Dear all
Any requests to include information for future Circuit News Updates - which will be sent to all members and judicial members of circuit (current and retired), pupils and chambers’ senior clerks for dissemination - should be sent to Clare Calder.
Please can you ensure requests are sent at least two weeks in advance so that we can keep Circuit emails to a minimum. Thank you.
Circuit events:
Northern Circuit v the Irish Bar hockey and rugby fixtures and mess – 9 May 2026
Venues:
(Fixtures) Broughton Park FC, 2 Houghend Crescent, Off Mauldeth Road West, Manchester, M21 7TL
(Mess) The Lowry Hotel, 50 Dearmans Place, Salford, Manchester, M3 5LH
The Northern Circuit is hosting the Irish Bar for the annual rugby and hockey fixtures. The rugby will kick off at approximately 11.00am and hockey will push back at approximately 2.00pm. Lunch for players and supporters will be laid on from approximately 1.00pm. There is a bar available on site that will be open all day. The games will be followed by a mess at The Lowry Hotel, 6.30pm for 7.15pm.
Please could all those wishing to play contact Holly Nelson (hockey) or Sam Watson (rugby). Please email them if you have any questions about the event.
Tickets can be booked at the following link . For those without access to the Northern Circuit Members’ Area, please contact Clare Calder. Tickets are priced at £50. Members under three years’ call pay only £25 and pupils are free.
Forthcoming valedictories:
An invitation is extended to all practitioners, judges, retired judges, and court staff who may wish to attend the forthcoming valedictories to mark the retirements of the following Judge:
HHJ Yvonne Coppel - 14 May 2026 at 4.30pm: Court 28, 3rd floor, Liverpool Civil and Family Court
DJ Ian Knifton - 10 July 2026 at Liverpool Civil and Family Court. Timings TBC
HHJ Graham Wood KC, Designated Civil Judge for Cheshire and Merseyside – 23 July 2026 at 9.30am: Court 26, Liverpool Civil and Family Court
Northern Circuit Advocacy Committee International Expert Witness Training Weekend – 15 to 17 May 2026
Venue: Lancaster House Hotel, Green Ln, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4GJ
Places have been advertised off Circuit and a few are still available on a first come first served basis until close of business Friday 17th April. Click here for further details of the course and costs. The event is open to non-members.
For all bookings for mess and the expert witness training weekend, please can members use the members area via the website. Retired or non-members should contact Clare Calder.
Liverpool Crown Court visit – 20 May 2026
Venue: QEII, Liverpool
Kate Green, the Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester will be visiting the QEII. She will be accompanied by members of her office and the Bar Council are also attending. They will be in the robing room in the morning before Court starts to speak to barristers directly and find out more information about jury trials. Please attend if you are able to do so to ensure our Northern Circuit politicians are properly informed.
Pupil Supervisor Training - 21 May 2026
Venue: By Zoom
This course is for first time pupil supervisors and those who require refresher training. Members should book on here and non-members should contact Clare.
*Save the date*
Pupillage Fair North 2026 – 21 November 2026
This year the Pupillage Fair North will be taking place at Leeds Becket Law School - please see poster. This is an important event on the Circuit calendar. It will be the third such event which is organised in conjunction with the North Eastern Circuit and is an excellent opportunity to showcase the Northern Circuit. All chambers on the Northern Circuit will be expected to take a stand and I would be very grateful if Heads of Chambers and Chambers Administrators could start planning now about how to ensure that as many of our wonderful Northern Circuit-trained former pupils as possible will be available on the day to speak to students and extol the virtues of life on the Northern Circuit. If any members of Circuit would be willing to be involved in a CV workshop or deliver a talk, I would be very grateful.
Mess - Trinity Term
Please see Mess calendar here. Bookings are now available. Members and judiciary to use this link to book on. Non-members should contact Clare.
Preston Combined Mess – 28 May 2026
Carlisle Combined Mess – 11 June 2026
Manchester Combined Mess – 25 June 2026
Liverpool Combined Mess – 16 July 2026
*Applications for Circuit Junior*
Applications will soon open for the next Circuit Junior (who will hold office for the Michaelmas and Hilary Terms). This role is open to Manchester & Preston Practitioners between 2-6 years post completion of pupillage on 16th July 2026. Applicants must have already been elected to Circuit, and will need to be able to attend the two Combined Mess (Special Court) this term on 25th June 2026 (Manchester) and 16th July 2026 (Liverpool) in order to be sworn in.
Further details of the application process and deadlines will be published in due course so please keep an eye on your emails.
