Bon Vivant

The art of writing a good reference  

‘A critic should be taught to criticise a work of art without making any reference to the personality of the author.’ – Oscar Wilde 

Inspired by Chaucer’s great poem and calling for an end to indefinite detention, this year’s Refugee Tales embarks from Runnymede. Join all or part of an uplifting journey, writes Josephine Henderson  

The Chairman’s Column on indefinite immigration detention in the March issue of Counsel  sparked huge interest, and readers may also be interested to know about a walk from Runnymede to Westminster from 1 to 5 July 2017.  

Rachel Spearing introduces the UK’s first Wellness for Law Forum  

March saw the launch of a new initiative to support ongoing work to improve health and wellbeing at the Bar.  

When should clients feel satisfied with our services?  

‘You’ve got to keep reinventing. You’ll have new competitors. You’ll have new customers all around you’ – Ginni Rometty 

A fresh coat of paint reveals uncared for buildings 

'The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining'  – John F Kennedy 

A new selection of paintings of the London skyline is currently brightening up the walls of the Rolls Building in Fetter Lane.  

If you put a man in harm’s way then realise you made a mistake, shouldn’t you at least try to make amends? 100 years on, David Hewitt examines the case of Joseph Blackburn who didn’t want to go to war and fought only because a military tribunal forced him to  

During the Great War, the task of deciding whether men must fight or could be given exemption was usually performed by a local tribunal.  

Teatro Technis, London, 11-22 January
Written and performed by Tayo Aluko, with live piano accompaniment. Directed by Amanda Huxtable. Designed by Emma Williams  

Bar Musical Society, Middle Temple Hall, November 2016  

It has been a fine tradition of the Middle Temple to put on a concert for children towards Christmas every year.  

Dermot Feenan explores the place of compassion in legal practice  

The Family Law Bar Association obituary of Sir Nicholas Wall, formerly President of the Family Division, stated Sir Nicholas was a compassionate judge who ‘thought and cared deeply about the outcome of his cases’ – a reminder that justice and compassion are not seen to be necessarily incompatible. There are many reasons why compassion has a role to play in practice.