Elections
Subscriber Elections
Elections for Bar Council of England and Wales
The Bar Council is the governing body of the Bar in England and Wales. It considers and implements general policy with regard to all matters affecting the Bar, and it represents and supports barristers and the Bar.
Its membership is made up of approximately 115 barristers who are elected or who represent the Inns, Circuits and other interest groups.
Annually in September, the nomination period will open, followed by the voting period in October. Successful candidates will join from 1 January for a three-year term, except where otherwise indicated. Those members who are due to retire from the Bar Council from the previous year on 31 December will be eligible to stand for re-election.
Nominations to stand for election to join Bar Council in 2025 are now open. Find out more below.
Subscriber elections timetable 2025
Nomination period: 09:00 Monday 9 September 2024 to 17:00 Friday 20 September 2024
Voting period: Friday 4 October 2024 to 10:00 Friday 18 October 2024
Announcement: by Monday 21 October 2024
Casual vacancies voting period (if required): 1 November 2024 to 8 November 2024
All successful candidates will take up their roles on the Bar Council from 1 January the following year.
Vacancies for 2025
Self-employed King's Counsel
- 2 x full-term vacancies
Self-employed junior counsel over seven years in practice
- 7 x full-term vacancies
Self-employed junior counsel under seven years in practice
- 4 x full-term vacancies
Employed King's Counsel or junior counsel over seven years in practice
- 3 x full-term vacancies
- 1 x casual vacancy to start immediately and serve until 31 December 2026
Employed junior counsel under seven years in practice
- 2 x full-term vacancies
How to stand
The nomination period is now open (from 9 September to 20 September).
Candidates are invited to submit a simple application form and candidate statement setting out why you want to stand, what you can offer, and a bit about your current practice and other professional activities. There will also be the opportunity to provide a video version of your candidates statement. Follow the steps below:
1. Read the notice of elections
2. Download and complete the nomination form and candidate statement form
3. Email the completed forms to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 20 September 2024.
Why join the Bar Council
Members of the Bar Council have the opportunity to represent the views of their peers and take part in essential work representing and championing the profession. Bar Council members usually also sit on Bar Council committees which undertake detailed consideration of a wide range of legal and professional issues.
The role of Bar Council members is to represent their 'constituency' by collating and relaying their views at Bar Council meetings and/or disseminating relevant non-confidential Bar Council information to them. Read the full Bar Council member role profile.
The roles are voluntary, and the levels of commitment vary depending on whether you also serve on committees, working groups or panels. The Bar Council meets seven times a year and committees meet four or five times a year.
Successful candidates will join the Bar Council from 1 January 2025 for a three-year term (unless otherwise indicated). Those members who are due to retire from the Bar Council on 31 December 2024 are eligible to stand for re-election.
Want to know more? Read Bar Council member Aoife Kennedy's blog: Why should you stand for Bar Council?
See the results of the Bar Council elections 2024
Officer elections
Officer positions
- Chair of the Bar
- Vice Chair of the Bar
- Treasurer of the Bar
Under the Bar Council Constitution, Officers shall be elected by the members of the Bar Council and shall, at the time of their proposal for election, each be a member of the Bar Council. Candidates for election as an Officer must be proposed and seconded by those who are members of the Bar Council at the time of their proposal for election.
The Chair and the Vice Chair shall be eligible for re-election for a second term after which they may not stand for re-election to the position again.
The Treasurer shall be eligible for re-election annually for a period not exceeding 4 years.
Officer elections timetable
Timetable for the election of Officers for 2025:
Nomination period: 2 April to 26 April 2024
Voting period: 3 May to 10:00, 17 May 2024
Hustings: 17:30, 9 May 2024
Announcement: The outcome of the elections shall be communicated to the Bar Council no later than 21 May.