John McNamara on the silvering of the profession, tumbling fees and deleterious listing practices: as the number of young barristers falls year on year, the CBA Young Bar Committee has been set up to tackle the biggest issues affecting retention
Screen-free days, quality sleep, and other non-negotiables – ideas for making our working lives better this year
By Victoria Wilson
What are the key concerns of incoming pupils during the pandemic and how are they coping? Advice for chambers, the 2020 cohort and prospective pupils
By Adiba Bassam and Shina Animashaun
All relationships take work, not least those between chambers and solicitors. Danny Chapman shares some practice-enhancing tips (and food for thought for your next practice review) for new business generation and client retention
How the more enterprising barristers are promoting themselves; a five-pronged plan
By Atalanta Goulandris
If you are at a career crossroads and do not know what to do next – try a secondment. More than a detour, it can help you diversify, balance work/life and gain long-term clients
By Sunyana Sharma
A revolving door in the best sense, moving between the self-employed and employed Bar is relatively easy: for those considering leaving the profession, a taste of the in-house life may give cause for thought
By Anthony Eskander
With pandemic-related fraud on the rise, Christopher Convey explains how barristers should maintain vigilance against anyone seeking to launder criminal funds or channel monies towards terrorist activity
For faster, smarter courts, the distinction between old and new is no longer between paper and PDF, or even between PDF and cloud-based document management systems. The distinction now lies in our approach to the latter, argues Paul Sachs
Unions aren’t an obvious port of call for those at the Bar seeking inspiration for how to widen access and develop talent but we have a number of challenges in common, writes Ijeoma Omambala QC
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