*/
The Lord Chief Justice has urged talented black and Asian lawyers to take up the challenge of judicial office.
Addressing delegates at the Seventh Biennial Minority Lawyers’ Conference in London in April, Lord Judge said there was a need for applicants of the “highest possible available calibre”, and asked lawyers, “please, do not ignore the possibility of a judicial career because you think that the colour of your skin, or your creed, or your origins may make you unsuitable, or ineligible, or indeed may mean that you will not be successful”.
Desmond Browne QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, hailed “clear signs of progress” in the Bar’s ongoing drive to broaden access to the profession, but told delegates “there is still more which must be done”. Proposed cuts to public funding for legally aided family cases would hit women and ethnic minority practitioners, who make up a significant proportion of family advocates, particularly hard, he warned (see further p 6 of this issue).
Addressing delegates at the Seventh Biennial Minority Lawyers’ Conference in London in April, Lord Judge said there was a need for applicants of the “highest possible available calibre”, and asked lawyers, “please, do not ignore the possibility of a judicial career because you think that the colour of your skin, or your creed, or your origins may make you unsuitable, or ineligible, or indeed may mean that you will not be successful”.
Desmond Browne QC, Chairman of the Bar Council, hailed “clear signs of progress” in the Bar’s ongoing drive to broaden access to the profession, but told delegates “there is still more which must be done”. Proposed cuts to public funding for legally aided family cases would hit women and ethnic minority practitioners, who make up a significant proportion of family advocates, particularly hard, he warned (see further p 6 of this issue).
The Lord Chief Justice has urged talented black and Asian lawyers to take up the challenge of judicial office.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
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
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
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