Bar Council elections 2026
2026 Elections
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.
The Council is established by the Constitution of the General Council of the Bar and its membership is made up of approximately 115 practising barristers who are elected or who represent the Inns, circuits and other interest groups from across the Bar.
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.
Casual vacancy voting opens Friday 31 October 2025 until Friday 7 November 2025.
See the full list of candidates duly elected in the 2026 election below.
The candidates who stood in the election for the 2026 Bar Council have been announced. There are no categories going to a ballot. The duly elected candidates will start their three-year term on 1 January 2026.
Duly elected candidates
Self-employed junior counsel over 7 years in practice
There were 7 full-term vacancies and 7 nominated candidates in this category. Therefore, the following candidates are duly elected:
- Celina Colquhoun
- Beth Crocker
- Andrew Duncan
- Michael Polak
- David Taylor
- Sam Thomas
- Emma Walker
Employed junior counsel over 7 years in practice
There were three full-term vacancies and three nominated candidates in this category. Therefore, the following candidates are duly elected:
- Ben Bentley
- Simon Regis
- Hannah Smith
Self-employed junior counsel under 7 years in practice
There were 4 full-term vacancies and one nominated candidate in this category. Therefore, the following candidate is duly elected:
- Lachlan Stewart
Casual vacancies
Self-employed King's Counsel (2 full-term vacancies)
There were 2 full-term vacancies and no nominations in this category. Therefore, 2 casual vacancies will be posted for application by Thursday 30 October 2025.
Self-employed junior counsel under 7 years in practice (4 full-term vacancies)
There were 4 full-term vacancies and one nomination in this category. Therefore, 3 casual vacancies will be posted for application by Thursday 30 October 2025.
Employed junior counsel under 7 years in practice (2 full-term vacancies)
There were 2 full-term vacancies and no nominations in this category. Therefore, 2 casual vacancies will be posted for application by Thursday 30 October 2025.
Please email any queries to Justina Naik, Governance and Committees Manager, via [email protected]