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]

 

The government has a choice - investment needed as family justice system fails vulnerable children

"These recommendations provide a roadmap to change but they will not bear the fruit which children, families and those working across the court system need to see and feel without comprehensive investment in family justice."

  • 12 September 2025
  • Press release

Independent review into bullying and harassment unveils ‘radical’ reforms to tackle ‘unsustainable situation’ at the Bar

Baroness Harriet Harman KC has set out 36 recommendations in her independent review of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar to tackle what she describes as a culture of “impunity” and “collusive bystanding”.

  • 8 September 2025
  • Press release

Bar Council reacts to new Sentencing Bill

Steps have been made in the right direction but if the Government wants to meet its ambitious law and order agenda, it needs a functioning system from start to finish.

  • 4 September 2025
  • Press release

Legal Aid cyber incident – updates for the Bar

The Legal Aid Agency has been the subject of a serious cyber incident. This page provides updates for the Bar

  • 21 August 2025
  • News

Reinstate Chief Justice of Ghana, says Bar Council and Commonwealth Lawyers Association

The Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) have called on the President and Government of Ghana to immediately reinstate Justice Gertrude A.E.S. Torkornoo.

  • 14 August 2025
  • Press release

Bar Council calls for ‘urgent and comprehensive’ investigation into HMCTS IT incident

The Bar Council is calling for an investigation as the HMCTS IT bug may have caused miscarriages of justice.

  • 8 August 2025
  • Press release

Bar Council AGM notice 2025

The meeting will take place on Saturday 13 September

  • 8 August 2025
  • News

Bar Council welcomes Professor Christopher Bones as new Chair of the Bar Standards Board

Professor Bones will take up the post in September

  • 25 July 2025
  • Press release

Intensive Supervision Courts expansion: rehabilitation key to tackling crime and reoffending, Bar Council says

The Bar Council has welcomed the government's announcement that it is expanding the Intensive Supervision Courts.

  • 25 July 2025
  • Press release

'Chronically under resourced' county court system is 'eroding justice', Bar Council warns

In response to a new report on the 'dysfunctional' county court, the Bar Council has called for reform and funding.

  • 24 July 2025
  • Press release

Leveson report: diversion welcome but no need to curtail trial by jury, warns Bar Council

Our initial response to Part I of the Independent review of the criminal courts

  • 9 July 2025
  • Press release

Progress on judicial diversity is ‘too slow’

Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said: “Every year we are told that there is gradual progress being made towards a more diverse judiciary, but it’s far too slow for Black lawyers and this is no longer good enough.

  • 3 July 2025
  • News

Civil legal aid boost long overdue but falls far behind inflation

Bar Council reiterates call for independent fee review body for publicly funded Bar

  • 2 July 2025
  • Press release

90% of pupils have positive experience but stress levels and doubt about future at the Bar increasing, new survey finds

A new survey of pupils has found that a vast majority of new barristers say they've had a positive pupillage experience with 8 in 10 feeling well supported by chambers or their employer.

  • 24 June 2025
  • Press release

Bar Council urges more chambers to sign Women in Law Pledge on its 6th anniversary

The Bar Council says "true equity remains a work in progress" as it encourages chambers to sign the Women in Law Pledge which is marking its 6-year anniversary.

  • 23 June 2025
  • Press release

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