Practice Toolset

With a regulatory agenda driven by transparency and an increasingly competitive marketplace, customer service should be uppermost in barristers’ minds, writes Julie Clarke  

In January 2016, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market study into the provision of legal services in England and Wales across a range of legal areas – including immigration, family and employment – to see whether they are working effectively for individuals and small businesses.  

The Legal Education Foundation’s fellowship scheme for training social welfare lawyers is being extended to barristers. Matthew Smerdon explains why he hopes the fellows will become future leaders of the profession  

The Legal Education Foundation exists to help people better understand and use the law.  

As the new pupils settle in, Daniel Sokol offers his views on the challenges of pupillage  

Final-year medical students in the UK spend several weeks shadowing the most junior doctor in a hospital – the ‘F1’ – to get a sense of life as a doctor.  

Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC explains why the pupillage application timing has changed and outlines wider efforts to right wrongs of the old system  

For as long as I can remember, students applying for a university place in this country have had to go through a centralised scheme (now UCAS).  

Richard Atkins QC on why it’s never too late to diversify – particularly with a barrister’s skillset  

In 2011, at the second time of asking, I took Silk.  

Time for the Bar to rise to the equality challenge and find more effective ways for women to stay on in the profession, argues Fiona Jackson 

In July the Bar Standards Board (BSB) published Women at the Bar , a report of its survey of all practising female barristers on the implementation and effectiveness of the Equality Rules that came into force in 2012.  

Almost half of women at the Bar have encountered discrimination and over two-thirds have considered leaving. David Wurtzel analyses the survey findings  

We want the Bar to reflect the society it serves.  

With Bar wellbeing firmly centre stage, Mark Hatcher meets the preachers of the Inns to examine what they can offer to barristers – of all faiths and none  

‘The Bar can sometimes feel a lonely place,’ says Rachel Spearing, a criminal practitioner who has played a leading role in the Wellbeing at the Bar initiative.  

Evanna Fruithof outlines Brexit’s implications for barristers across practice area  

Three months on from the UK’s seismic EU Referendum result, and with the brief respite of summer behind us, defining and dealing with the implications of the pending Brexit for the Bar is a major priority.  

Nathalie Lieven QC provides an update on this year’s Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme  

This year marks the fourth round of the Pupillage Matched Funding Scheme.