What is it the Bar Council does? Here's a glimpse of just some of the work we have done in July 2016.      

  1. The Bar Council introduced a Maternity Mentoring Scheme to help barristers with children return to work, as well as a Flexible Working Policy guide for chambers. 
  2. A working group was set up by the Bar Council to consider the implications for the Bar of Brexit, and highlighted the importance of UK legal services in response to TheCityUK report. 
  3. The publication of Lord Justice Briggs' Civil Courts Structure Review saw the Bar Council give its reaction to the report in the media. 
  4. Another successful Bar Placement Week, the Bar Council's flagship social mobility initiative took place. 
  5. A Contingent Legal Aid Fund working group, which would fund litigation for those that would not qualify for legal aid, was set up by the Bar Council with the Law Society and CILEx. 
  6. Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC welcomed the Lord Chancellor Elizabeth Truss MP to her new role with a speech at her swearing in ceremony. 
  7. The Young Barristers' Committee visited Birmingham and held an open meeting, with the assistance of the Midlands Circuit, to better support and communicate with young barristers outside of London. 
  8. The Bar Council launched a survey to better understand the working environment of the employed Bar. 
  9. The Young Barristers' Committee held its first Toolkit seminar on practice management, building on the material available on the Young Bar Hub. 
  10. Secured cross party support for amendments at the Lords Committee stage of the Investigatory Powers Bill to better protect the client's right to legal privilege.

Much of this work is funded by the Bar Representation Fee (BRF) which is a £100 per year subscription.