The Bar Council

• The Bar’s high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
• Fair access to justice for all
• The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
• The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.

• Public Access Training from Member Services
• Prepare for Change
• Find a Barrister
• 3rd Six Pupillage Vacancies
• Member Benefits
• Legal Ombudsman Service
• CPD Courses and Events

News

List of specialist regulatory advocates in health and safety and environmental law and appointment of Standing Counsel (Unified List)
(8 February 2012)

In November, it was announced that the Attorney General had agreed that the Unified List in its current form should draw to a close and that new arrangements would be taken forward by individual departments rather than under the auspices of the Attorney General's office. On 31 March 2012 the Attorney General’s Unified List of Prosecuting Advocates will come to an end. The Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Office of Rail Regulation wish to appoint a list of advocates to conduct their higher court prosecution work and other regulatory advocacy. HSE and ORR also each wish to appoint two Standing Counsel. Details of the scheme, the selection criteria and how to make an application are available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/sellingtohse/contracts.htm

Appointment of Standing Counsel for the Department for Business Innovation and Science (Unified List)
(8 February 2012)

In November, it was announced that the Attorney General had agreed that the Unified List in its current form should draw to a close and that new arrangements would be taken forward by individual departments rather than under the auspices of the Attorney General's office. On 31 March 2012 the Attorney General’s Unified List of Prosecuting Advocates will come to an end. BIS wishes to appoint up to six Standing Counsel. Further details of the application process and selection criteria can be obtained by sending an email to standingcounsel.recruitment@bis.gsi.gov.uk. An advert can be found here.

Bar Council and FLBA Urge Care on Family Justice Reforms
(6 February 2012)

The Bar Council and Family Law Bar Association (FLBA), which represent barristers and family barristers in England and Wales respectively, have urged the Government to take a considered and practical approach to reforming family law and not to rush to legislate, as it published its response to the Family Justice Review.

Bar Council - Private Legal Advice Must be Protected
(2 February 2012)

Following a report published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on the use of undercover police officers, the Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has urged the Government to protect the fundamental right of citizens to hold private conversations with their lawyers.

Bar Council and Law Society Welcome Bar Council of India to London
(1 February 2012)

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, were pleased to welcome a delegation from the Bar Council of India, headed by Chairman Ashok Parija, at Chancery Lane on Wednesday 1 February.

Bar Council and Bar Standards Board Release Barristers' Working Lives Survey Results
(31 January 2012)

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulator of barristers in England and Wales, have today released the results of Barristers' Working Lives, the first in a planned series of biennial surveys of the Bar.