Going out on Circuit is always fascinating
Six silks share application insights to inspire those eyeing up a future competition. Interviews by Peter Purvis
Learning from its mistakes, disclosure is now ‘front and centre’ at the CPS and case file quality paramount, says the new DPP. Four months in, he has clear goals for the service while boosting internal morale and public trust
Long-time legal doyenne, the ground-breaker from Yorkshire has crossed cultures and been honoured in the ‘Vogue 25’ cast of inspiring leaders. Lady Hale discusses her career, parking self-doubt and the diversity challenge
From barrister to general counsel to LawTech CEO, the diversity mentor and First 100 Years Champion of the Year shares a slice of her working life
Without the input of 66% of the Bar and 85% of heads of chambers, how can we solve the problem of harassment? After all, the dividing line isn’t gender, it’s Harassers v Appalled. Male barristers share their views
Why is there almost no provision for R&D at the Bar? Are we even bothering to look for innovation? Surely we should be helping to incubate the happy little bluebirds of the future, invest in LawTech, and make survival a given
How to identify candidates with the best potential? Is diverse recruitment easier said than done? 20 Essex Street – the first chambers to use a contextual recruitment system – is experimenting with big data to find out
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