Circuit Officers
The Midland Circuit is led by Harpreet Sandhu KC and supported by a strong team of officers.
Circuit Officers
The Circuit Leaders sit the Bar Council and its General Management Committee. They are involved in decision-making in respect of all areas of practice and have meetings with, amongst others, the Lord Chancellor, the Ministry of Justice, the Lady Chief Justice, the President of the Queen’s Bench Division, the presiding judges, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the shadow justice team, the Bar Standards Board and HMCTS to name but a few.
The Circuit Leader is an elected Silk who serves for a period of three years. He or she represents the Circuit and its members and establishes positive relations with the relevant bodies. The Leader is supported principally by the Circuit Junior and then by the other officers in their individual roles.
Circuit Leader
I am honoured to lead the Midland Circuit. I am at home on circuit: I grew up in the West Midlands and I have always practised from chambers in Birmingham.
Circuit membership has presented me with countless professional opportunities and some of my closest friends are fellow circuiteers. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Circuit.
The breadth of our membership and the individual and collective successes of our members provides the Midland Circuit with a justifiably proud history, a vibrant present and an exciting future. Our strength lies in our inclusivity. We nurture the talents of our members from the moment their careers at the Bar begin and we continue to support them as they flourish as advocates. Whatever our areas of specialism may be, we are united by our desire to achieve excellence.
Whilst there are many challenges facing the modern Bar, the Circuit is committed to tackling them. We do so by building on the traditions which have made the Circuit great and by being progressive. We are proud, for example, of the work of our Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee and of our Women’s Forum. Through our funded mini-pupillage scheme, we offer to those who may otherwise struggle to experience it, an insight into life at the Bar. Our scholarship programme places students on the path to entering the profession.
The Circuit’s work could not be completed without the unstinting efforts of those who volunteer to carry it out. They have my unreserved thanks.Harpreet Sandhu KC
My job is essentially about communications. I receive, process and transmit information to and from Circuit members, and I provide secretarial and administrative support as required by the Leader. Michelle Francis
Circuit Junior
Philip Vollans has extensive experience in the areas of Regulatory, Inquests, Crime, Professional Disciplinary, Environment and Planning.
Instructed on complex matters from inquests through to matters proceeding to the Court of Appeal, Philip has been involved in significant cases relating to deaths occurring on construction sites resulting from statutory failings; failings in investigatory proceedings relating to historic offences, regulatory baches including health care bodies including the CQC and NMC, to those involved in the built environment and RIBA. Philip has represented both lay clients and police staff involved in historic allegations.Philip Vollans
I love the Midland Circuit. Even before my membership I reaped its rewards by being inspired, mentored and supported by so many of its members who volunteered their time to encourage prospective pupils like me.
Now 10 years on, I have the privilege of being appointed as assistant junior of this circuit, for whose members I have always had the utmost respect and admiration.
I want to ensure that prospective pupils, pupils and new practitioners have the same positive experience of the Circuit as I have had and that there is opportunity to build friendships from the East to the West amongst our vibrant, diverse and impressive membership.
Lucy Jones
Circuit Treasurer
After making her mark as a particularly effective Junior and Assistant Junior, Jodie has put her enthusiasm and organisational skills into improving access to the bar and supporting the Women’s Forum. She has now taken on the role of Assistant Treasurer.Jodie Kembery
Women's Forum
Women remained significantly under-represented at the senior end of the profession. A diverse Bar is a strong Bar and Midland Circuit is determined that everyone should have equality of opportunity, and support in achieving their career goals. Everyone on the Women's Forum committee is dedicated to helping women on the Midland Circuit maximise their potential, through professional development, networking and support, and I'm so proud to be a part of this.Hena Vissian
Education and Training Officers
The Midland Circuit has always produced great advocates and continues to do so. It is a great privilege to be asked to oversee the education of our pupils and new practitioners. We recognise the challenges that the modern Bar faces and are keen to help equip our junior practitioners to meet those challenges and thrive in practice.John Coughlan KC
Other Circuit Officers
It’s a privilege to support the Midland Circuit in my role as Information Technology Officer. We have has seen massive changes over the last few years in the way we do business, conduct hearings, and develop our skills through training. I hope to use my role to provide assistance and training for members of the Midland Circuit, as well as helping the Circuit engage with its members more effectively.Daniel Oscroft
I am extremely humbled and excited to undertake the position of Circuit Secretary and very proud to be a member of the Midland Circuit. This Circuit upholds the highest professional standards and thrives on excellence whilst ensuring every individual is welcomed and supported no matter the year of call or area of expertise. The circuit is a vibrant, welcoming and supportive environment within which members of the Bar can blossom. I hope to use my enthusiasm and organisational skills to support the Circuit to continue to excel, to encourage further diversity at the Bar, to support more woman at the Bar and to inspire confidence in those who may think that the Bar is out of reach.Lucinda Wilmott-Lascelles