Counsel Magazine

This from @Geoffrey_Cox was titanic - a truly beautiful speech. He outshone those sat opposite. They could only watch. And nervously laugh. This should be seen by every new MP to understand what they do, & every new barrister to understand what we do.

96 new King’s Counsel announced today. See the list tinyurl.com/yc8njt86. Overall success rate 29.5% (out of 325): 67 men (28% success rate), 29 women (34% success rate), 11 declared ethnic origin other than white (21% success rate), 4 declared a disability (22% success rate).

*SPONSORED POST* @AlphaBioLabs is delighted to share its first Giving Back charity winner of 2026 - @TheChristie will receive a £500 donation to support @TheChristieNHS vital work for cancer patients & their families. Learn more at bit.ly/4qU0WpD

On Friday:

Protecting the legal profession from attacks that threaten their ability to carry out their professional duties is becoming increasingly important. We speak to @CounselMagazine . ow.ly/Fy4E50XFzy5

Leader of the Wales and Chester Circuit Caroline Rees KC explains the changes the government should be making to our criminal courts, instead of restricting the right to jury trial⬇️ #JusticeNeedsJuries @WandCcircuit

Justice needs juries. Write to your MP to oppose the restriction of jury trials. Download the template ➡️ bit.ly/4pnfz4o #JusticeNeedsJuries #WriteToYourMP

Bar leaders’ statement on government’s response to the Leveson review of criminal courts We fundamentally disagree with the government’s plan to restrict the deeply entrenched constitutional principle of a jury trial. The government faces two problems: bearing on the backlog and ensuring we’re never in this position again. We support efforts to do that but have seen no evidence that curtailing jury trials will solve either problem. We do not see how restricting jury trials will have an impact on the existing backlog. The government itself acknowledged on numerous occasions this week that this proposal will not make a difference any time soon. It hinges on Sir Brian Leveson’s recommendation which has not been piloted or thoroughly modelled. Crown Courts such as Liverpool have shown that efficiencies and investment of time and resources do make a difference. In Wales, there’s no meaningful backlog due to close and effective co-operation between the Bench and Bar. All the efficiencies we suggested in January – including different case management and defendant delivery time, that have also been recommended by Sir Brian Leveson – do not require legislation. We know they work and would have an impact now. Resources need to be focused on rebuilding the system and allowing other measures to embed. Criminal trials being decided by a single judge goes further than the recommendation by Sir Brian which recognised the importance of judgement by peers. The Lord Chancellor’s own 2017 report made plain that juries are free from bias and provide diversity. This draconian approach undermines such a well-founded sentiment and attacks a constitutional freedom namely, trial by jury. Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC, Vice Chair of the Bar Council Riel Karmy-Jones KC, Chair of the Criminal Bar Association Andrew Thomas KC, Vice Chair of the Criminal Bar Association Claire Davies KC, Leader of the South Eastern Circuit Jaime Hamilton KC, Leader of the Northern Circuit Sarah Jones KC, Leader of the Western Circuit Jason Pitter KC, Leader of the North Eastern Circuit Caroline Rees KC, Leader of the Wales and Chester Circuit Harpreet Sandhu KC, Leader of the Midland Circuit Lachlan Stewart, Chair of the Bar Council Young Barristers’ Committee @Kirsty_Brimelow @TheCriminalBar @NECircuitleader @ne_circuit @SECircuit @CircuitNorth @WandCcircuit @midland_circuit @YoungBarristers

Marking the 25th anniversary of Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, we present ‘Is Shakespeare Funny? - The Trial of Shakespeare’. Join us for a special, one-off fundraising evening on 8 December at the Criterion Theatre. 🎟️ Book your ticket: criterion-theatre.co.uk/thetrialofshak…

A new @YouGov poll shows that among people who have served on a jury, 60% report feeling more positive about the justice system after their experience.

The Leveson Review Have you completed the survey? Calling all Criminal Barristers. We need your say so we can have a greater collective voice. The deadline for responses is 10am Wednesday 23 July. We are grateful for your time.

Cracking article from our @PBIUK's Coordinating Ambassador Steve Cragg KC in @CounselMagazine: "When those who champion human rights become targets themselves, how do we protect them?"

We're hosting a joint LGBTQ+ Pride event - Pride in Practice - with the Law Society and all 4 Inns to mark our continued commitment to inclusivity, visibility and unity across the legal world. Join us on 26 June to hear from leaders in the legal profession and a special performance by the Pink Singers, Europe’s longest-running LGBTQ+ choir. ⏰ Book your ticket by Tuesday 17 June⤵️ bit.ly/43VcHlJ

We welcome the overall settlement for justice in the Spending Review. Read our full statement ➡️ barcouncil.org.uk/resource/spend…

*SPONSORED POST* National Crime Agency is seeking exceptional lawyers including barristers to join its in-house Legal Dept: tinyurl.com/3m8wpmwj. Apps close 11:55pm 16 June. See also day in the life at tinyurl.com/4k6hrkyw and vetting demystified at tinyurl.com/yphwudu8

*SPONSORED POST* Join @alphabiolabs for their next FREE webinar, The Right Test at the Right Time: drug & alcohol testing for every scenario. 17 June, 1pm | 19 June, 9am Register now: alphabiolabs.co.uk/learning-centr…

June issue now free to view... Sir Max Hill KCB KC on career agility through practice diversity; the future of war crimes justice; a rallying cry for RASSO counsel; disability – the latest frontier at the Bar? & much more at: tinyurl.com/3f3m64ej

We are partnering with Tinies West Midlands to offer you free childcare at this year’s Bar Conference. Exclusive for Bar Conference attendees - Tinies West Midlands are also offering 20% off babysitting services booked on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 June if you're also joining us for the Bar mess. Find out more and book your Bar Conference 2025 ticket: barcouncil.org.uk/training-event…

Lincoln’s Inn has historically had a v large number of students from Commonwealth countries who intend to and do return there for vocational training and go into practice, with the prestige qualification of call to the English Bar. This story is misleading spin on the statistics

In response to some recent idiocy: NEW BLOGPOST: No, the Inns of Court are not biased against white barristers thesecretbarrister.com/2025/05/18/no-…