Features

‘Innovation and global opportunity’ – this year’s Bar Conference theme – should prompt barristers in every field to reassess the way they work, explains Gerard McDermott QC  

When asked by the Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, to chair this year’s Bar and Young Bar Conference I enquired whether I could make at least part of it international in flavour.  

International arbitration provides a wealth of challenges and opportunities for the junior barrister, writes Josephine Higgs  

International arbitration forms a substantial part of the workload of most junior barristers practising at the commercial Bar; for some, perhaps many, it represents the bulk of their practice.  

Evanna Fruithof outlines Brexit’s implications for barristers across practice area  

Three months on from the UK’s seismic EU Referendum result, and with the brief respite of summer behind us, defining and dealing with the implications of the pending Brexit for the Bar is a major priority.  

Mark Smith explains how the ‘mortgage tracker loans case’, a direct access group action, made novel use of crowdfunding and BARCO  

Widely trailed in the broadsheets as the largest-ever direct access case, Alexander v West Bromwich Mortgage Company Ltd  [2016] EWCA Civ 496 was covered by the legal and financial press and analysed by commentators, academics and major firms of solicitors. 

From fledging clearing house to today’s long-reach service embedded in Bar culture, Jess Campbell reflects on 20 years of pro bono within the profession  

In 1995, when Peter Goldsmith QC was Chairman of the Bar, it became increasingly apparent how many people needed the legal services of barristers but were unable to afford them. 

Nathalie Lieven QC provides an update on this year’s Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme  

This year marks the fourth round of the Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme.  

Rawdon Crozier considers what legislators and policy makers could learn from British cycling  

Politicians tend to favour big ideas, whether it’s a new piece of legislation or a state-of-the-art computer system, the bigger the better – and better still if they can be rolled out with a blaze of publicity and a snappy sound bite.  

Joanne Wicks QC, Grace Ong and Lucinda Orr outline the benefits of mentoring for barristers   

Counsel speaks to Jolyon Maugham QC, the tax law blogger Waiting for Godot  

Where did the inspiration come from to write the blog?