An abysmal mess? What our prisons tell us about our country today – by Nick Hardwick
How a commercial and chancery silk became a criminal law historian of the most famous courtroom in Britain. David Etherington QC (DE) interviews Thomas Grant QC (TG)
Wellbeing at the Bar Leaders report on a year past and present – plus news of the 2020 survey to take stock of six years’ wellbeing progress
What’s the most voiced complaint about litigators, the Bar in particular, going into mediation? Some best practice points emerged from the recent Civil Mediation Council Conference – writes Rawdon Crozier
With radical recommendations for ‘fair, distinct and devolved’ justice, the Thomas Report should be required reading for anyone interested in Wales and the state of its justice system – writes David Hughes
Passing the Brief returns as Keina Yoshida (pictured right), a rising star in the new generation of legal aid lawyers, is grilled by interviewee turned interviewer Marcia Willis Stewart QC
Quickfire Q&As with this year’s winners in the prestigious awards, introduced by Mary Dobson
Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not: why equitable briefing is the most pressing practice issue for the Bar in 2020 – writes Lucy Barbet
A five-part series for the BBC presented by Chris Daw QC and Ayesha Nayyar (aired January 2020)
Reviewed by Aadhithya Anbahan
A judge’s journey: Lord Dyson, recently returned to the thrill of hearing live evidence, lifts the lid on life as Master of the Rolls and his forthright views on current political and judicial controversies. Interview by Patrick O'Connor 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