Baroness Harriet Harman KC has unveiled a bold new blueprint for the Bar to tackle systemic misconduct. In the wake of her report, Lachlan Stewart sits down with Baroness Harman and Barbara Mills KC to explore the review’s impact, the challenges ahead and the crucial next steps
Oscar Davies shares their lessons learnt
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
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
In the final part of a series celebrating the Bar Pro Bono Award winners, Ramby de Mello and Doughty Street Chambers share the stories behind their awards
From courtroom to cot and back, Adiba Bassam (Demir) shares a candid account of her maternity leave and return to practice – plus, an update on breastfeeding at the Bar
Wanting both a family and a career at the Bar should be attainable in 2025 without having to make impossible sacrifices, says Chloe Lee
Can a criminal barrister really work part-time? After maternity leave, Caighli Taylor made it happen – and discovered unexpected upsides along the way
From balance and boundaries to confidence and clerks’ rooms, Nikki Alderson shines a light on the challenges encountered by working parents well beyond the initial career break return – and strategies to overcome them
Whether you’re drafting policies or exploring this way of working yourself, James Whiting and Sian Wilkins share insights to guide your approach
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Why employers in Great Britain should not blindly follow Trump’s diversity, equity and inclusion rollback. By Olivia-Faith Dobbie
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work & Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
Pointillism, radical politics and social conscience. Review by Stephen Cragg KC
The Amazonian artist’s first international solo exhibition is wholly relevant to current issues in social and environmental justice, says Stephen Cragg KC
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
Trying new approaches to tackle unfairness in opportunities, James Peters and Sinead Murray discuss recent Ofgem initiatives
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
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
Camilo Artiga-Purcell highlights the dangerous use of unapproved AI tools
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
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
The Bar Council continues to call for investment for the justice system and represent the interests of our profession both at home and abroad
The COUNSEL interview
Barbara Mills KC, barrister and Chair of the Bar 2025, talks to Joshua Rozenberg KC (hon), legal journalist and broadcaster. Podcast recorded in December 2024.
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Q&A with Tim Lynch of Jordan Lynch Private Finance
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
The Amazonian artist’s first international solo exhibition is wholly relevant to current issues in social and environmental justice, says Stephen Cragg KC
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
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
