A Bar Council spokesperson said:

“We had been speaking to the government since May about this issue because many barristers were required to attend court in person overseas and needed an exemption in order to attend hearings in England upon their return. On 8 June 2020 the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force. By regulation 4(9)(c) a person may not break their self-isolation except “to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings”. Because it was unclear who was specifically included in this exemption, we have continued to press the Department for Transport to confirm, as it has now done, whether barristers are included. They have now confirmed that the permission to leave a place of self-isolation to participate in legal proceedings applies to anyone involved in the proceedings, including defendants, witnesses and instructing solicitors.”

ENDS