The ups and downs of working at the frontline of pro bono by Advocate’s Head of Casework
Fault-based divorce law has long been felt to aggravate family conflict and the significant publicity generated by Owens v Owens has forced the government to consider the issue again. A look at the proposed reforms
Now that the joys of dry January are gone, how are you feeling about your drinking? A barrister’s frank account
Legal professionals face potentially traumatic events every day. This year’s Wellness Forum on 21 June turns to the military, police, medical services and CPS to learn how we can better manage the risks we face at the Bar
Feeling sluggish in the practice department? Dust off your profile and learn how to stand out from the crowd with this refresher guide. By Deborah Bryan
Social media regulation, free speech and the rule of law: democratic legislatures are scrambling to regulate and the government’s white paper on online harm needs careful scrutiny
Dermod O’Brien QC showed that it was more than just unfair to deny judicial part-timers pensions, it was unlawful. After 14 years against judicial head winds his arguments prevailed
Worth the wait or too little too late? The review is frank, wide-ranging and lengthy but the action plan has little to offer family justice, law and practice
An unconventional yet holistic route to the Bar for the Justice First Fellow at the Public Law Project and a meaningful use of law
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