Counsel Magazine

Now a year and a half into his dream job, the Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson talks to Anthony Inglese CB about his ‘whole-system’ approach to reducing delays and working with the criminal Bar 

Is it too much to ask to be paid for work done? An anonymous legal aid barrister discusses the impact of waiting for money that is owed 

Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more 

Reflecting over the last 30 years, and looking forward, criminal barrister Louise McCullough identifies the shaping influences and motivation in her personal – and professional – development

Four-fifths of the Executive team at the Government Legal Department are women. For International Women’s Day, the leadership team talks to Counsel  about the cultural change needed to achieve high-level female representation 

Julie Ahadi responds to thought-provoking feedback on the use of AI in pupillage and explains why we should all be role-playing how the Bar might be affected 

In the first of a new King’s Counsel Selection Panel series, Monisha Shah looks at Competency D: Diversity Action & Understanding – and the many inspiring ways to demonstrate it 

Not all mistakes and not all risks are created equal; we need to be more discerning about how and where we spend mental energy, suggests Matthew Richardson 

If reputation is the traditional currency of counsel, personal branding is crypto, says Anna Yarde 

Sarah Lucy Cooper discusses the ins and outs of taking sick leave as a self-employed barrister. In the first of a two-part series: what you need to think about, how to communicate it and being realistic about recuperation

Reduction of jury rights will inevitably lead to more miscarriages of justice, says Matt Foot of APPEAL in response to the Leveson Review 

Animal sexual abuse is a distressing and taboo subject. Yet, write Christina Warner and Maya Badham, this hidden crisis, where legal, ethical and psychological factors converge, requires frank discussion

Susan Grocott KC reports on the realities of interpreting and translation services in the courts, drawing on Bar Council Legal Services Committee evidence to the recent House of Lords Public Services Committee inquiry

HHJ Emma Nott looks again at work allocation and receipts at the publicly funded Bar to see if any of the measures put in place since she started reporting seven years ago, are working

Maya Sikand KC and Janey Starling, co-authors of a new toolkit, Representing pregnant women and mothers in the criminal justice system, believe that advocates can play a critical role in ensuring that sentencers get it right

A cultural life and times

Martin Shaw was born to play this part. Review by Daniel Barnett

Jake Ellis and Christopher Rowe are fundraising for Advocate

Getting away from it all. By William Byfield*

Review by David Langwallner

Heidi Stonecliffe KC, Chair of the Employed Barristers’ Committee for 2024, reflects on her year at the helm and progress made in implementing the Life at the Employed Bar Report 2023 recommendations 

And the winner is… the Bar Council introduces the barristers honoured in the 2024 awards celebrating the achievements of the employed Bar 

David Fardy outlines what to expect, what you will learn, and what you can gain from a pupillage at the employed Bar 

Heidi Stonecliffe KC talks frankly about her route to silk and why, as Chair of the Employed Barristers’ Committee for 2024, she wants to see greater visibility, progression and recognition for employed barristers 

From a CPS pupillage to Director of Legal Services at one of the largest prosecutors in England and Wales – Michael Jennings describes the interesting and varied life an employed barrister in public service can lead 

Senior barristers reflect on the progress made since the publication of Race at the Bar: A Snapshot Report  in 2021, as well as the persistent challenges and cultural shifts still needed. Interviews by Mariam Diaby 

From a traumatic formative education to exceptional criminal silk – Laurie-Anne Power KC talks about her path to the Bar, pursuit of equality and speaking out against discrimination (not just during Black History Month)

Following the Lincoln’s Inn EDI Forum in Leeds, Glenn Parsons considers the tools required to increase diversity at the Bar – now and in the future

Championing underrepresented talent, 10K Black Interns 2024 is open for applications. Mentee Tendai Chiguvare and mentor Anna Walsh share their experience of the summer internship scheme at the Bar 

Bibi Badejo reports from a packed Inns of Court Women’s Alliance event examining the experiences of Black women barristers and imparting crucial advice for Black women navigating the legal profession 

Julie Ahadi responds to thought-provoking feedback on the use of AI in pupillage and explains why we should all be role-playing how the Bar might be affected 

As the government unleashes AI, Iain Quirk KC looks at the growth of online dispute resolution platforms and the role of lawyers in harnessing AI for the benefit of justice

Julie Ahadi on the shift from theory to implementation, spoils to be had, and converting the trepidatious barrister 

Irresponsible use of AI can lead to serious and embarrassing consequences. Sam Thomas briefs barristers on the five key risks and how to avoid them

How to cross-examine your Gen AI tools and interrogate the outputs? Sally McLaren’s tips for using AI safely in legal research 

The mentoring scheme for underrepresented applicants to the Commercial Bar – apply by the extended deadline of Friday 18 October 2024 for the 2024-25 cycle 

The Bar Council crunches the data to tell the real story of who gets pupillage... and when 

Newly minted Bar graduates compete at a ratio of 300:1 for a golden ticket to Wonka’s Criminal Justice Factory. The Secret Barrister explains why…

The Bar Standards Board on what you need to know about training to become a barrister in England and Wales

Laurence Cooper explores the high-stakes world of choosing a Bar training course provider