Reporting to you all from Wales/Cyfarchion o Gymru with news of events over the 2023/2024 year.
A vibrant Legal Wales Conference kicked off yet another busy legal year in Wales on Friday 6 October 2023 at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, which was followed by the usual thoroughly sociable dinner. The conference included a keynote address by Mick Antoniw AS, Counsel General for Wales and Minister for the Constitution, a fascinating talk by the Hon Mr Justice Francis, reflecting on his time as Family Liaison Judge for Wales, and a number of breakout sessions (which included contributions from Master David Lloyd-Jones, HHJ Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, Recorder of Cardiff, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Green, Chair of the Law Commission, Nicholas Paines KC, Commissioner for Public Law and Welsh Law and The Rt Hon Sir Gary Hickinbottom, President of Welsh Tribunals), all promoting the continued development of all aspects of law and the legal profession in Wales.
The main event was, undoubtedly, the key address by Lady Carr DBE, Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, who began with a hearty and perfectly pronounced ‘Prynhawn da’ (‘Good afternoon’). Her Ladyship spoke of the continued importance of the use of, and access to, the Welsh language in legal proceedings in Wales, the work of the Judicial College in providing the training of Welsh judges on new, devolved, Welsh legislation, the work of the various Tribunals in Wales and the technological and real estate challenges that continue in terms of the court estate. All of us, in both England and Wales, have experience of the varying conditions of the courts that we work in, and it needs no re-emphasis here. Here in Wales, the geographical location of the courts (particularly given daily travel to and from rural areas), their condition and what services they provide (even just for basic refreshments) remains a very real ongoing issue.
It was her Ladyship’s first address as Lady Chief Justice in Wales and it soon became clear that there were deep and dear familial roots here. Her Ladyship’s great-grandfather’s uncle, Henry Lascelles Carr, moved as a journalist from Yorkshire to South Wales, where he became the editor and then owner of the Western Mail, Wales’ oldest daily newspaper. Her Ladyship’s great-grandfather, Sir Emsley Carr, went on to become High Sheriff for South Glamorgan in 1938. Finally, just to reinforce that heritage, Her Ladyship’s grandfather, Harry Carr, kept wicket for Glamorgan. Her Ladyship concluded her thoroughly well-received speech by stating that, amongst all her various commitments, she would very much be ‘batting for Wales’. A Lady Chief Justice with a strong, steadfast and safe pair of hands. Just like her grandfather.
The weekend concluded with a service at Llandaff Cathedral for the opening of the legal year in Wales. It was, as ever, very well attended by the judiciary and practitioners from every aspect of the legal landscape in Wales and involved some naturally rousing singing. We look forward to having any excuse to welcome Her Ladyship back to Wales in the future.
The legal scene in Wales continues, year on year, to become even more diverse, stimulating and dynamic with significant opportunities for all disciplines to develop and improve the principal of ‘access to justice’ to all throughout the country. I take this moment to encourage any members of our Inn to consider contributing positively to the legal opportunities in Wales, wherever you are based. For example, there was, and remains, no shortage of seminars, conferences and gatherings to bring like-minded practitioners together to share, network and improve on all aspects of the legal scene in Wales, such as the Five Jurisdictions Family Law Conference 2024, an event which featured leading family law Judges and practitioners from across the UK and Ireland, – it wasn’t until 2020 that Wales became a jurisdiction in its own right as a result of devolution and this was the first time the event took place in Wales.
The LegalTech Wales Roadshow 2024 – held in Cardiff in March and Bangor in April (a free event to assist those in the legal profession with the ever-changing face of technology and its uses in and out of court – also aimed, perhaps, at someone like me who still prefers to rely on a notebook and pen in court) and the LAW2024 Cardiff Conference on Tuesday 24 September 2024 at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel demonstrated another full day conference on the themes of Family Law, Residential Property, Wills & Probate and Commercial Property.
On Wednesday 6 March 2024, the annual St. David’s Day Evensong service was held in Temple Church followed by a dinner in Parliament Chamber which involved Welsh rarebit, lamb, Welsh cakes and plentiful wine. The service at Temple Church and the dinner back at the Inn are always excellent events and I would encourage anyone, with or without Welsh blood, to come along in March 2025. Bring a guest and enjoy some wonderful company at our Inn.
