By Joshua Rozenberg
Bristol University Press 2020
ISBN 9781529204506
Reviewed by David Wurtzel
Canonised (if sanitised) by lawyers and immortalised by Gregory Peck, what can Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch teach us about criminal justice today? By David Langwallner
Coping with prohibition through methodological mixology, Shantanu Majumdar QC reprises his social media cocktail recipe hits for a home-based NYE
Exclusive: the double BAFTA-winning author reveals who inspired the justice crusader Judge John Deed, where Deed would stand on the separation of powers, and why Law and Order couldn’t be made today
Interview by David Etherington QC
If all barristers try to ‘fit in’, we will alienate aspiring barristers from underrepresented groups: Mass Ndow-Njie on the importance of being visible
The incoming Chair shares his thinking on diversity at the Bar, the rule of law, and his hopes and fears for what’s likely to be another turbulent year
Interview by Rehana Popal
The perils of autobiography
The strange honour of being a barrister for the Earth prompts reflection on the nature of rights: should we move from an anthropocentric to an ecocentric approach? New paradigms post COVID-19
By Monica Feria-Tinta
We defend fearlessly our clients’ best interests and fight for the underdog every day in court, but neglect to apply that same attitude to ourselves. What is needed to improve the lives of those who seek to stand up for justice and assure the future of the profession?
By Siân Beaven
UK
Details of the qualification requirements can be found in the information pack. It is expected that the successful applicant will take up their post in the spring of 2027.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
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
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC