2024 / David Fardy

Taking silk – an employed barrister’s perspective

Heidi Stonecliffe KC talks frankly about her route to silk and why, as Chair of the Employed Barristers’ Committee for 2024, she wants to see greater visibility, progression and recognition for employed barristers 

12 February 2024 / Heidi Stonecliffe KC
145235

The employed barrister in government

From a CPS pupillage to Director of Legal Services at one of the largest prosecutors in England and Wales – Michael Jennings describes the interesting and varied life an employed barrister in public service can lead 

13 November 2023 / Michael Jennings

Black Inclusion

May we continue to build together: Laurie-Anne Power KC

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)

14 October 2024 / Laurie-Anne Power KC
184151

Recruitment, retention and promotion

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

13 August 2024 / Glenn Parsons
157620

A ‘10K Black Interns’ experience at the Bar

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 

19 February 2024 / Tendai Chiguvare / Anna Walsh
157559

Black women at the Bar: challenges faced and a fairer future

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 

19 February 2024 / Bibi Badejo
157564

Fair recruitment at the Bar

Ensuring recruitment processes are fair, and free from bias, is essential to drive diversity at the Bar. Bindi Dholakia and Rachel Krys examine the theory and practice 

19 February 2024 / Bindi Dholakia / Rachel Krys

AI and the Bar

195440

Living up to the hype? AI in chambers

Julie Ahadi on the shift from theory to implementation, spoils to be had, and converting the trepidatious barrister 

11 November 2024 / Julie Ahadi
192066

AI: the five biggest risks for barristers

Irresponsible use of AI can lead to serious and embarrassing consequences. Sam Thomas briefs barristers on the five key risks and how to avoid them

14 October 2024 / Sam Thomas
187628

Charging fees (artificially) intelligently

As use of AI becomes more widespread at the Bar, reshaping workflows, Andrew Hogan predicts a shift away from time-spent to value-based fees  

09 September 2024 / Andrew Hogan
179977

Can’t believe your eyes?

How to navigate open source evidence in an era of deepfakes. By Professor Yvonne McDermott Rees and Professor Alexa Koenig 

Deepfake elections

Alex Goodman KC on why our electoral laws need an urgent upgrade – they were not designed to address the corruption of popular opinion by AI and deepfakes 

13 May 2024 / Alex Goodman KC

Bar Students

Unlocking talent: the 2024-25 COMBAR mentoring scheme

The mentoring scheme for underrepresented applicants to the Commercial Bar – apply by the extended deadline of Friday 18 October 2024 for the 2024-25 cycle 

07 August 2024 / COMBAR
151989

Who gets pupillage?

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

01 September 2023 / The Bar Council

Why being a barrister is the best job in the world (or what you need to know going in)

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…

01 September 2021 / The Secret Barrister
55976

The Bar qualification rules

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

01 September 2021 / Bar Standards Board
55973

Choosing a Bar course

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

01 September 2021 / Laurence Cooper
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Chair’s Column

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Hope and expectation for the new legal year

The beginning of the legal year offers the opportunity for a renewed commitment to justice and the rule of law both at home and abroad

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