Founded in 1985, COUNSEL is the official monthly Magazine of the Bar of England and Wales, published by LexisNexis on behalf of the Bar Council. COUNSEL is largely written by and for barristers.
Highly influential and thought-provoking, it is read by legal professionals of all ages, from law students to senior judges, policy makers, key influencers, and members of the government. It also has a wider general readership.
Editorial coverage ranges from high profile interviews to its vital Practice Toolset section, helping barristers achieve their ambitions and work smarter using the latest techniques and market innovations.
It is also the platform for intelligent opinion on key issues affecting the Bar and justice, as well as covering wellbeing and lifestyle matters, giving it a broad cross-over appeal for anyone associated with the legal industry and interested in the law.
Our authors are thought leaders and experts in their fields. Our audience is highly engaged with the COUNSEL brand in print, online and social media.
The magazine has a distinguished Policy and Editorial Board, mainly drawn from the ranks of practising barristers and representing a wide cross-section of the Bar.
Print issues go direct to subscribers each month, with high numbers of non-subscribers reading it on the ‘free to view’ destination website: www.counselmagazine.co.uk.
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Editor: Sarah Grainger
Email: sarah.grainger@lexisnexis.co.uk
Commissioning Editor: Elsa Booth
Email: elsa.booth.1@lexisnexis.co.uk
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Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts