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On Saturday 25 September, in the Victorian splendour of the Law Society, International Committee member Amanda Pinto QC spoke - rather subversively bearing in mind the venue - to a varied and interested audience of young lawyers from around the world, about how to instruct the Bar and the benefits of coming directly to the Bar.
The talk provoked an interesting discussion of the functions of the International Committee of the Bar Council, including its importance in upholding and promoting the rule of law internationally and how, by working together with other Bars, it can improve justice and legal services throughout the world. The practicalities of instructing barristers from overseas (Hong Kong and Serbia, to take but two examples) were considered and the debate closed with an intervention by an Irish lawyer, favouring use of the Bar over solicitors for advocacy, in spite of a similar higher court advocacy scheme for solicitors in Eire. A frank and cosmopolitan exchange of ideas resulted, happily for the speaker, in impressive English by the delegates.
The talk provoked an interesting discussion of the functions of the International Committee of the Bar Council, including its importance in upholding and promoting the rule of law internationally and how, by working together with other Bars, it can improve justice and legal services throughout the world. The practicalities of instructing barristers from overseas (Hong Kong and Serbia, to take but two examples) were considered and the debate closed with an intervention by an Irish lawyer, favouring use of the Bar over solicitors for advocacy, in spite of a similar higher court advocacy scheme for solicitors in Eire. A frank and cosmopolitan exchange of ideas resulted, happily for the speaker, in impressive English by the delegates.
On Saturday 25 September, in the Victorian splendour of the Law Society, International Committee member Amanda Pinto QC spoke - rather subversively bearing in mind the venue - to a varied and interested audience of young lawyers from around the world, about how to instruct the Bar and the benefits of coming directly to the Bar.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
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
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
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
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
