Sam Hillas KC specialises in financial remedy work at St John’s Buildings in Liverpool. In January 2026 Sam was elected as Leader of the Northern Circuit. She is also a Bencher of Inner Temple with responsibility for student engagement and support, a patron of Wirral Women and Children’s Aid, a co-editor of Family Affairs, the FLBA’s tri-annual publication, a fellow of the IAFL, a judicial officer for the RFU and World Rugby, and in 2024, she received the Pro Bono KC of the Year award from Advocate, the Bar’s advocacy charity.
Leader of the Northern Circuit Sam Hillas KC on authenticity, the joy of mentoring and where she stands on the kindness v professionalism debate
In the first of a series celebrating the Bar Pro Bono Award winners, Advocate introduces Tinessa Kaur, Samantha Hillas KC, Haydee Dijkstal and Joseph Sinclair who share the stories behind their awards
Not the first to switch between law and food, but Nisha Katona is a rarity, leaving at the height of her legal career and fast becoming a household name. The family barrister turned restaurateur talks to Sam Hillas KC
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the role of cut-off levels, and the wider range of factors that must be considered when interpreting results for family court proceedings
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
