Elections

Elections for the 2026 Bar Council

Nominations for members to stand for election to the Bar Council in 2026 open on Monday 8 September. See ‘how to apply’ below for more information.

What is the Bar Council?

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 specialist Bar associations.

Why you should 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.

Former Bar Council Chair Nick Vineall KC said standing for Bar Council is “your best way to help make the Bar an even better profession than it already is.”

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 7 times a year and committees meet 4 or 5 times a year. Read the full Bar Council member role profile.

Successful candidates will join from 1 January 2026 for a three-year term (unless otherwise indicated). Those members who are due to retire from the Bar Council on 31 December 2025 will be 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?

Vacancies for 2026

Self-employed King's Counsel

  • 2 x full-term vacancies

Self-employed junior counsel over 7 years in practice

  • 7 x full-term vacancies

Self-employed junior counsel under 7 years in practice

  • 4 x full-term vacancies

Employed King’s Counsel or junior counsel over 7 years in practice

  • 3 x full-term vacancies

Employed junior counsel under 7 years in practice

  • 2 x full-term vacancies
Election timetable 

Nomination period: 9am, Monday 8 September 2025 to 5pm, Friday 19 September 2025

Voting period: Friday 3 October 2025 to 10am, Friday 17 October 2025

Casual vacancies voting period (if required): Friday 31 October to Friday 7 November 2025

All successful candidates will take up their roles on the Bar Council from 1 January 2026.

How to apply
  1. Read the notice of elections with full details including the election rules, eligibility, and procedure 
  2. Download and complete the nomination form 
  3. Download and complete the candidate statement form
  4. Email the completed forms to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 19 September 2025
  5. Upon receipt of your completed forms, you will be invited to submit a video version of your candidate statement. You can record your own video and submit it via email or the Bar Council secretariat can arrange a Teams call to record your video.

If you have any questions, please contact Justina Naik, Governance and Committees Manager.