Resources

Birkenhead Lecture

The annual Birkenhead Lecture is delivered by an eminent member of the Inn each Autumn. The first Earl of Birkenhead, Frederick Edwin Smith GCSI, PC, KC was was a renowned  debater, barrister and parliamentary performer.  

• Watch the Birkenhead Lecture XIII
  Lecture on the 75th anniversary of the start of the Nuremberg War trials 
  Delivered by Sir Christopher John Greenwood GBE CMG QC on 16 November 2020
• Read the Birkenhead Lecture XI (PDF) 
  'The Road to Tyranny: The Continuing Legal Legacy and Lessons of Nazi Germany' 
  Delivered by The Right Honourable Sir Terence Etherton, Master of The Rolls and Bencher of the Inn on 30 October 2018

Graya News Articles

The following articles are taken from Graya News and are aimed at students, pupils and barristers new to practise. They are written by highly experienced practitioners and offer concise, practical guidance on some of the fundamentals of advocacy.

Advocacy

• 'Advocacy before the QB Masters' (PDF) by Master David Cook - Number 29 (Autumn 2017)

Exam Preparation

• 'The Professional Ethics Exam' (PDF) by Ruth Kennedy, Jack Williams and Natalie Bird - Number 26 (2016)

Skeleton Arguments

• 'Written Advocacy and Arguing Points of Law' (PDF) by Master Desmond Browne QC - Number 9 (Autumn 2007) 

Mooting and Submissions

• 'How to Moot: Preparation and Performance' (PDF) by James Ballance - Number 13 (Autumn 2009)
• 'Much Mooting in the Inn' (PDF) by Master Mark Hedley - Number 17 (Autumn 2011)
• 'Do’s and Don'ts of Mooting' (PDF) by Master Duncan Ouseley - Number 11 (Autumn 2008)

Criminal Cases

• 'The Plea in Mitigation in the Crown Court' (PDF) by Master David Barnard - Number 23 (Autumn 2014)
• 'Leading by Example - Criminal Cases' (PDF) by Master David Barnard - Number 24 (Summer 2015)
• 'Cross-examination in the Crown Court' (PDF) by Master Roger Chapple - Number 25 (Autumn 2015)
• 'Winning in the Crown Court' (PDF) by Master Edmund Lawson QC - Number 3 (Autumn 2004)

Civil Litigation

• 'Leading by Example - Civil Cases' (PDF) by Dan Dovar - Number 24 (Summer 2015)
• 'Winning ways in the County Court' (PDF) by Master Charles Welchman - Number 2 (Spring 2004)

Gray's Inn Readings

The Gray's Inn Readings are annual lectures delivered by Britain's leading legal professionals, held in partnership with Gresham College.

• 'Complexity and the Law' by the Rt Hon Lord Justice Haddon-Cave (2021)
  Watch the video recording
  Read the transcript (PDF)
• 'De-radicalisation – illusion or reality' by Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE, QC, FRSA (2020)
  Watch the live-stream recording from Gresham College
  Read the transcript (PDF)

• ​'Striking the Balance Between Common Sense and Legal Reasoning' by Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore PC QC (2019)
• 'The Rule of Law: Good for the Economy' by Professor Sir Ross Cranston FBA (2018) 
• 'The Great Divorce: Brexit and the Law' by Baroness Helena Kennedy of The Shaws QC (2017)
• 'Judicial Leadership' (PDF) by Sir Peter Gross (2016)
• 'Civil Litigation: Should the rules be simpler?' (PDF) by The Rt Hon Lord Justice Stephen Richards (2015)
• 'Religion, the Rule of Law and Discrimination' (PDF) by The Rt Hon Sir Terence Etherton (2014)
• 'The Privatisation of Law: Has a World Court finally been created by modern international arbitration?' (PDF) by The Rt Hon The Lord Goldsmith QC (2013)
• 'Privacy and Publicity in Family Law: Their Eternal Tension' (PDF) by Sir Nicholas Wall (2012)
• 'Beanstalk or Living Instrument? How tall can the European Convention on Human Rights Grow?' (PDF) by The Rt Hon the Baroness Hale DBE (2011)
• 'The Creation of the Supreme Court - was it worth it?' (PDF) by The Rt Hon the Lord Hope of Craighead (2010)
• 'Sisters-in-Law: The Irresistible Rise of Women in Wigs' (PDF) by The Hon Michael Beloff QC (2009)
• 'Terrorism: Cold Law or Bad Law?' (PDF) by Lord Carlile of Berriew QC (2008)
• 'Access to Justice: Keeping the Doors Open' (PDF) by Michael Napier (2007)
• 'The International Dimension of Judicial Review' (PDF) by The Rt Hon Lord Justice Richards (2006)
• 'Family Law: The Rights and Consequences' (PDF) by The Hon Mrs Justice Bracewell (2005)
• 'Tackling Cross Border Crime' (PDF) by Clare Montgomery QC (2004)