It is a special year for the Middle Temple North Eastern Circuit Society (MTNECS) as the North Eastern Circuit was established 150 years ago, on Tuesday, 29 February 1876. Previously, the area was the northern most part of the Midland Circuit and the eastern half of the Northern Circuit. Legend has it that a coin was tossed to decide which Circuit would retain the Northern Circuit name. The Northern Circuit retained the name whilst the North Eastern Circuit retained the silver. In hindsight, we think we were the victors! We celebrated our 150th Circuit anniversary Grand Court with a black tie dinner at the Inn on Saturday, 13 June 2026. We welcomed many of our former presiding judges and other guests – many of whom are Middle Temple members.
For Middle Temple members on Circuit, the most important role of the MTNECS is the ability to gather together without having to travel to London, providing the community of the Inn without the costs of travel and accommodation. We strive to make membership of Middle Temple an enduring part of life at the bar, even at some distance from the Inn itself. We hope members and students find our Circuit events an opportunity to network and make lasting professional connections and friendships. Students can achieve some of their Qualifying Sessions at the events we host which again saves them the time and expense of travelling to London.
This year we have increased our committee size to incorporate all parts of our Circuit and to represent a wider range of practice areas. We are delighted that Charles Morgan’s contribution to the Inn was recognised by his recent Call to the Bench.
We held the Northern and North Eastern Circuit Society Annual Dinner in Newcastle in November 2025, welcoming the previous Master Treasurer to her hometown. The Northern Circuit Society members braved the Pennines to join us for a wonderful evening. Master Thirlwall hails from Sunderland, and we loved hearing the inspiring story of her journey from school in Sunderland to the Court of Appeal and as the Treasurer of Middle Temple.
MTNECS hosted another successful event at Park Square Barristers in Leeds in June 2026 for student members searching for pupillage. The hybrid event attracted over 70 attendees. There was lively debate, laughter and hopefully some helpful tips for the future aspiring generation of pupil barristers. With particular thanks to committee members who gave up their time to attend and contribute, Master Morgan, Nick Worsley KC, Michael Collins, Helen Chapman, Chris Moran, Celine Kart, Rebecca Rowlands and Chelsea Brooke-Ward.
The next event in the calendar will be the North Eastern Circuit Annual Dinner on Saturday 14 November 2026, where we shall travel to Manchester to be hosted by the Northern Circuiteers. It will no doubt be a superb evening. We hope that many MTNECS members will join us – keep an eye out for the event poster!
Charlotte Worsley KC specialises in Children Family Law, with a particular interest in children cases involving international, cultural and religious issues. She is a member of Park Square Barristers in Leeds and took silk in 2022. She was born and educated in Leeds then studied Social Anthropology at Emmanuel College, Cambridge University. She is Chair of the Middle Temple North Eastern Circuit Society, serves on the Middle Temple Emergency Support Scheme and is a member of the Inn’s Membership Committee. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, two children and dog.
Helen Chapman read Law at Cambridge and took the bar exams in Manchester. She completed pupillage and the first six years of her practice in London before re-locating to Yorkshire in 2011. She is a member of New Park Court Chambers in Leeds and has a Criminal Law practice. She was appointed a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Court) in 2019 and Recorder in 2024. She is the secretary of the Middle Temple North Eastern Society and is an advocacy trainer for the Inn and for the North Eastern Circuit.
