Counsel Magazine

In this wide-ranging interview, Professor Jo Delahunty KC, Family Law KC of the Year, talks to Anthony Inglese CB about the values that shaped her, the moment she found her vocation and, in an intensely personal call to arms, why time is running out for the legal aid Bar 

What qualities does a modern-day barrister need? Caroline Goodwin KC, Leader of the North Eastern Circuit, and former Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, shares her lessons learnt 

A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar  

Leaving her life as a partner in a law firm to start out as a pupil at the Bar: Oluwapelumi Amanda Adeola shares lessons learnt in transfer 

The white-collar criminal and civil silk Jonathan Fisher KC, Independent Reviewer of Disclosure and Fraud Offences, advocates modernising the disclosure regime and harnessing AI to reduce the court backlog. He tells Anthony Inglese CB about his career path and conclusions of his review 

Switching from a physical blue book to OneNote is simple, secure and game-changing, says Elizabeth Bowden – you’ll wonder how you managed without it... 

How to build and stress-test your evidence, while steering clear of the common pitfalls that can undermine even the strongest candidates? Paul Secher looks at the core principles behind a compelling silk application 

With reputations forged in the marketplace as much as the courtroom, Don Turner examines the sales side of the ‘barrister business’ – including how to avoid own goals and business development as a collective endeavour  

With Shakespeare’s birthday upon us, Benet Brandreth KC explores how, four centuries on, the Bard’s mastery of classical rhetoric can still sharpen the tools of modern advocates 

If lawyers using AI forget it is just a tool, and stop being ethical responsible lawyers, it will cause mayhem – Flora Page KC explores the legal and ethical pitfalls and offers essential guidance on developing good, safe AI practices in-house 

Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC 

Two decades of championing access to justice and shaping careers in the legal aid field – Christian Weaver and Queenie Sit-Malyali reflect on YLAL’s impact through its guiding principles and personal significance to them 

Thomas Roe KC and Andrew O’Kola respond to an article by Dr Leonardo Raznovich (Counsel , October 2025) – ‘Privy Council colonialism? Piercing the constitutional veil’

Despite growing evidence that upskirting can act as a gateway offence uncovering more serious crimes against women and girls, police forces are failing to make full use of their investigative powers – finds Charles Davey 

Christina Warner investigates the widespread urban dog culling pre-Morocco 2030, the ‘FIFA factor’ and international implications 

Review by Daniel Barnett 

By Adam Tomkins  

Reviewed by Dr Bysshe Inigo Coffey 

‘Let’s rock, Wembley! (Or Poole!)’ Nick Peacock takes readers on a tour of classic guitar riffs – guaranteed to get you in the zone  

By Ross Cranston  

Reviewed by Nikki Singla KC 

The inability to say what we mean has dangers, warns William Byfield 

There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse  

Amelia Clegg shares the lessons standing her in good stead as 2026 Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee and the priorities for her term 

Simon Regis CBE, Chair of the Bar Council Employed Barristers’ Committee, sets out his three key priorities for the year ahead 

From drafting the law to running the UK’s top court, former barrister Vicky Fox tells Anthony Inglese CB about her fascinating career path, firefighting post- the prorogation ruling and the court’s diversity ambitions

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?

It’s been five years since the groundbreaking QC competition in which six Black women barristers, including the 2025 Chair of the Bar, took silk. Yet today, the number of Black KCs remains ‘critically low’. Desirée Artesi talks to Baroness Scotland KC, Allison Munroe KC and Melanie Simpson KC about the critical success factors, barriers and ideas for embedding change

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?

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

With at least 31 reports of AI hallucinations in UK legal cases – over 800 worldwide – and judges using AI to assist in judicial decision-making, the risks and benefits are impossible to ignore. Matthew Lee examines how different jurisdictions are responding 

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 

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

A career at the Crown Prosecution Service – insight from Siobhan Blake and Ibrahim Ilyas   

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