Press release archive
Bar Council press releases
Samuel Townend QC elected as Bar Council Vice Chair for 2023
Samuel Townend QC has been elected Vice Chair of the Bar Council for 2023
Entries open for Bar Council’s Employed Bar Awards 2022
The Bar Council is seeking entries for the Employed Bar Awards 2022
Bar Council reaction to the Queen’s speech
Bar Council’s priorities include bill of rights, victims bill and legislation on justice, economic crimes, Brexit and trade.
Defining barristers by what we do, not by what we are
Jack Meek writes a guest blog as he is part of the #IAmTheBar cohort
Young Bar at the Four Jurisdictions Conference
For the first time ever, the Young Bar Committee has organised a session at the Four Jurisdictions Conference.
The value of peer support, offered by LawCare
Michael Lazarus highlights the support on offer from LawCare
Update on our current technical difficulties
Joint statement from the Bar Council and Bar Standards Board.
Authorisation to Practise - deadline extended
The Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board have extended the deadline for renewing practising certificates.
New data shows extent of crisis at criminal Bar
New data reveals the number of barristers practising full-time in publicly funded criminal law has declined by more than 10%.
First appearances are vital for media reporting, says journalist Tristan Kirk
In a guest blog for the Bar Council, journalist Tristan Kirk makes the case for open justice and the public's right to know.
Legal world unites to help tackle cyber threat
The Law Society and the Bar Council have teamed up to create a new tool for chambers and law firms
Bar Council pledges support for Ukrainian lawyers
The Bar Council has launched a new project to foster dialogue, solidarity and support between barristers in England and Wales and Ukrainian lawyers.
The Bar Council’s response to the Government’s Legal Aid announcement
Mark Fenhalls QC reacts to the changes announced to criminal legal aid.
IWD22: The joy of conversation
Celina Colquhoun reflects on an afternoon spent with impressive women.
IWD22: Through seeing women succeed, more will follow
Nneka Akudolu shows a determination to push upwards and forward.
IWD22: Leading from the front
Hannah M Markham QC says we need to nurture, support and retain women from all backgrounds.
IWD22: Courtesy and civility are the bedrock of kindness
Valerie Charbit suggests there is already kindness at the Bar but we need to create more of it.
IWD22: The International Day of Women Judges
Justice Maura McGowan DBE sheds light on the links between Afghan and UK judges.
IWD22: Wellbeing at the Bar
Rachel Spearing encourages colleagues to find time to breathe
IWD22: Thinking critically about women’s rights and flexible working
Eleena Misra explains some of the complexities linked to employment and equalities laws
IWD22: We need hope and cooperation to solve the challenges ahead
Edite Ligere suggests that humane principles should be valued, encouraged and appreciated.
IWD22: Raising voices from marginalised communities
Christina Warner highlights her experiences as a visually impaired, LGBTQ+, disability inclusion activist and practitioner.
IWD22: The menopause should not be cast in a negative light
Lyndsey de Mestre QC sets out some of the progress and barriers for women.
IWD22: The Bar Council’s Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee
As the Co-Chair, Elaine Banton, explains the different aspects of the committee's work.
IWD22: Lessons in solidarity from the trade union movement
Lucy Chapman says the support experienced between women in the trade union movement is also alive and well at the Bar.
IWD22: More greenhouse than a glass ceiling
Susan Grocott QC outlines her positive work experiences practising as a family law barrister in Manchester.
IWD22: Equality begins at home - working mothers and the gender pay gap
Emma Hughes and Leah Nandugga argue that inequality is linked to stereotypes, family life and the division of labour at home.
IWD22: Women and the Rule of Law
Rachel Langdale QC stresses the importance of the Rule of Law and the role of women.
IWD22: We need less talk and more action
Zoe Chapman and Kitan Ososami believe there is still more work to be done.
IWD22: The importance of Role Models
Lola-Rose Avery highlights the important role of women who provide guidance and inspiration.
IWD22: Women Making Change
Heidi Stonecliffe QC explains her journey to become the first woman appointed as Queen's Counsel from within the CPS.
IWD22: Challenging unequal treatment on pay, pensions and childcare
Specialist in employment and discrimination law, Claire Darwin, explains the legal battles she has fought to achieve better rights for women at work on pay, pensions and childcare.
