Aspiring barristers competing for coveted pupillage positions, and those in pupillage,  will now receive wellbeing support from new online resources, created by the Bar Council's Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group, with input from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT), who specialise in young people's mental health. These resources are specifically aimed at those post-BPTC, seeking pupillage, and pupils up until they complete their training to become a barrister.

The new wellbeing resources cover personal wellbeing issues, such as stress, panic attacks, and low mood and depression, as well as those triggered by problems in the workplace - potentially pertinent to pupils - for example, bullying and becoming overwhelmed by work. Resources are shown in alphabetical order and can be found here with additional support available here.

Sam Mercer, Head of Equality, Diversity & CSR at the Bar Council, said:

"The Bar Council and the Inns of Court recognise the unique challenges faced by those applying for pupillage and pupils themselves, and the wellbeing issues that commonly arise as a result. We felt there was a particular gap in support for those that had completed their BPTC but not yet achieved pupillage - particularly considering the pressure and level of competition often experienced by  individuals seeking to secure their professional futures.

"These resources were created with the needs of this specific target group in mind, and have had involvement from BPTC providers and Inns of Court representatives, as well as clinical input from the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust. We hope students and pupils find them useful during what is often a difficult and pressured  period in their lives."

Charlie Waller Memorial Trust added their support for the resources, saying:

"CWMT is delighted to assist in ensuring that the wellbeing needs of students and pupils are met and in enabling them to address issues effectively as they arise."

The four Inns of Court wholeheartedly endorse these new resources to support members at a crucial, early stage of their career, and hope these will be useful  tools to manage their personal wellbeing throughout their professional lives.

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Notes to Editors

The Wellbeing Working Group consists of representatives from the Bar Council, the Inns of Court, Specialist Bar Associations, the Circuits, the Institute of Barristers' Clerks (IBC) and the Legal Practice Management Association (LPMA).

Wellbeing at the Bar (WATB) aims to:

  • Provide barristers and chambers' personnel with the information and skills they need to stay well

  • Support members of the profession through difficulties that affect their professional life

  • Help those responsible for or who are supporting those in difficulty or crisis 

Wellbeing at the Bar has had over 130,000 hits in its first year.

Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 and by email Shiryn Sayani [email protected] or Steve Rudaini [email protected].

The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes: 

  • 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.

The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (CWMT) was set up in 1997 in memory of Charlie Waller, a young man who took his own life whilst suffering from depression. CWMT raises awareness of depression and fights stigma, provides training to schools, universities, workplaces, GPs and nurses, and encourages those who may be depressed to seek help. Visit www.cwmt.org.uk for further information.