By Christopher Hodges. Hart, October 2019. ISBN 9781509916900. Reviewed by Sir Ernest Ryder
The flipside of independence can be isolation, particularly as barristers become more senior and spend less time physically in chambers. If you’ve ever felt alone at the Bar, a WhatsApp group could be the answer, writes Abimbola Johnson
Welcome to Women in Family Law, the new platform designed to unify all women who practise in family law, from High Court judges to paralegals – and yes, we do need another association. By Hannah Markham QC
Laurie Scher and Will East suggest some easy wins enabling every chambers to become more environmentally sustainable
The plumage and ceremony delights some and appals others, yet its professional significance is inescapable; Chris Henley QC (successful in round three) riffs on the award and how to get it
Why – alongside his court practice – a barrister decided to journey through the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to become a 2nd lieutenant in the British Army
From Northern Alberta to Oxford: the pioneering contribution of a Canadian barrister to legal scholarship, practice and public policy in England and Wales. Interview by Lynne Townley
The unconventional civil barrister, environmental activist and storyteller is shaking up what it means to be a lawyer in a time of environmental crisis. Interview by Aqsa Hussain
Celebrating the 114 new silks – plus forensic analysis of the 2019 cohort and what it says about equality of opportunity in the profession and health of the Bar –by David Wurtzel
An abysmal mess? What our prisons tell us about our country today – by Nick Hardwick
Isle of Man
Applications are invited for the appointment of His Majesty’s Attorney General in the Isle of Man.
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