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In defence of rights: Shami Chakrabarti

It’s a difficult moment for human rights, no question, argues Shadow Attorney General Baroness Chakrabarti. The ardent defender of human rights and civil liberties muses on Brexit’s impact, lawyers’ responsibilities and issues ahead

You’ve made it to the Bar – spread your wings, trust in your abilities and be your authentic self; candid advice on how to beat imposter syndrome and enrich life and practice

Don’t let solicitors steal a march on the Bar. The time is ripe to monetise your knowledge, consolidate your reputation and start up your inner tech entrepreneur

Making the move to partnership

Enthusiastically embraced by the young Bar for some years, now those more established in their careers are responding to opportunities the employed Bar can offer. Where to start? Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate the process

What the Bar can learn from... … The masters of influence

What is it that brilliant influencers do to get people on their side? Try adopting techniques from the world of sales to read client personalities, influence decisions and get more – and better – briefs

What to do if a grateful client offers you a holiday on their superyacht? A guide to your professional obligations

The learning curve: DPP Max Hill QC

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

Equal to everything: Lady Hale

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

Day in the life... Nilema Bhakta-Jones

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

Tackling judicial bullying: new guidance

Barristers should not have to ‘tough it out’ against judicial bullying, the Bar Council and Senior Presiding Judge, Lady Justice Macur, have pledged in new guidance for the profession.

‘If you make a genuine and well-founded complaint, and do so in a responsible way, then you will have our full backing, as leaders, in doing so.’

Recognising that judges are also working under significant pressures and that all incidents must be judged in context, the guidance says that bullying behaviour can include personal abuse, sarcasm, contemptuousness, unreasonable demands, relentless criticism, intemperate language, demeaning behaviour or comments designed to embarrass, humiliate or question counsel’s competence or professionalism.

‘However small the number of occasions when judicial bullying occurs, it is always unacceptable,’ the Bar Council said. ‘We need to be able to discuss this without fear of being seen as weak or incompetent. Bullying can and does happen to the strongest and best of us. We must continue to talk about it, and to be proactive in raising concerns.’

Barristers are encouraged, if possible, to take immediate action: ‘A timely response, if it can be given, may be more effective both in addressing the incident itself and in helping the judge to understand the impact.’

New ways of reporting are being developed to help overcome the understandable reluctance to register complaints, given the potential impact on client’s case and a barrister’s career. The confidential helpline is: 020 7611 1426.

The guidance is timely. The Criminal Bar Association has been cataloguing the demoralising experiences of junior – particularly women – advocates in court which, amongst the broader issues of fees and working conditions, are driving many away from the profession. ‘I don’t think I have ever been shouted at like I was by that judge… completely unacceptable... he acted like a toddler. I have decided to leave the Bar for the time being, a big part of my decision to go is the life I am leading as a very junior criminal barrister,’ said one CBA member.

The issue of judicial bullying was courageously outed in 2017 by @MAM12CP, @Familoo and @mcgrathauthor. Jo Delahunty QC raised the profile in her Gresham lecture ‘A Day in the Life of a Judge’ and an article for Counsel (March 2018).

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