Press release archive
Bar Council press releases
New survey from Bar Council finds barristers at “breaking point”
Findings show some signs of recovery in workload, but highlight the extreme financial and psychological hardship still facing many barristers.
Bar Council: Closing courts should be a last resort
Chair of the Bar says government can and must do all it can to allow the work of the courts to continue
Running on Empty: New report finds serious problems with legal help for the public
A newly published report “Running on Empty” from the Bar Council reveals the severity of problems in the civil legal aid system.
Guest blog: New Access Award ‘taster’ initiative aims to improve Bar diversity
All too often we hear that people see the Bar as a closed shop, says Amy Smith, a barrister at 9 St John Street, but “diversity at the bar really does matter,” she says in her guest blog for BarTalk, which is why the new 9SJS Access Award initiative aims to give those thinking about a career at the Bar a deep insight into what life can be like as a barrister and play its part in improving diversity in the profession
Levelling the playing field in fraud – Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar
Although there are greater numbers of women getting fraud work at the junior end, we are a long way from parity, writes Chair of the Bar, Amanda Pinto QC
Guest blog: Why we cannot take our human rights for granted
Stephen Cragg QC, barrister and Vice-Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, guest blogs for BarTalk on International Human Rights Day (10 December) on why protecting human rights and role of human rights defenders is as important as ever today
Guest blog: The Lord Chancellor on investing in justice
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP, guest blogs on the coronavirus pandemic and how this shaped his priorities for the recent 2020 Spending Review
Guest blog: 2020 – a view from a junior barrister
Barrister Tim Kiely, who manages a general criminal practice at Red Lion Chambers, looks back on 2020 - “not a year that some of us expected to survive” – giving a perspective from the junior end of the Bar
Interview: Philip Dykes SC, Chair of the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association
Mina Heung of Whitestone Chambers and member of the Bar Council’s International Committee, recently interviewed the Chair of the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association, Philip Dykes SC, for his views on the key regulations in place in Hong Kong to assist with preventing the spread of Covid-19
Guest blog: Law Reform Essay Competition 2020 winner
Oliver Brewis, winner of the 2020 Law Reform Essay Competition, guest blogs for the Bar Council on his winning essay.
Guest blog: Top tips on accessibility during the pupillage application process
Isabel Baylis gives tips for how chambers and other organisations can ensure applicants with disabilities aren't blocked off from showing their potential in recruitment processes.
Q&A: How the pandemic has made law tech a priority
Global legal tech company, ABC Legal Services’ Sascha Mehlhase, Radley Angelo and Brandon Fuller discuss how the pandemic has rapidly pushed forward technological advances that were not a priority for the legal sector in the past. They look at what it means for access to justice and practitioners
Leading the charge: The international view – Bar and Young Bar Conference
Chair of the International Committee of the Bar Council, Steven Thompson QC, chaired a panel discussion entitled “Leading the Charge” at last week’s Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference, featuring speakers with huge experience in crime, commercial, chancery and family in the international sphere who set out their visions for the future
Guest blog: Sean Wilson, Chair of the Government Legal Department’s Race Network
Sean Wilson, senior lawyer at the Government Legal Department and Chair of its Race Network writes about his journey to the Bar and overcoming feelings of being an outsider
Guest blog: Chambers must play their part in law-dominated Social Mobility Employer Index
Sarah Atkinson, CEO of the Social Mobility Foundation, guest blogs for BarTalk on socioeconomic diversity in the legal profession, singling out the only chambers that ranked in the 2020 Social Mobility Index and giving three reasons why more chambers must join them in participating in the Index next year.
Guest blog: Why the CPS is working with the Bar to make the justice system a more inclusive space
Rebecca Lawrence, CEO of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), writes for Bar Talk about the work the CPS is doing to improve diversity and proportionality on the CPS external advocate panel
Guest blog: Why the Pupillage Gateway is an essential tool for improving divsersity
Laurie-Anne Power of 25 Bedford Row and the Bar Council’s Race Working Group looks at the equality and diversity benefits of using the Bar Council’s Pupillage Gateway, and its role in promoting an accessible and inclusive profession.
Guest blog: Only 2% of UK courts are accessible for the disabled
New research has found that most UK courts are not accessible for the disabled. However, a new, digital tool could help disabled court users overcome some of the hurdles they face in accessing justice, says Greenlight’s Hasna Haidar
Guest blog: Lessons learned from implementing a successful diversity initiative
Adeola Fadipe, pupil barrister at Outer Temple Chambers, writes about things she learnt when setting up her own diversity initiative, BME Legal, which can help chambers to recruit and retain diverse talent
Black History Month spotlight: Diversity on the Midland Circuit
Karen Kabweru-Namulemu, Midland Circuit rep on the Bar Council’s Race Working Group, writes about local initiatives to improve racial diversity and access to the Bar in the Midlands.
Guest blog: Safe Spaces – raising concerns about safety at the Bar
Sophie Garner, barrister and mediator at St Philips Chambers, writes about how the Bar Council is using Talk to Spot to paint a picture of how barristers are being put at risk in court, and how you can help real action to be taken.
