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Representing your interests in Farringdon Without, a life in the day of a silk who combines his practice with public service and diplomatic relations
By Gregory Jones QC
Seven barristers at the independent Bar are elected members of the Corporation of London. I’m one of them. I represent the ward of Farringdon Without, which includes my chambers, the rest of Inner Temple, most of Middle Temple, a small part of Lincoln’s Inn and Smithfield Market.
Early morning starts at home with finalising draft grounds for High Court judicial review proceedings challenging a power station development consent order granted by the Secretary of State. Then on to the Guildhall for the Hampstead Heath Committee. The agenda includes the increased numbers of summer bathers, the unfortunate death of a swimmer, along with single sex pools and transgender swimmers. We also give consent for the reintroduction of sheep grazing on the Heath.
Lunch is at the Central Criminal Court. Owned by the City which also runs the ‘back of house’. Two Sheriffs, one a serving Alderman and the other usually an elected Liveryman, reside there for their year office. They entertain the Old Bailey judges each day to a (non-alcoholic) lunch. Other guests can range from the Chairman of the Bank of England to families of the victims of violent crime.
Today, I’m duty Alderman representing the Lord Mayor, and we have Abe Bailey scholars from South Africa as guests. Identified as potential leaders in their country they are particularly fascinated about our jury system, trial by jury having been finally abolished in South Africa in 1969.
A short walk back to chambers for a consultation with a local authority served with judicial review proceedings from a disgruntled landowner over the council’s road traffic improvement scheme which the landowner says interferes with his access rights and is ultra vires. Then a telecon for a local authority in Northern Ireland which owns an airport and has placed a ‘lien’ on an aircraft for unpaid fuel costs.
Finally, climbing into Aldermanic fancy dress of tights and breaches, I dash to the Mansion House for the Lord Mayor’s annual dinner for the diplomatic corps resident in London. Time for international relations. I’m seated between the Ambassador for North Korea and the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain (the Pope’s man in London).
Gregory Jones KC is a tenant at Francis Taylor Building, Temple and Alderman in the City of London.
Seven barristers at the independent Bar are elected members of the Corporation of London. I’m one of them. I represent the ward of Farringdon Without, which includes my chambers, the rest of Inner Temple, most of Middle Temple, a small part of Lincoln’s Inn and Smithfield Market.
Early morning starts at home with finalising draft grounds for High Court judicial review proceedings challenging a power station development consent order granted by the Secretary of State. Then on to the Guildhall for the Hampstead Heath Committee. The agenda includes the increased numbers of summer bathers, the unfortunate death of a swimmer, along with single sex pools and transgender swimmers. We also give consent for the reintroduction of sheep grazing on the Heath.
Lunch is at the Central Criminal Court. Owned by the City which also runs the ‘back of house’. Two Sheriffs, one a serving Alderman and the other usually an elected Liveryman, reside there for their year office. They entertain the Old Bailey judges each day to a (non-alcoholic) lunch. Other guests can range from the Chairman of the Bank of England to families of the victims of violent crime.
Today, I’m duty Alderman representing the Lord Mayor, and we have Abe Bailey scholars from South Africa as guests. Identified as potential leaders in their country they are particularly fascinated about our jury system, trial by jury having been finally abolished in South Africa in 1969.
A short walk back to chambers for a consultation with a local authority served with judicial review proceedings from a disgruntled landowner over the council’s road traffic improvement scheme which the landowner says interferes with his access rights and is ultra vires. Then a telecon for a local authority in Northern Ireland which owns an airport and has placed a ‘lien’ on an aircraft for unpaid fuel costs.
Finally, climbing into Aldermanic fancy dress of tights and breaches, I dash to the Mansion House for the Lord Mayor’s annual dinner for the diplomatic corps resident in London. Time for international relations. I’m seated between the Ambassador for North Korea and the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain (the Pope’s man in London).
Representing your interests in Farringdon Without, a life in the day of a silk who combines his practice with public service and diplomatic relations
By Gregory Jones QC
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
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
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
