Saba Naqshbandi KC – Three Raymond Buildings, London

Applying for silk is often seen as a daunting and, for some, an almost insurmountable challenge which requires not only legal expertise but also a significant amount of self-belief, resilience, inward reflection and support. For many, the fear of failure can be the biggest barrier to considering the possibility, believes Saba Naqshbandi KC. “I’ve been there, faced those doubts, and I am here to say, if you are contemplating applying for silk, do it” is the resounding message from Saba. Her success at securing silk on her first application is a significant personal milestone, and had she not been successful, she would certainly have applied again.

Saba was called to the Bar in 1996 and over the years developed a distinguished practice, becoming an expert in public inquiries, inquests, health and safety and commercial crime. She has been involved in some of the most high-profile and sensitive public inquiries in recent times, including Grenfell, the Manchester Arena, the Westminster Bridge and London Bridge terrorist attacks, and Alexander Litvinenko.

Saba’s path into the legal profession was not without its challenges. After attending a state primary school, her parents “worked incredibly hard” to send her and her siblings to a fee-paying secondary school and to university. Having earned an LLM with distinction from University College London, but with no family or other connections in the law, she navigated the complexities of securing pupillage with “perseverance and a bit of luck”, finding an “extremely warm and welcoming home at Three Raymond Buildings.”

Saba’s extensive list of appointments and memberships (past and present) reflect her deep commitment to the legal profession and her desire to give back. Among her roles, she serves as a member of the Bar Council’s Retention Panel, a Bencher of Middle Temple and is a past Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of the International Bar Association, a role highlighting her influence and leadership within the legal community.

Through her involvement with her chambers, Middle Temple, specialist legal associations and in her own personal life, Saba is a dedicated mentor to those who may feel that the barriers to entry or progression are unachievable. She has made a tangible difference to a wide array of individuals, from helping students secure pupillages through advice, application reviews, and mock interview practice, to enabling school pupils to gain first-hand experience of life as a barrister. She is a keen supporter of junior barristers and solicitors in finding new roles, developing their practices and advancing to senior positions. Saba’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal talent and supporting her peers is a testament to her belief in the importance of accessibility and inclusivity within her profession.

Returning to work after maternity leave, Saba discovered how challenging it was to regain her practice whilst adjusting to the responsibilities of motherhood. She needed, “a big kick of confidence” to apply for silk and says that this experience has shaped her perspective on the importance of retention initiatives by the Bar Council and strengthened her resolve to push for practical changes that support working parents and encourage wellbeing across the profession.

Choosing support over a fear of failure, Saba was open about her application from the outset which enabled her colleagues both inside and outside of her chambers to step forward to help, whether by reviewing her application, or giving candid advice and spurring her on during the demanding process.

She was thrilled to have been offered an interview – day one, “the graveyard slot” as she jokingly described it – and threw herself into preparing for it. Focussing on the guidance provided by KCA really helped her to concentrate on what the Panel were looking for. Nervous in the run up to the interview, in the end, Saba says she enjoyed the opportunity to advocate for herself for once and came out feeling she had done her very best. On reading her letter of appointment, after a very anxious wait, she burst into tears.

For Saba, one of the many joys of being appointed has been the warm congratulations from so many people: opponents, judges, barristers and friends some of whom she had not been in cases with for many years but who had been kind enough to remember her. A cherished box full of letters has been carefully put away, a reminder of a very special achievement.

One of her immediate initiatives was to hold an open meeting in her chambers for those considering applying for silk and set up a mentoring scheme helping incoming applicants. Encouraging her colleagues has been “a real pleasure.”

Looking back, Saba is clear-eyed about the sacrifices and the support that enabled her success which is why she is committed to “giving back” by creating pathways for others to advance without feeling forced to choose between career and family.  For Saba, a meaningful and successful legal career should be achievable for those with diverse life commitments, and she is determined to help shape a profession that respects those priorities.
It was always her 90-year-old father’s ambition to one day see his daughter appointed King’s Counsel, and to have her father present at the ceremony on 18 March 2024 was a much wished for dream come true for both of them. Unlike many others, Saba loved dressing up for the ceremony and has even contemplated wearing her breeches and buckled shoes on the school run!

Saba is extremely proud to be one of His Majesty’s Kings Counsel, is loving every single minute of it and often wonders why she did not apply sooner.