Junior Bar Association Round Up
This year has brought a change at the helm of The Inner Temple Junior Bar Association, with Christie O’Connell becoming sole President and Nancy Kelehar remaining an important and much-valued member of the committee.
We were also delighted to welcome Beth Payne, who has already proved to be a brilliant addition to the team. We were sorry to lose Tom Gilchrist from the committee, although we have every hope that he will continue as our Quizmaster. Few people can combine obscure general knowledge, ruthless scoring and good humour quite so effectively.
The JBA continues to support the professional and social development of junior members of the Inn. Our events are intended to help members develop their practices, build lasting professional relationships and navigate the early years at the Bar with a little more confidence and companionship.
We ended last year with the second JBA Annual Dinner, which is now firmly established as a staple of the calendar. Junior members were treated to a wonderful evening of dinner, music and dancing, and the dance floor remained impressively busy. We look forward to returning for the third Annual Dinner on 27 November 2026.
Our programme for 2026 began with the annual Surviving on Your Feet event for pupils. The panel shared practical advice, together with some entertaining tales from their own early appearances in court. The discussion continued over drinks afterwards, giving pupils the chance to speak informally with the panel and, for some, to have their heads duly wetted following recent presentations. Attendees found the event engaging, candid and genuinely useful.
We also held an online event for prospective barristers who had narrowly missed out on pupillage, whether at interview, final round or reserve-list stage. The session offered practical guidance on refining applications and interview technique for the next cycle. It was well attended and provided a constructive and encouraging forum for applicants who had already come very close to securing one of the Bar’s most coveted opportunities.
In the summer, we returned to The Inner Temple terrace for the JBA Summer Soirée. The weather was firmly on our side, the Pimm’s flowed, and junior members made the most of the opportunity to bring professional colleagues and instructing solicitors. It was an excellent evening for renewing existing connections and making new ones in considerably more relaxed surroundings than the robing room or courtroom corridor.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Autumn Quiz and Networking Evening will take place on 18 September 2026. The quiz remains one of the best-supported events in the JBA calendar, and we expect the usual combination of impressive knowledge, strategic guesswork and highly questionable team names. The evening is generously sponsored by Xeinadin, formerly Silver Levene, and tickets are now on sale.
We will then bring the year to a close with the JBA Annual Dinner on 27 November 2026. Following the success of the previous two dinners, we hope that as many junior members as possible will join us for another memorable evening in the Inn.
We are also extremely grateful to Henry Dannell for their continued sponsorship of the JBA. Their support allows us to maintain a varied programme of events while keeping ticket prices affordable for junior members.
Tickets for upcoming events are available through The Inner Temple Members Area.
The JBA is always keen to hear from junior members. Anyone interested in becoming involved with the committee, or with ideas for future events, is encouraged to contact us at jba@innertemplesocieties.org or follow The Inner Temple Junior Bar Association on social media.
Christie O’Connell
President of the Junior Bar Association
1 Hare Court