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
Being a barrister is a tough, demanding and relentless career. We love the profession and love the ability to help people in their time of need, but who’s helping the helpers? asks Jamil Mohammed
How best to ensure neurodivergent clients are fully and fairly included in the justice system? Tristan Jones explains four ways to adapt your practice
There are vulnerable moments as well as vulnerable people, and hidden vulnerabilities as well as visible ones. So where to start? Research has revealed four guiding principles for advocates to keep in mind: Professor Penny Cooper, Professor Jessica Jacobson and Dr Camillia Kong explain more
The Bar loses too many talented barristers (usually women) to parenthood so the Bar Council is encouraging chambers to take positive action to help parents build a sustainable and thriving work-life balance: Sam Mercer explains more
Just being brilliant at the law is not enough, though it is a requirement: an insider guide to the interview part of the KC application process. By Sara Nathan OBE
Congratulations to the 95! With applications up but awards down, David Wurtzel's statistical deep dive into the competition gives an indication of who is likely to succeed, who does not get silk and why, among other trends
With the 2023 competition now open, Paul Secher provides some ‘do’s and don’ts’ when tackling the tricky written part of the application process
With huge gulfs in male/female earnings at the Bar now notorious, what is being done apart from restating the problem? Cue the Charter for Fairness, presented by Nicola Rushton KC and Yasmin Yasseri
What to expect (of parental leave) when you’re expecting? Saving parents-to-be from sifting through the multitude of information sources, barrister Emma Harris shares her findings
Anguilla
This appointment is intended to be transitioned to the first Director to lead an independent Department of Public Prosecution.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
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
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts