Court dress dispensation certificate

Court dress rules

Dispensation certificates are available for a trial period of three years from July 2025. There is no fee involved.

How to get a dispensation certificate

Read our full court dress guidance
Check if you need a dispensation certificate, ie you wish to adjust court dress because of disability, menopause or pregnancy
Apply using the form below - we require your name, email address and the adjustment required to your court dress
There is no fee involved in requesting your dispensation certificate
We will review your request and respond within three business days
You will need to renew your dispensation certificate every 12 months

Court proceedings

While we are responsible for issuing a dispensation certificate, it is on the understanding that the judge is wholly responsible for the proceedings in court, and this includes matters relating to court dress.

Apply

Use this form if you are counsel seeking to adjust your court dress to accommodate disability, menopause, or pregnancy in line with our guidance on court dress.

Your name ^*

Your email address ^*

I confirm that I am eligible for a dispensation to adjust court dress based on the Bar Council’s Court Dress guidance ^*

I confirm

Please specify what part of the court dress you are requesting to adjust below eg request not to wear a wig. Please note there is no requirement to provide personal information here.

Adjustment to court dress required ^*

Questions

If you have any questions about your request, please email us at [email protected].