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25 June 2021 / Mark Pawlowski
Issue: 7938 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Hair today, gone tomorrow?

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Mark Pawlowski sets out the case for abolition of the wig as part of our court dress

It was FW Maitland (writing in 1883) who referred to the wig as ‘the silliest adornment that the human head has yet invented’. Earlier still, Lord Denman CJ considered the wig ‘the silliest thing in England’. Today, many consider the abolition of the wig as an important and necessary step towards creating a more user-friendly system of justice in this country. In a short article appearing in this journal entitled ‘A new look for the Bar’ (NLJ, 3 February 1984, at p110), Brian W Haines wrote: ‘Let us start with the uniform. Is there really any need for wigs and gowns, to say nothing of that 1920s abomination the winged collar? These clothes do nothing to enhance the dignity of the law; they merely serve to emphasise just how out of touch the courts are with ordinary men and women. If a barrister can appear with dignity before a bench of magistrates in an

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NLJ this week: Mazur and more—inside the litigation frontline

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

NLJ this week: Social media bans for children spark legal dilemmas
Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
NLJ this week: Leasehold reform risks creating ‘forgotten freeholders’
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
NLJ this week: Court of Appeal clarifies when a claim truly begins
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
NLJ this week: Split FDRs could ease pressure—and boost settlements
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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