Barrister, Alphege Bell, talks to The Times about his career at the Bar

Criminal law barrister, Alphege Bell, speaks with Catherine Baksi, the award-winning legal journalist about his career at the Bar. 

As the first barrister with “dreads” to appear before a judge, Alphege (aged 50) speaks about how his awareness of the prejudice he might encounter as a black barrister fuelled his determination to study law at Oxford. He thought “if I go to Oxford people can’t tell me I’m not up to it.”  He also shares how confidence in his intellect and ability to do his job, meant he didn’t feel pressurised into changing his appearance – “dreadlocks were part of his sense of personal identity — a way to express and feel connected to his heritage, history and culture.” 

To read more, visit https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/law-should-be-about-intellectual-ability-not-how-your-hair-falls-vhzltk6j0https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/law-should-be-about-intellectual-ability-not-how-your-hair-falls-vhzltk6j0