The Bar stands to gain by aligning its use of AI with improvements in access to justice and our working lives, write Harry Hodgkin and Stephen Ward
‘Every Day Gender Equality’ at Freshfields has changed culture, fostered allyship and triggered other initiatives. Chantelle Nicholas, Jenny Leahy and Rachel Brooks share its key points with the Bar
George Floyd would have been astonished to learn that his death had opened the eyes of UK financial and professional leaders to the inequities faced by Black professionals here. But what if he had asked, ‘Will it actually change anything?’ Harry Matovu KC, Laura Durrant and Olivia Roberts on the Black Talent Charter
A story of rejection, self-improvement and finding one’s forte in the process, by Olufemi Awodele
Why doing just enough on EDI is not enough: Chris Kelly highlights the benefits of best practice, and provides a refresher on the requirements
In 2022, the Racial Bias and the Bench report found evidence of institutional racism in the justice system and fundamental flaws in the Judicial Diversity Strategy. Change is coming and all judges and lawyers can help revitalise the rule of law by implementing RBB’s 10 anti-racist recommendations, say Keir Monteith KC and Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Fake news, revenge porn, ‘black mirror’ – and now deepfakes are making it into quite low-level court cases. How can lawyers prepare, what duties of care might be imposed, and how might courts deal with the deepfake era? By Professor Lilian Edwards
Uncomfortable as it is, every barrister is invited to read this report and to reflect on how things need to change. The experiences and views shared confidentially by Black barristers are powerful and very challenging, write Krista Lee KC, Gary Pryce and Brie Stevens-Hoare KC
This month ASPIRE – as part of its mission to improve the visibility and advancement of Black lawyers – hosted a performance of Just an Ordinary Lawyer, a moving retrospective of the life of Tunji Sowande, with a Q&A and networking. Report by Earl Pinnock and Thomas Schofield
The future of robotics in surgery is likely to hinge on what it enables – does the legal system yet have the tools to protect patients? Conor Dufficy and Finn Stevenson investigate
Salford Quays, Manchester
The role would suit an experienced qualified solicitor, barrister or Cilex qualified of between 3-8 years
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
The client’s best interests could be well-served by sharing the advocacy with junior counsel more often than you might think Naomi Cunningham and Charlotte Eves explore some less orthodox ways to divide the speaking role