Courtenay Griffiths QC discusses with Sally Penni barriers to BAME representation in the judiciary and Women in the Law UK will host a special Why Black Lives Matter webinar on 3 July
What can the Bar learn from crisis? Lockdown has forced the profession to experiment with the idea of mass working from home. We should identify and bank the benefits. But we must guard against the risks, too
By Joanna Hardy
The junior Bar - which makes by far the largest contribution to the diversity of the profession as a whole - is at risk of sinking as a result of lockdown. Ideas for how we can best use this time to redouble the Bar's diversity efforts
By Zoë Chapman and Francesca Kirby
The barrister shares his views on the biggest stress test of human rights laws since they were designed and his mission to convert ‘sceptical supporters’.
Interview by Charlotte Goodman
But not the usual quadrangle – a rounded route to the Bar, insights gained, and finding improv as a creative outlet outside the intense world of law. By Joel Semakula
During coronavirus, it is important to keep agile as a chambers and identify survival strategies – with a focus on financial resilience. By Julie Clarke
What to look out for when hiring a chambers’ director? After all, sets’ survival will depend on the quality of their management during this time – perhaps more so now than ever before
By Nick Rees
Remote hearings pose a particular challenge when considering the fair participation of vulnerable individuals
By Siân Smith
Finding solace in today’s pressurised world; a reflective cultural life and times
By Andrew Hillier QC
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