*/
Messrs Barrs of the Bar
Dear Editor
Whilst I’m sure the incidence of “nominative determinism” amongst members of the legal profession had more to do with the date of the article (“In the name of the law” Counsel April 2009 pp 16-18) than with hard scientific fact, I feel Christina Michalos’ list would be incomplete without mention of the three Messrs Barr of the Bar.
To date, we have not all appeared together in the same case though we came close at Peterborough Crown Court when Mr P Barr represented a defendant (one Mr Barr) who was prosecuted by Mr E Barr—much to our regret His Honour Judge Barr did not sit at that court centre!
Peter Barr, The Chambers of Michael Hubbard QC, One Paper Buildings
The first employed silks
Dear Editor
In the April issue you say: “Two employed barristers were successful … the first ever employed barristers to be appointed” (see Counsel April 2009 “Silk success for women and employed Bar”, p 4). Counsel is usually exactly correct but in this case I am afraid not and I thought I should write to point it out.
I was myself appointed in 1981 after I had left the Bar to become Chief Legal Adviser at Lloyds Bank. I was not the first nor the last employed barrister appointed, although there has been a gap of several years so that the present news is very welcome demonstrating that advocacy skills in court are no longer the sole test for appointment.
Derek Wheatley QC, MA (Oxon), Richmond
To date, we have not all appeared together in the same case though we came close at Peterborough Crown Court when Mr P Barr represented a defendant (one Mr Barr) who was prosecuted by Mr E Barr—much to our regret His Honour Judge Barr did not sit at that court centre!
Peter Barr, The Chambers of Michael Hubbard QC, One Paper Buildings
The first employed silks
Dear Editor
In the April issue you say: “Two employed barristers were successful … the first ever employed barristers to be appointed” (see Counsel April 2009 “Silk success for women and employed Bar”, p 4). Counsel is usually exactly correct but in this case I am afraid not and I thought I should write to point it out.
I was myself appointed in 1981 after I had left the Bar to become Chief Legal Adviser at Lloyds Bank. I was not the first nor the last employed barrister appointed, although there has been a gap of several years so that the present news is very welcome demonstrating that advocacy skills in court are no longer the sole test for appointment.
Derek Wheatley QC, MA (Oxon), Richmond
Messrs Barrs of the Bar
Dear Editor
Whilst I’m sure the incidence of “nominative determinism” amongst members of the legal profession had more to do with the date of the article (“In the name of the law” Counsel April 2009 pp 16-18) than with hard scientific fact, I feel Christina Michalos’ list would be incomplete without mention of the three Messrs Barr of the Bar.
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