Guest blog: “We want to make sure women have a reason to remain at the Bar”
With the arrival of the newly-formed Themis: The Intersectional Women Barristers' Alliance, its three co-founders, Margherita Cornaglia, Ailsa McKeon and Luna Spada, guest blog for BarTalk on why intersectionality is so important in pushing for equal opportunities, equal access to the Bar and equal progression within the profession
Guest blog: The expected benefits of the new Sentencing Code
Dominic Lewis and Alexandra Robson, of the Bar Council’s Law Reform Committee, look at the benefits expected of the new Sentencing Code, which began as a vast area of work for the Law Commission, and is now awaiting Royal Assent.
Who will be crowned the next Legal Reporting Award winner?
Bar Council opens entries for the revamped Legal Reporting Awards
Bar Council calls for commitment to zero tolerance on discrimination
New race-focused guidance launched in Black History Month
Government paying junior barristers less than national minimum wage
Bar Council provides blueprint for justice system in Spending Review paper
Chair of the Bar: The Law Officers must defend the rule of law, even when it is unpopular with the Government
Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar, says that even with the latest amendments to the Internal Market Bill, the rule of law and the UK's reputation remains under threat
#IAmTheBar guest blog: Sounding different, not giving up and taking my shot
Jack Meek, pupil barrister at the Government Legal Department, writes about his experience with social mobility and his journey from Northern Ireland to the GLD, as well as why he feels an affinity with the Broadway musical “Hamilton”.
New sentencing plans “not the answer to restoring public trust”
The Bar Council says new Government plans for tougher sentencing are not the answer to restoring public trust in the justice system
Covid-19 creating new challenges for social mobility at the Bar
Bar Council campaign grows by 10 more barristers as new Leadership Programme announced
Guest blog: Zimbabwe and the escalating crackdown
Michael Ivers QC, Membership Secretary of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, guest blogs on the increasingly concerning crackdown on dissent in Zimbabwe and what it means for human rights and the rule of law in the country.
Guest blog: Life as a disabled barrister
Barrister, Sarah Phillimore guest blogs on the challenges faced as a disabled barrister and how the physical environment of most courts, and the journeys to them, act as a barrier to the physically disabled.
Guest blog: Strictly legal – do entities offer a more positive future for the Bar?
Nigel Wallis, Director, O’Connors Legal Services Limited, looks at how in the face of legal aid cuts, the impact of the pandemic, the rise of public access and other factors, BSB entities might now be the way forward for the Bar in future.
How barristers can make the most of social media
CEO of MD Communications, Melissa Davis, who prompted one-time novice turned titan of Twitter, Gerard McDermott QC to join social media, looks at how the way that barristers use social media has changed and provides tips with input from the Bar's top Twitterati on what those aspiring to build a brand on social media can learn from those already using it.
Guest blog: Colombia, Covid-19 and the rule of law
Toby Cadman of Guernica 37 Chambers and the Bar Council’s International Committee continues the focus on Covid-19 in South America, this time considering the position in Colombia.
Return to work in Chambers
A recent LPMA and IBC survey found that chambers have seen very little increase in the number of members returning to the office.
Guest blog: Brazil, Covid-19 and the rule of law
Frederico Singarajah of Hardwicke Chambers and the Bar Council's International Committee considers the rule of law position in Brazil.
Guest blog: Qualifying as a mediator with the Bar Council's acclaimed programme
Jonathan Dingle and Andrea Barnes, Joint Heads of Chambers at Normanton Chambers and Society of Mediators Course Leaders, explain why it's worth taking the Bar Council's exceptional accredited mediator training course.
New report reveals England & Wales spends more on coffee than on law and order
Bar Council's latest report reveals the extremely worrying scale of law and order in Britain
Guest blog: How will restricting jury trial and reducing jury numbers affect the delivery of justice?
Tana Adkin QC, barrister at Charter Chambers and member of the Bar Councils Retention Panel, looks in-depth at the many reasons why jury trials should not be tampered with
Guest blog: Gender-bias - are you speaking the language of the legal directories?
Even the language used by referees in legal directories is gender-biased, says Melissa Davis, CEO of MD Communications, but efforts are already being made in the legal sector to challenge this subconscious bias in language, which can act as a barrier for women in law looking to progress their careers
Why Hong Kong’s national security laws are incompatible with the rule of law
The Bar Council’s International Committee member, David O’Mahony, argues that Hong Kong’s national security law contains provisions that are incompatible with the rule of law
Guest blog: India, Covid-19 and the rule of law
David O’Mahony of the Bar Council's International Committee and barrister at 7 Bedford Row, assesses the unfolding and complex situation in India, raising concerns as to the legal basis for the powers being exercised and the way in which they are being enforced in light of Covid-19
Guest blog: Taiwan, Covid-19 and the rule of law
Simon Milnes of the Bar Council's International Committee, barrister at Twenty Essex, highlights that there is no sign of the Executive in Taiwan seeking to use the pandemic as a pretext for increasing its powers or weakening the rule of law
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