Back in Cardiff, on Friday 10 May 2024, we held the annual Middle Temple Wales Circuit dinner and Qualifying Session at the Cornerstone Hotel in Cardiff. It was well attended and provided a great opportunity to meet the Middle Temple students on Circuit and for them to meet and chat with Middle Temple practitioners and judges (retired and current), including the Recorder of Cardiff, HHJ Tracey Lloyd-Clarke who, yet again, kindly attended and supported the event.
These Circuit events are essential in promoting the Inn outside of London and can engage students and practitioners (and the judiciary) who might otherwise feel that the activities, governance and future of our Inn are the preserve of those who work near the Inn and can physically attend those regular meetings. In these straightened times, we need every conceivable and positive engagement from our members – wherever you are – in person or on ‘Teams’, to contribute to the work and future health of our Inn. I know, first hand, the incredible commitment, time and skill that our members and Benchers, who do live and work in or around London, give to the governance and running of the Inn whilst also supporting our essential, brilliant and committed staff. But they, we, need your support, whether you are in Newcastle or Norfolk or Swansea or Somerset. Please consider contributing in some way, wherever you are. Our Inn’s website is a good place to start to give you some options as to how to actively engage with our Inn.
We are also delighted and proud to report that our former Master Treasurer, Master Lloyd-Jones, is to be invested into the Gorsedd of the Bards at this year’s National Eisteddfod which, this year, is being held in Pontypridd in South Wales. The Gorsedd is a prestigious society of Welsh-language writers, musicians, poets and those who have significantly contributed to the Welsh language and to public life in Wales.
Amongst Master Lloyd-Jones’s well known and considerable achievements, which includes being President of the Law Council in Wales, he was also the first to deliver a judgement in Welsh in the Supreme Court. It is particularly poignant that Master Lloyd-Jones is being invested in the town where he was born and brought up. Llongyfarchiadau David. Croeso adref!
Other news from Wales, and for those who somehow missed it, both the Wales men’s and women’s rugby international XV ‘won’ the ‘Wooden Spoon’ in the 2024 Six Nations Rugby Tournaments. I am constantly reminded of this by my beloved English colleagues, so I really must take time here to thank them again for those heartfelt and thoughtful reminders! In fairness, we are at a stage when both teams have young squad members and we hope that some of them will grow and develop and may even go on to feature in the men’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2025, and the first ever Lions Women’s Tour in September 2027 – to New Zealand, a daunting but exciting inaugural tour.
Finally, forgive my rugby passion, but to add the energy of our Inn to all walks of life, young and old, to engage students and our Middle Temple Young Barristers’ Association, perhaps we could, one day, enhance our Inn’s rich tapestry and establish a Middle Temple Rugby Union Association. Open to all, irrespective of background, ability and gender. Call it ‘outreach’ to forge links with our national and international colleagues or, if you are a prop, ‘Ouch…reach’. Can you imagine an Inter-Inn Charity Rugby Tournament, refereed by Wayne Barnes (courtesy of Lincoln’s Inn). With a Bill McLaren voice in my head, I can see Master Bernard Richmond picking up and running, offloading deftly to Master Karen Reid who swerves through the centre before delivering a winning spin pass to whoever touches down under the posts. What a score! What an event! The Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union and our Royal Bencher, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales would, I am sure, approve.
Anyway, enough of all that for now. That’s my news and contribution from Wales this year. I sincerely wish you all a successful, prosperous and healthy 2024/2025.
Master Michael Jones was Called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1995 and was, twice, a member of the Revels. He practised from chambers in South Wales before joining the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2009 as the first Senior Crown Advocate in Wales. In 2018 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel, the first ever appointment from the CPS in Welsh legal history. He is a member of the Membership Committee, past Chair of the Middle Temple Employed Bar Society, member of the Bench Selection Advisory Committee, Secretary of the Middle Temple Wales Circuit Society, past Chair of the Employed Bar Committee (and continued member) of the Bar Council of England and Wales. He is Chair of the Welsh Parliamentary Rugby XV and continues as a door tenant at 30, Park Place Chambers in Cardiff.
