Your Bar

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2019 on 8 March 2019, over 200 delegates came together for the Western Circuit Women’s Forum’s (WCWF’s) first ever conference: ‘Women in Law: Support, Retention, Progression.’ The event was sponsored by 3PB Chambers, Albion Chambers, Anglia DNA, Brewin Dolphin, Class Legal, Devon Chambers, Magdalen Chambers, Place Campbell, Queen Square Chambers and Stowe Family Law LLP.

Barristers, solicitors, judges and students from across the South-West and beyond gathered at Armada House in Bristol, and listened to a range of inspirational speakers sharing their experiences and insights on how women in law can be supported in their careers. The WCWF is extremely grateful to His Honour Judge Wildblood, the Honourable Mrs Justice May DBE, the Right Honourable Thangam Debbonaire MP, Maggie Semple OBE FCGI, Sarah Langford, Alison Hawes (Burges Salmon), Mary Jackson (LawCare) and Kate Brunner QC for giving up their time to address the conference delegates. You can find a full conference write-up here.

In the lead-up to the conference, WCWF Steering Group members Carol Mashembo and Emma Cross co-ordinated an essay competition for university law students in Exeter, Plymouth and Bristol. They had an amazing response from the students of whom the overall winner was Nicole Hilton. Nicole is an LLB Law Student at the University of Bristol and was the lucky winner of an iPad kindly sponsored by Albion Chambers. You can find her amazing essay entry attached below. 

The first female president of the Supreme Court, Baroness Hale, a former member of the Northern Circuit, was the 2018 Women in The Law UK (WITLUK) guest speaker at the WITLUK annual dinner in Manchester, attended by 200 men and women from diverse backgrounds

Coinciding with 100 years since women got the right to vote and celebrating UN International Women’s Day, Baroness Hale spoke about the suffragettes and the difference they made, concluding by saying women can be anything they want to be. 

Next year’s dinner is already set for 14 March 2019 when it will be 100 years since women could practice law.

In the meantime WITLUK will be continuing with monthly professional development events which will have a special emphasis on wellbeing at the Bar. Sally Penni, founder of WITLUK, said: 'Our aim is to encourage professional development but also to encourage personal development and hence retention at the Bar, through collaboration not competition. Our male colleagues are welcome'.  Working with the CBA, they are also encouraging social mobility into the legal profession. 

Jess Campbell explains a landmark Court of Appeal Unit case and the importance of pro bono costs orders; updates on strategic funding opportunities; and shares current cases looking for counsel by area of law and Circuit

There are a multitude of reasons to undertake a pro bono case, but one that brings many junior barristers to our door is that Bar Pro Bono Unit cases offer the junior Bar an opportunity to take their first steps in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Ch-ch-changes: Jess Campbell reflects on a significant year for the Bar Pro Bono Unit; explains what the £30 initiative means to litigants in person; and sets out how volunteering fits so well with the wellbeing initiative

The close of a year is always a good time for reflection and the Bar Pro Bono Unit has much to reflect on from 2016. 

From fledging clearing house to today’s long-reach service embedded in Bar culture, Jess Campbell reflects on 20 years of pro bono within the profession

In 1995, when Peter Goldsmith QC was Chairman of the Bar, it became increasingly apparent how many people needed the legal services of barristers but were unable to afford them.