Press releases and news
Find all the latest major announcements, breaking news, press releases and commentary from the Bar Council on issues affecting the barristers' profession, justice and the rule of law.
The purpose of the Bar Council's press releases are to represent and promote the Bar nationally as well as globally, bring its voice to the public domain and defend the rule of law.
For more information about any press release or news item, call contact Press Office on 020 7092 8175 or email [email protected]
Bar Council reaction to the King’s speech 2026
Bar Council reaction to draft legislation announced in the King's speech including the Courts and Tribunals Bill, Immigration and Asylum Bill, and the European Partnership Bill.
Bar Council statement on contempt of court
Judge instigated contempt proceedings risk a chilling effect on the profession.
Time to ratify the safety convention, says Bar Council
The Bar Council is calling on the UK Government to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.
Bar questions 5-month delay in delivering £34m criminal legal aid injection
In early December, the government said it would address the shortage of criminal barristers by giving publicly funded barristers an additional investment in criminal legal aid fees of up to £34 million yet no progress has been made.
Statement on the 10,000 Black Interns programme
An update from the Bar Council in light of media coverage
Kent courts are ‘going in the right direction’ despite doubled backlog
Kent’s Crown Courts are ‘going in the right direction’ despite its backlog more than doubling in 10 years, the Leader of the South Eastern Circuit has said.
Government rejects first opportunity to deliver timely justice for victims through setting up rape court instead of reducing jury trials
The government has rejected calls to amend the Courts and Tribunals Bill and bring in specialist rape courts, despite it being a Labour manifesto pledge.
Claire Davies KC elected as Bar Council Vice Chair for 2027
The South Eastern Circuit Leader will join Heidi Stonecliffe KC, Lucinda Orr and Dame Maria Miller on the 2027 officer team
Barristers’ professional standards are robust enough for AI use, Bar Council says
The Bar Council has published its response to the Civil Justice Council’s consultation on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) when preparing court documents.
Barristers welcome Harrow Crown Court’s reopening as an example of how to cut court backlogs
Barristers have welcomed the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) announcement that Harrow Crown Court has reopened after nearly three years.
Bar Council responds to LSB projects and LeO budget announcements
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has said that more must be done to strengthen ethics, it has capped the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) budget and the LSB Public Bodies Review call for evidence by the MoJ has now closed.
Jury proposals “a cure worse than the disease” – Geoffrey Robertson KC, founding head of Doughty Street Chambers
The distinguished silk writes that the government has overlooked the constitutional importance of trial by jury
Pupils positive about pupillage with incidents of bullying and harassment falling but disabled and second six pupils more negative, survey finds
The Bar Council’s annual pupil survey found 83% had an overall positive pupillage experience while more than half (56%) described it as ‘very positive’.
Barristers urge government to deliver specialist courts for sexual and domestic abuse cases, instead of restricting jury trials
The Bar Council, together with the Criminal Bar Association, is calling on the government to open specialist courts which would retain a jury but focus on sexual offences and domestic abuse cases, prioritising vulnerable victims/complainants.
Government’s proposal puts magistrates' courts at ‘high risk’ Bar Council warns as backlog reaches record high
New Ministry of Justice figures show that the magistrates' court backlog has now reached a record high of 379,437 cases. Meanwhile the government propose to move more serious cases out of the Crown Court and into the magistrates' court.