QC

Lucy Perman explains the work of theatre company Clean Break. 

Clean Break uses theatre to change the lives of women offenders. We were founded 33 years ago by two women in prison at HMP Askham Grange in Yorkshire and today we have grown to become a critically acclaimed theatre company, commissioning and producing plays by some of the UK’s best female playwrights on the theme of women, crime and justice; and providing high-quality theatre-based courses, qualifications, training opportunities and specialist support which are critical for the rehabilitation of women offenders. 

Job title : Silk, Guildhall Chambers, Bristol

Christopher Quinlan QC practises from Guildhall Chambers, Bristol as a member of the Sports Law team. Guildhall Chambers was recently voted “Chambers of the Year” by Legal Week. Its 73 members (including 7 silks) offer expertise from within specialist teams also covering crime, commercial, employment, insolvency, personal injury & clinical negligence and property.

Job title - Silk, Old Square Chambers

Old Square Chambers specialises in employment and personal injury law. It is also known for its expertise in clinical negligence, health & safety, environmental, professional discipline, product liability and public inquiries. It has 11 QCs and over 50 other members based in London or Bristol 

Job title
Silk, One Essex Court

One Essex Court specialises in all forms of commercial litigation. Its work embraces all aspects of domestic and international trade, commerce and finance. Its members provide specialist advice and advocacy services worldwide, which include all areas of dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration. Members of Chambers also regularly accept nominations as arbitrators, mediators and experts

Job titles
Head of Chambers and Silk 2KBW

2KBW is primarily a criminal set of chambers with a Western Circuit heritage. Increasingly members are working in other areas particularly London, the South East and the Midlands including a significant group of civil practitioners, dealing with general common law as well as some more specialised areas of civil law.

Response to Government announcement on Jackson; the Norgrove Review; criminal legal aid update; inaugural Bar Debate; and a clutch of new Silks.

We now have the Government response to the consultation on implementation of the Jackson reforms. It will have caused dismay to many. In large measure it intends to adopt all of the proposals. 

Profession

A total of 120 Queen’s Counsel have been appointed in  the 2011 Silk round, 48 per cent of those who applied.Three chambers gained four new QCs apiece — Maitland Chambers, Thirty-Nine Essex Street and No5 Chambers.

Job title
Head of Chambers, 12 Gray's Inn Square

Qualifications
Admitted as a Solicitor in 1966. Appointed Silk 1997

CV
Chosen as one of the UK's "go to people" for international arbitration and was involved in the drafting of the 1996 Arbitration Act.  12 Gray's Inn Square starts practising as of 15 April and is one of the first examples of an alternative business structure (ABS) at the Bar.  

Legal training

All criminal advocates, including QCs, will be subject to compulsory re-accreditation every five years, the Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) has confirmed.
JAG has published its analysis of responses to its proposals for the scheme, which is due to begin in July. Some respondents had argued against re-accreditation on the basis it was cumbersome and unnecessary.

David Wurtzel talks to Peter Moffat, the screenwriter of the new BBC series Silk.  

Had he remained at the Bar, Peter Moffat at 48 might now be considering an application for Silk. Instead the BBC is screening his six-part series called Silk, about two 30-something barristers who have reached that turning point in their careers. Moffat is probably the most prolific screenwriter of criminal justice dramas and has two BAFTAs to attest to his success.