Our Christmas office hours
Our office will be closed from 5pm on Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen at 9am on Monday 5 January. We won’t be answering calls or responding to emails during this time.
Leveson's Review of Criminal Courts
Our position, our work, key articles about the review and how to write to your MP.
Law reform essay competition
This year's essay competition winner is Wasim Iqbal with his essay 'Invisible violence: restoring the sight of the Online Safety Act 2023'. Read Wasim's and all this year's winning essays.
System overload - a report on family legal aid
Our report has laid bare the detrimental impact family legal aid work is having on barristers as well as how underfunding affects the justice outcomes for their clients.
Guidance on generative AI for the Bar
Our updated guidance for barristers on ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language model systems (LLMs).
Harassment support
During the Christmas season we see a spike in harassment reports. If you see it or experience it, there is support available for you.
Trauma informed practice
Learn practical tools to address the effects of trauma and distress in all practice areas. We've designed courses for barristers, and clerks and chambers staff.
Independent review of bullying and harassment at the Bar
Following the publication of Baroness Harman's report, we've set out our action plan for implementing her 36 recommendations.
Get ready for pupillage
Applicants can now view advertisements on the Pupillage Gateway. See our checklist on how to apply.
Speak for Success
Our new primary school programme uses the real-life experiences and skills of barristers to support children develop their oracy skills. Our free teacher resources are packed with engaging activities for key stage 2 pupils aged 7-11 years old.
Bar Representation Fee
With your support we can do more to champion access to justice and give the Bar a stronger voice. Subscribe and get exclusive money-saving benefits
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
Bar Council online support services
Guides and templates
Visit our Ethics and practice hub
Find a wide range of guides, resources, and templates on ethics and practice management for barristers and chambers
News
Four Bars joint statement on jury trials in England and Wales
Since the government announced its proposal to restrict the right to a jury trial in response to Sir Brian Leveson’s criminal courts review, the Bar of England and Wales has argued that justice needs juries. Now, the Four Bars of England and Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland have made a joint statement, urging the UK government to change course.
Bar Council reacts to regulatory proposals
The Bar Council has submitted two separate consultation responses on regulatory matters this week. One submission was sent to HM Treasury on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, and the second submission was sent to the Legal Ombudsman on its business plan and budget.
Justice is essential to tackling violence against women and girls – Bar Council
The Bar Council has called for investment across the justice system so that it can play its part in tackling violence against women and girls, whether that be the criminal, family or civil justice system, in response to the government's new strategy.
Many would leave family legal aid ‘in a heartbeat’ – new Bar Council report
Researchers spoke to 100 family barristers and found that many want to leave publicly funded family work as fees are worth about half their 1996 value.
News
Training and events
