A prominent barrister of Indian-origin has been appointed as a Circuit Judge in the UK. Kalyani Kaul, who has handled high-profile-cases, is known for her extensive and wide-ranging experience in heavy-weight criminal defence work. In the last 10 years, she has prosecuted offences of murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences and fraud.
She studied law from the London School of Economics (LSE) and was the third highest-paid barrister in terms of legal aid payments in 2005. Called to the Bar in 1983, Kaul became a Recorder in 2009 and took Silk in 2011. Kalyani was sworn in as a Circuit Judge in November and now sits at the Snaresbrook Crown Court.
She was the Senior Circuit representative on the Bar Council (2013-14), a vice president (former chair) of the Association of Women Barristers, and one of the two Diversity Officers for the South Eastern Circuit.
Kalyani is the daughter of well-known British journalists Mahendra Kaul and Rajni Kaul, both of whom worked for long years with the Voice of America and the BBC. Mahendra was the first Asian to be honoured with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1975.