IWD22: Breaking the Bias
Barbara Mills QC and Charlotte Baker suggest that we all have a responsibility to make things better now and for those who come after us.
IWD22: Women who are wrongly prosecuted and convicted
Legal Director of APPEAL, Emma Torr, explains the key patterns and trends.
IWD22: A step up the ladder
Michelle Heeley QC suggests that very successful women have a duty to mentor those more junior to them.
Bar leaders condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as ‘gross violation of international law’
A joint statement in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Guest Blog: World Book Day 2022
Ahead of this year’s World Book Day on the 3 March, Barnaby Jameson QC talks about his debut novel Codename: Madeleine and how it is sometimes hard to keep fact and fiction apart.
Legal aid underpins a fair justice system, says Lord Wolfson
The minister expresses his support for a sustainable legal aid sector and criminal justice system.
Revealed: Winners of the Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards 2021
The winners of the Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards 2021.
Guest blog: What you need to know – Money Laundering
Danny Robinson QC shares an article for BarTalk, intended to assist barristers in their understanding of whether their work falls within the provisions included in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and in the Terrorism Act 2000.
‘One in six’ young barristers want to quit amid heavy workloads and burnout fears, report suggests
The Life at the Young Bar report presents a snapshot of life at the Young Bar in 2021.
Guest blog: Nationality and Borders Bill - a breach of international law?
Rhetoric aside, the Nationality and Borders Bill will do nothing to make our system fairer or more supportive, say Matt Ingham, Richard Milford (Citizenship and Immigration Team at Payne Hicks Beach) and Isaac Ricca-Richardson (Garden Court Chambers)
Guest blog: A novel idea - book recommendations for aspiring barristers
What books should aspiring barristers read? That is the question addressed in a new blog post by Jack Meek, one of the Bar Council’s Social Mobility Advocates
Barristers triple overseas income
New Bar Council data analysis of Bar Mutual figures reveals that from 2005-2020, overseas income for barristers in England & Wales has tripled
Mark Fenhalls QC, Chair-Elect of the Bar Council, inaugural speech
Incoming Chair of the Bar sets out his aims for 2022 in his inaugural speech, covering culture, regulation, court capacity and backlogs, diversity, and international issues
Guest blog: “Encouraged and focused” despite the Bar’s challenges
Francesca Kirby, criminal barrister at Red Lion Chambers, shares her experiences of this year’s Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference, which took place on 17-20 November, and the fact that, despite the challenges faced by today’s Bar she came away from the conference reinvigorated and hopeful
Guest blog: Law reform - Drug Consumption Rooms a key weapon in war on drugs?
Effective drug abuse initiatives such as Drug Consumption Rooms must be explored if the UK drugs crisis is to be effectively tackled, says this year’s Bar Council Law Reform Essay Competition winner, Joseph Lord, in a blog based on his winning entry.
Guest blog: Race discrimination – “The law is an incredibly powerful tool for holding bodies to account”
Jabeer Butt OBE, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, guest blogs for BarTalk on the importance of providing funding for legal challenges in race discrimination, how it can drive every employer and public service to understand their responsibilities and the consequences for not following the law in relation to race, and how a new initiative has been established for legal practitioners to secure financial assistance for their clients in race discrimination cases.
Guest blog: From Iceland to the Bering Straits
As a rank-and-file practitioner working at the Court for 30 years, Bill Bowring, argues that the Court of the Council of Europe is the most effective mechanism in the world for protecting human rights.
Guest blog: The good, the bad and the diversity of social media
Keith Hardie, Partner at MD Communications, the boutique, global reputation and communications consultancy working for the legal and professional service sectors, gives his insights into the recent Bar and Young Bar Conference session he chaired on social media
General Council of the Bar 2022/23 Practising Certificate Fees and Budget consultation
The Bar is encouraged to share its views on the GCB's budget plans for 2022/23
Guest blog: A Proposal for Drug Consumption Rooms in the UK
Joseph Lord, winner of the 2021 Law Reform Essay Competition: 'The War is Lost: A Proposal for Drug Consumption Rooms in the UK'
Landmark investigation and report on race and the Bar launched
The Bar Council’s Race Working Group has launched a new report addressing inequality at the Bar and proposing a series of recommendations for action.
