As the approved regulator, the General Council of the Bar is consulting the profession on the planned 2026/27 budget and the implications for the practising certificate fee (PCF), before submitting a proposal to the Legal Services Board for approval.
The consultation closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 4 January 2026.
A link to the consultation paper is below.
Consultation questions
- Do you agree with the General Council of the Bar's proposal to increase the practising certificate fee (PCF) for 2026/27 as detailed in the consultation document? Please give reasons for your answer.
- Do you agree that the PCF for 2065/27 represents value for money?And why?
- Are you adversely impacted by the proposed level of the practising fee due to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 (such as age, disability or sex) or due to your individual practising arrangements? If so, please tell us why and how we could better meet your needs. Do you agree with our initial Equality Impact Analysis (EIA) of the practising fee, which we have provided with this consultation (Annex B)?
- Do you agree with the proposed changes to the entities fees as detailed in Annex C of the consultation paper? And why?
- Do you have any other comments regarding PCF or the General Council of the Bar budget for 2026/27?
Read the consultation paper:
General Council of the Bar 2026-27 PCF and budget consultation
How to respond:
Please use the online survey form to submit your response to the consultation questions above. The deadline for submissions is 11.59pm, Sunday 4 January 2026.