Press release archive
Bar Council press releases
New research reveals full impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the self-employed Bar
Government support for the self-employed haven't worked
Guest blog: Attorney General - – restoring public confidence in criminal justice
The Attorney General, Suella Braverman QC MP, guest blogs on plans to change the guidelines on disclosure and the CPIA Code in order to restore the public’s confidence in the administration of the criminal justice system.
Guest blog: On the front line with Black Protest Legal Support UK
Yvonne Kramo, Black Protest Legal Support UK (BPLS) committee member, writes on how hundreds of BPLS legal observers have been assisting Black Lives Matter protestors
Guest blog: Covid-19, Ghana and the rule of law
In the first of a series of articles on international perspectives on the rule of law in light of Covid-19, barrister David Owusu-Yianoma focuses on Ghana
Guest blog: Social immobility in a Covid-19 era
Sailesh Mehta of Red Lion Chambers writes about how social mobility has changed since he came to the Bar and the impact Covid-19 is having on progress across the profession
Guest blog: Bringing back trials: A look behind the scenes
Iain MacDonald, Chair of the Bar Council’s Restarting Criminal Justice Working Group gives an exclusive look behind the scenes into the work of the group and the options for bringing back jury trials safely and quickly.
Young Bar blog: Supporting the Young Bar During Covid-19: Part Four
Read the latest update from Katherine Duncan & Joanne Kane, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Bar Council's Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) on why young barristers need to take action to protect chambers from financial collapse and back a new campaign
Bar Council steps up to help 'essential worker' self-employed barristers get tested for Covid-19
Self-employed barristers can now apply for Coronavirus testing through the Bar Council.
Guest blog: Covid-19, Anti Money Laundering Measures and Customer Due Diligence
Christopher Convey, Chair of the Bar Council’s Money Laundering Working Group
Young Bar blog: Supporting the Young Bar During Covid-19: Part 3
Katherine Duncan and Joanne Kane, Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the Bar Council's Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC)
Guest blog: Shielding the Rule of Law from the effects of Covid-19
Steven Thompson QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s International Committee
New research: Delaying justice will leave us with no barristers to pick up the pieces
Bar Council's latest research shows beliefs that people are now unable to properly access justice
Bar Council response to latest crime figures on charging rates
The Bar Council has responded to the latest police recorded crime and outcomes data, calling figures "appalling".
Guest blog: Susan Acland-Hood, CEO, HMCTS - Uniting to tackle coronavirus in our courts and tribunals
Susan Acland-Hood, Chief Executive, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), guest blogs for BarTalk on how HMCTS is in constant dialogue with the Bar and others to make sure the courts and tribunals keep running despite the Covid-19 crisis.
Bar Council response to CPS decision to prioritise serious cases
Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar responds to the CPS announcement that prosecutors are to prioritise serious cases to manage the impact of coronavirus
Bar Council reaction to the Justice Committee evidence session being held in private
The Bar Council has issued a statement in response to the Justice Select Committee evidence session with the Lord Chancellor on the impact of Covid-19 on the justice system being held online and in private.
Young Bar blog: Supporting the Young Bar during COVID-19 Part 2
Read the latest update from Katherine Duncan & Joanne Kane, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) on their progress to ensure the safety of young barristers and pupils during the times of COVID-19
Bar Council urges Government to act over the Bar's Covid-19 financial fears
New survey findings reveal main concerns of the profession
Bar Council: Chancellor's financial package must match up
Ahead of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s expected support package for the self-employed, the Bar Council has urged the self-employed who work to keep the justice system running are factored into his plans.
Young Bar blog: Supporting the Young Bar during COVID-19
Katherine Duncan & Joanne Kane, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) share how they work to ensure the safety of young barristers and pupils during the times of COVID-19
Update from the Chair of the Bar: Attending court following the Prime Minister's latest announcement
Updated guidance on attending hearings
Updated guidance to the Bar from the Bar Council in the wake of new measures announced by the Prime Minister to limit the impact of Covid-19
Self-employed barristers and chambers eligible for coronavirus measures to support businesses
Bar Council secures confirmation of VAT deferred payments and Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme eligibility for the Bar
Chair of the Bar's Update: Further detail on 'key workers' during Covid-19
Chair of the Bar, Amanda Pinto QC's message on the most up to date guidance from the Government on 'key worker' status in the justice system
Bar Council: Barristers are key workers
In response to the government's announcement of the criteria of a 'key worker', the Bar Council has issued a statement.
