A series of events took place last week to mark the Opening of the Legal Year, one of the most celebrated days in the legal calendar.

To mark the occasion, senior figures from the profession took part in a special service at Westminster Abbey. This was followed by a reception hosted by lord chancellor Michael Gove (pictured above left) at the Houses of Parliament.  

The celebration followed a seminar hosted by the Law Society and Bar Council, where Society president Jonathan Smithers chaired a session on challenges to client confidentiality and legal professional privilege in the digital age.

Bar chair Alistair MacDonald QC gave a talk on the role and treatment of witnesses across the globe.