The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Sisterhood is vital in a profession as demanding, and often as solitary, as the Bar, says Ruth Reid. So if you are not currently supporting a junior colleague or aspiring lawyer, please consider becoming a mentor today...
Networks such as Women in Family Law are as instrumental to wellbeing as career advancement. Without comparable men’s groups, where do male barristers turn for support? Hannah Markham KC and George Harley on finding community
This year’s IWD theme resonates deeply at the Bar. Pupillage recruitment, for example, is undoubtedly a burden yet members of chambers continue to volunteer their time. Altruistic or strategic? Elizabeth Hodgson investigates
Kindness Ambassadors – coming to a courtroom near you! Valerie Charbit, Nicola Shannon KC and Professor Robin Banerjee update readers on the second phase of the project examining, and promoting, the impact of kindness and how it can fit into an adversarial system
In the wake of the Harman Review, many chambers are asking what practical steps they should take now. Joanna Chatterton and David Murphy suggest how the recommendations can be weaved into the daily life of a modern set – in a credible, proportionate and effective way
The Harman Report found judicial bullying to be a real and significant problem. As the judiciary starts the journey of recognising and addressing misconduct on the bench, Saara Idelbi suggests some ways to respond in the moment – with the aim of preserving mutual respect in the courtroom
With at least 31 reports of AI hallucinations in UK legal cases – over 800 worldwide – and judges using AI to assist in judicial decision-making, the risks and benefits are impossible to ignore. Matthew Lee examines how different jurisdictions are responding
What has changed, and why? Paul Secher unpacks the new standards aligning the recruiting, training and appraising of judges – the first major change to the system for ten years
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Update from the Chair of the Bar
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the role of cut-off levels, and the wider range of factors that must be considered when interpreting results for family court proceedings
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
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
The case against judge-only justice and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Seeing the full picture Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base