Guest blog: “Perhaps now it is time for more direct action” at the criminal Bar
Zoë Chapman, barrister at Red Lion Chambers and Bar Council Social Mobility Advocate (2019), blogs on why many are leaving the criminal Bar and how the extra funding for the justice system in last week’s Budget might not be enough
Bar Council says Budget is "a step in the right direction" on justice funding
Chair of the Bar responds to the Autumn Budget
Bar Council responds to "alarming" NAO criminal justice findings
Derek Sweeting QC, Chair of the Bar Council, responds to the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report, Reducing the Backlog in the Criminal Courts
Bar Council supports new legal aid reform recommendations
The Bar Council has welcomed a series of recommendations in an independent, cross-party review by The Westminster Commission on reforming legal aid
Bar Council highlights barristers championing social mobility
11 new #IAmTheBar Social Mobility Advocates announced for 2021/22
Bar Council urges action as Crown Court backlog increases again to over 60,000 cases
The Bar Council responds to criminal court statistics for Q2 2021
Bar Council survey shows rising reports of harassment and discrimination in barristers’ profession
Efforts to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination in the barristers’ profession will continue to be a priority for the Bar Council following the results of a new survey of barristers’ working lives which shows a rise in reports of inappropriate behaviour since 2017
Guest blog: Max Hill QC, DPP – the path to becoming Treasury Counsel is not a closed shop
Max Hill QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, blogs for BarTalk about the new Treasury Counsel Pathway, a positive action initiative designed to support increased diversity at the very highest levels of advocacy
Bar Council reaction to the appointment of the eighth Justice Secretary since 2010
Chair of the Bar looks ahead to working with new Lord Chancellor
Guest blog: Placing UK centre stage in cryptoasset dispute resolution
Fraudsters continue to embrace cryptoassets as a mechanism to facilitate fraud, says professional services and accountancy organisation, Grant Thornton, which is why it is vital that legal practitioners continue to pioneer approaches to global crypto fraud investigations and civil recovery.
Bar Council warns against rising use of 'get out of jail free cards' to avoid courts
Bar Council warning following latest quarterly criminal justice statistics show drop in prosecutions and a rise in out of court disposals
Bar Council AGM notice 2021
The AGM of the Bar of England and Wales will be held on Saturday 18 September 2021
Bar Council, BHRC and Law Society urge UK Government to offer asylum to legal professionals in Afghanistan
The Bar Council, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, and the Law Society of England and Wales have issued a joint statement on the situation for legal professionals in Afghanistan
Guest blog: HMCTS sets out new measures in court and tribunals
Paul Harris, Operations Director at HMCTS blogs on the latest developments on court capacity and safety that the Bar needs to know about
Bar Council responds to announcement on courts and Temporary Operating Arrangements
Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC, calls for long-term investment and highlights the impact of a longer court day.
Bar Council responds to new BSB report on retention at the Bar
Chair of the Bar comments on new findings around female and ethnic minority barristers.
Bar Council responds to introduction of Judicial Review and Courts Bill
The Chair of the Bar says governments and public bodies must be effectively held to account by the public via the courts.
Bar Council: More to be done on judicial diversity
The Bar Council responds to new statistics on diversity in the judiciary
Cyber attack warning for chambers
The Bar Council is ramping up efforts to help barristers guard against the surge in cyber attacks
Court Covid restrictions: Update from Chair of the Bar and Circuit Leaders
Important update from Bar leaders on how courts will operate safely from 19 July
Guest blog: Attorney General on the Bar’s role in tackling contempt of court on social media
Attorney General Michael Ellis QC MP writes exclusively for BarTalk on his recent #ThinkBeforeYouPost social media campaign and how barristers can play a key role in public legal education around contempt of court.