Guest blog: Susan Acland-Hood, CEO, HM Courts & Tribunals Service - Unprecedented times
Susan Acland-Hood, CEO, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, blogs exclusively for BarTalk on the latest developments in the courts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic
Bar Council calls on Ministry of Justice to urgently halt jury trials
The Bar Council has issued a statement in response to the Ministry of Justice's decision to keep the courts in England and Wales operating normally.
Young Bar blog: Pupillage Interview Advice - the Best Things in Life are Free
Aspiring barristers shouldn't have to pay for help when preparing for pupillage interviews, says the Bar Council's Young Barristers' Committee
Bar Council reaction to "fragmented" justice Budget from Chancellor
Budget 2020: Bar Council reaction
Resolution on the Rule of Law
The Bar Council has joined hands with 46 legal organisations in support of the Protection of the Rule of Law in Europe, as well as the independence of the judiciary in Poland.
Five things we did in February 2020
See a snapshot of the Bar Council's work in our feature "Five things the Bar Council did” and read the top five picks from February
Learning to Mediate: A View from the Bar Council
The Bar Council’s Head of Services, Carolyn Entwistle, and Policy Analyst, Stuart McMillan, recently attended The Society of Mediators’ Foundation Mediation course to better understand the place of mediation in today’s legal market.
Budget 2020: Bar Council budget submission to HM Treasury
Ahead of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget on March 11 2020, the Bar Council has submitted its 10 asks to HM Treasury to create a more sustainable justice system
Guest blog: Social mobility – does Oxbridge matter?
Stuart Jessop, barrister at 6 Pump Court blogs on whether his polytechnic background was a benefit or a barrier to gaining pupillage and whether the Bar needs to look more closely on whether it recruits on potential or on other factors such as age, race, gender, what school or university you went to
Young Bar blog: Elevating publicly available legal resources: The Legal Design Sprint
Joanne Kane, Vice Chair of the Bar Council's Young Barristers' Committee (YBC) looks in more detail at 'legal design sprints'
Regulating legal services: justice, not simplicity is the goal
The Bar Council’s Melanie Mylvaganam, Policy Manager: Regulatory Affairs, Law Reform and Ethics and Eleanore Hughes, Policy Analyst: Regulatory Affairs, Law Reform and Ethics, give an overview of the issues discussed at a recent forum.
Guest blog: Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP - Legal education can empower young people
Teaching young people about the law will create a more empowered generation
Young people call for freedom, democracy and knowledge of the law, says new poll
Justice Week 2020 survey findings
Five things we did in January 2020
See a snapshot of the Bar Council's work in our feature "Five things the Bar Council did” and read the top five picks from January
Judicial review: Bar Council reaction to latest comments on reform
Bar Council points to 44% drop in judicial review applications
Legal Tech: Gamechanger or ethical dilemma?
Bar Council policy experts Melanie Mylvaganam and Stuart McMillan discuss the ethical and regulatory implications of the introduction of AI into the legal market, as well as the potential dangers.
Young Bar blog: Supporting newcomers and preparing for our annual workshop
Katherine Duncan, Chair of the Bar Council's Young Barristers' Committee, blogs on what the YBC has in store for newcomers to the profession in 2020
Bar Council warns over knee-jerk move towards indefinite detention
Locking someone up indefinitely without due process in our country has been prohibited as long ago as The Middle Ages.
Statement of the Bar Council on the latest attacks on the independence of the judiciary in Poland
The Bar Council expresses its grave concern at the latest legislative measure by the Polish parliament, passed on 23 January 2020, which interferes, once more, with the independence of the judiciary, a principle which is internationally recognised.
Bar Council marks Day of the Endangered Lawyer
Today (24 January) marks the 10th Day of the Endangered Lawyer, a day to acknowledge and reflect on the significant risk lawyers across the world face in upholding the rule of law.
Guest blog: Lawyers in danger
Patrick Duffy, barrister and member of the Bar Council's International Committee, blogs ahead of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer (Friday 24 January) on why the dangers lawyers face in Pakistan and elsewhere across the world has consequences for the rule of law.
Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards Winners 2019
The winners of the 2019 Bar Council Legal Reporting Awards are BBC journalist Clive Coleman and the i paper’s Rob Hastings.
Bar Council responds to televised court plans
Reality TV-style broadcasting of criminals being sentenced comes with risks that need to be guarded against, warns the Bar Council today as the Government looks to make the justice system more open with plans to film Crown Court sentencing.
Bar Council responds to new QC appointments
114 new Queen’s Counsel appointed in the 2019 competition.
The Young Barristers’ Committee vision for 2020
The Young Barristers’ Committee vision for 2020
Justice Week 2020 is coming soon
Justice Week 2020 runs from 24-28 February 2020 and will see the Bar Council, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and the Law Society team up to promote the importance of the rule of law to young people.
End of year highlights (Legal Practice and Remuneration)
End of year round-up of highlights from the Legal Practice and Remuneration Policy team.
End of year highlights (Diversity & Inclusion and CSR)
End of year round-up of highlights from the Diversity & Inclusion and CSR Policy team (which includes Education, Young Bar and Employed Bar).
End of year highlights (International)
End of year round-up of highlights from the International Policy team.
End of year highlights (Law Reform, Regulatory Affairs & Ethics)
End of year round-up of highlights from the Law Reform, Regulatory Affairs and Ethics Policy team.
Guest blog: New client care letter and other news for Public Access barristers
Andrew Granville Stafford, member of the Bar Council, the Bar Council Ethics Committee and Chair of the Bar Council’s Direct Access Panel, blogs on new developments that public access barristers need to be aware of, including a new client care letter.
Guest blog: how the arbitration world can learn from civil procedure
The winner of this year’s Bar Council Law Reform essay competition, Penny Tridimas, guest blog on how the world of arbitration could learn from civil procedure to overcome shortcomings
Guest blog: Karen Safo on making the Bar more inclusive
Barrister-at-law Karen Safo on what you can do to foster inclusion at the Bar
BAR COUNCIL LEGAL REPORTING AWARDS 2019
CALLING ALL JOURNALISTS - The Bar Council's 28th Legal Reporting Awards competition is now open.
Black History Month blog: How we benefit from bringing Black History Month into the workplace
Abimbola Johnson, barrister at 25 Bedford Row, writes in BarTalk on why it is important for non-black members of the profession to consider how they view Black History Month, particularly if their workplace and social circle is not particularly diverse.
Black History Month blog: “There are still relatively few of us”
Barrister Miranda Grell of 10 King’s Bench Walk Chambers guest blogs for BarTalk in Black History Month on the progress as well as the remaining challenges in diversity at the Bar.
Black History Month blog: It is about inclusion and belonging
Karen Safo, barrister at law and human rights activist, asks in her guest blog for BarTalk whether initiatives aimed at diversifying the profession are enough and that becoming a barrister is about feeling included and a sense of belonging
Bar Council 2020 Elections: Results announced
The results of the Bar Council 2020 elections have been announced.
Queen's Speech 2019: Bar Council reaction
Chair of the Bar Richard Atkins QC reacts to the 2019 Queen's Speech.
MyBar maintenance
MyBar is undergoing temporary maintenance work
Guest blog: My year as a Social Mobility Advocate
Barrister and 2018 Bar Council Social Mobility Advocate, Natasha Shotunde explains how the ‘I Am the Bar’ campaign was just the beginning in promoting equality and making the profession more accessible
#IAmTheBar guest blog: Social mobility and valuing how you are different
Mass Ndow-Njie, pupil barrister at the Government Legal Department, blogs about valuing what makes you different to secure pupillage.
International growth at the Bar
Barristers' income from international work
Bar Council: Justice and the rule of law at risk
The Bar Council's Party Conference briefing sends a clear message to party policy-makers
Bar Council election candidates announced
2020 Bar Council election
Bar Council reaction to NAO report on court reform progress
Richard Atkins QC, Chair of the Bar, responds to National Audit Office report on HM Courts and Tribunal Service’s (HMCTS) courts modernisation programme
Bar Council comments on independence of the judiciary
The Bar Council expects the Government to uphold the rule of law in this country.
Bar Council comments on independence of the judiciary
The Bar Council expects the Government to uphold the rule of law in this country.