Other events:
Common Law Rights Conference – 22 April 2026 2.00pm to 4.30pm
Please see the Eventbrite page link for the free Conference with Lord Mance, Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill and others being held at the Kanaris Centre, Manchester Museum.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/common-law-rights-the-magna-carta-workshop-tickets-1985936858604?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
Informal farewell drinks for HH Smith - 24 April 2026 4.30pm to 7.00pm
Venue: Cornmarket Pub, Old Ropery, Liverpool L2 7NT
All are welcome to join Sophie in remembering her lovely dad, Adrian. Please RSVP to reception@hundredcourt.co.uk by 20th April so Sophie can take stock of numbers.
YJLC Essential Training for Junior Lawyers - 27 June 2026
Venue: The Bar Council, 289-293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HZ
Purchase your tickets here.
Bar Placement Scheme – 13 to 16 July 2026
The Bar Council's Bar Placement Scheme has been launched for this year.
This scheme offers Years 12–13 students and first-year undergraduates a valuable insight into life at the Bar through a 4-day placement (Monday 13 July 2026 - Thursday 16 July 2026). It is an important initiative that helps widen access to the profession and supporting students to build confidence. By taking part, you will play a vital role in promoting diversity and social mobility at the Bar, and in inspiring the next generation of barristers.
You can also read a blog by the 2025 Bar Placement Scheme Blog competition winner, Meerab Basit, to understand how the scheme impacted her experience and aspirations.
We encourage you to register your interest by completing the form at the bottom of this page: Bar Placement Scheme – Register Interest
Deadline: Friday 8 May Enquiries: bps@barcouncil.org.uk
Tickets for the following events remain available
For information about booking, please follow the links in previous Circuit Updates
Mark George KC Memorial Lecture – 21 April 2026 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Venue: University of Manchester, Roscoe Building Theatre B
Bereavement service for children training event – 2 July 2026
Venue: Manchester Civil Justice Centre
Manchester Legal Walk – 4 July 2026
Venue: Manchester/Salford Quays
Other updates:
Research
Stella Kuit, a former Immigration Solicitor at Broudie Jackson and Canter is undertaking an MSC in Psychology and Wellbeing and is seeking professionals to assist in research. This will involve a survey and interview. The research is focussed on identifying how legal professionals recognise and conceptualise psychological vulnerabilities in their clients and how this might impact on their own wellbeing. She is keen for those working in crime, family, COP and immigration to participate. If you wish to do so, please click on the survey link: https://dcusurveys.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81HwTZsxsuR4GkC?Q_CHL=qr
Professional Development for young professionals
Liverpool Law Society are launching the first session in a new foundation series designed for young professionals in their first five years across Professional Business Services. The Foundations series offers an engaging programme focused on developing the core professional skills and soft‑skill capabilities needed to succeed early in a career.
The first session takes place on 4 June 2026 at DWF offices in Liverpool from 4.00pm to 6.00pm. The event will explore the value of showing up, connecting face to face, and building meaningful relationships within organisations and across the wider professional community. This session will be chaired by Sarah Mir, DWF Liverpool Managing Partner, and James Mannouch, Immediate Past President of Liverpool Law Society and Supervising Solicitor & Pro Bono Coordinator at The University of Law. The session will also feature a panel of business‑services experts sharing practical insights and real‑world experience.
Attendees will also have dedicated networking time to meet new people, share experiences, and expand their professional circle in a relaxed environment.
Please see the link for more information: https://www.liverpoollawsociety.org.uk/training-courses/management/successful-careers-are-built-through-in%e2%80%91person-collaboration/
Community
I trust you have all had a restful and enjoyable Spring break.
We have been told of the sad news that Roger Lowe, a former member of 15 Winckley Square, died on 9 April 2026. Roger had not practised for some years, having suffered catastrophic injuries in a road traffic accident in 1988. The Circuit’s thoughts are with his friends and family. I would be grateful if any former colleagues of Roger could contact me to assist me to put together a fitting tribute for him to be circulated in due course.
The Courts and Tribunals Bill is currently with the Public Bill Committee undertaking clause-by-clause scrutiny. I am always keen to hear the views of criminal practitioners to feed back to the Bar Council and CBA. In the meantime, I will keep you all updated about developments.
We are heading into a what I hope will feel like a shorter term compared to the last.
Look after yourselves and keep an eye out for In Brief, which will be hitting the newsstands shortly.
As ever, please feel free to get in touch with me if there are any matters of which you think I should be made aware.
My very best wishes to you all
Sam Hillas KC
Leader of the Northern Circuit