Bar Council warns of "persistent pandemic gap" in pupillages
Bar Council responds to BSB statistical report on BPTC student
Guest blog: “No hesitation” in returning to the virtual Pupillage Fair
Lena Amartey, employment practitioner at 9 St John Street Chambers, Manchester explains why she had no hesitation in signing up to participate again in the Bar Council’s Pupillage Fair 2021
Winner of the Bar Placement Scheme Blog Competition 2021: Digital Courtroom by Kinjell Singh
Read Kinjell Singh's winning blog entry about their experience of the Bar Placement Scheme
Bar Placement Scheme Blog Competition 2021 – Highly Commended: A Virtual Journey into 5 Essex Court by Shreya Tanna
Read Shreya Tanna's highly commended blog entry about their virtual placement at 5 Essex Court
Bar Placement Scheme Blog Competition 2021 – Highly Commended: At the Bar by Umar Majeed
Find out more about Umar Majeed's experience on the Bar Placement Scheme
Bar Placement Scheme Blog Competition 2021 – Highly Commended: Exploring Chancery by Imaan Kamran Malik
Explore the world of commercial chancery law in Imaan Kamran Malik's account of the Bar Placement Scheme
Guest blog: Working together to improve diversity, inclusion and progression for those who prosecute for the CPS
Rebecca Lawrence, CEO of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), writes for Bar Talk about working with the Bar on two pivotal developments which will drive progress for diversity and inclusion in the criminal justice system
Blog: Getting paid - top tips on civil (non-family) legal aid billing
The Bar Council’s Adrian Vincent, Head of Policy: Legal Practice and Remuneration, pulls together the highlights from the recent Bar Council Civil (non-family) Legal Aid Billing seminar on how civil practitioners can make sure they get paid for their work.
Guest blog: Pin your support to stand against bullying and harassment
Barrister Lydia Pemberton of 3PB explains how barristers can join together to tackle bullying and harassment with a simple, single gesture.
Guest blog: New ways of working can reduce the Bar’s environmental footprint
The re-evaluation of the way that we work both from home and in chambers can very easily include some simple steps to reduce our environmental footprint, writes Zoe Saunders, barrister at St John’s Chambers
Guest blog: Tackling the ‘wall of silence’ - how can chambers spot signs of domestic abuse?
Shahid Shoeb, Director of Legal Service for the Domestic Abuse Alliance blogs about the role of chambers in tackling domestic abuse, and the tools and guidance that are available to support staff, clerks and members of chambers.
New figures show court backlog going the wrong way, says Bar Council
Bar Council responds to latest statistics which show criminal court backlog is increasing
Bar Council says the Bar must have confidence in sanctions against sexual harassment
Bar Council urges BTAS to look again at some of its proposals for dealing with sexual harassment at the Bar
Bar Council warns of risks with moving to smaller juries
Bar Council says long-term investment, not reduced jury sizes is what the criminal justice system requires
Bar Council and Commonwealth Lawyers Association joint statement on China sanctions
The CLA and the Bar Council jointly call upon the Government of the People’s Republic of China to review and withdraw the sanctions imposed on legal practitioners.
Blog: Hybrid working - where do we go from here?
With many chambers now looking at making both home and office working a feature of chambers life, Carolyn Entwistle, the Bar Council’s Director of Services and Tom Pennington-Hare, Legal Director, Fox Williams LLP, look at some of practicalities they face in implementing a hybrid way of working
Blog: A glimpse behind the scenes at the Bar Council
The inner workings of the Bar Council, including its relationship with the regulator, the Bar Standards Board, is revealed by Natalie Zara, Head of Governance at the Bar Council
Guest blog: Greater representation is needed of those with visible and non-visible disabilities at the Bar
Barrister Christina Warner of Goldsmith Chambers writes about her experience with Stargardts Disease and how the Bar can better support those with disabilities.
Bar Council responds to the Government's Rape Review
The investigation and prosecution of allegations of rape has been crying out for reform, says Bar Council Chair Derek Sweeting QC.
Blog: Getting paid - top tips on family legal aid billing
Shiva Ancliffe QC of Coram Chambers and the Bar Council’s Remuneration Committee summarises the top tips from the recent Bar Council Family Legal Aid Billing seminar
Bar Council: “Racism should not be tolerated at the Bar"
Chair of the Bar warns that offensive comments can harm the Bar's reputation
Blog: Getting paid - top tips on criminal legal aid billing
The Bar Council’s Adrian Vincent, Head of Policy: Legal Practice and Remuneration pulls together the top tips from the recent Bar Council Criminal Legal Aid Billing seminar on how criminal practitioners can make sure they get paid for their work.
Blog: The good, the bad and the ugly – the ups and downs of social media
Ahead of chairing the Bar Council’s first Navigating Social Media for the Bar webinar next week (27 May), Shiryn Sayani, the Bar Council's Communications Manager (Policy and Campaigns) looks at how the past year has made social media even more important for barristers and chambers to get to grips with.