I can guarantee that pretty much anything that is hitting the newspapers or on social media there will be someone on the Bar Council's Law Reform Committee who is having a look at it, to check if we need to respond, or we might be doing so already.
Our committee has grappled with topics including Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), private prosecutions, criminal appeals, zero hours contracts, non-disclosure agreements, contempt of court and more. There's never a dull moment and I get to see the hard work done on behalf of the Bar.
I first became involved, I hate to confess it, but I think it was two decades ago. I joined the Young Barristers' Committee because it's important to take part in the work of the Bar and to do something outside of your own practice areas. I see it as an act of public service, which has always appealed to me.
That is how I got involved: I was co-opted onto the Law Reform Committee as a young barrister representative. Here I am all these years later in my fourth and final year as the Chair.
I have been privy to important changes and seen things from the inside track as a committee member, because I've been able to contribute. For example, working with Baroness Harman on the review into bullying and harassment at the Bar, which is important to all of us.
I have seen the seismic changes that affect the Bar with each change of government and each change of Chair of the Bar, each of whom I've got to know over time; each has tried in their own way to navigate the many challenges using their own perspective.
What has kept me going is law reform, which I've always been passionate about. I take great pride in the work I do for my clients, but there is also something very special about doing work that affects the law on a large scale, and you can do this as part of the Law Reform Committee.
We work with different stakeholders, engage with parliamentarians and we make representations that can shape the law for the future, for future generations of barristers and for the public. Our committee's work is focused on representing the Bar, but it is often about the public interest, and the two often intersect.
Bar Council work is really interesting. I like being able to keep my finger on the pulse of different practice areas and I don’t think I would have the breadth of surface knowledge in so many fields of law otherwise and the depth that comes from working on some consultations. No one can know everything, but I wouldn’t know what was going on, to the same extent, if I wasn't doing this valuable committee work and I really enjoy it.
The committee organises an annual Law Reform Essay Competition. Every member of the committee is asked to mark the essays and a tradition I've been pleased to establish is the annual tea party for the essay competition winners and runners up. We've had many instances where the essay cash prize has been put to very good use and working on the essay competition has been really rewarding.
Every year, the Law Reform Committee members try and find a topic for the Law Reform Lecture that is stimulating, connects to the Rule of Law, is relevant to our work and interesting to the public. We usually host the lecture in summer, and barristers come along to the lecture, and we have dinners and events afterwards. It's all hands-on deck.
In 2024, we organised Reimagining law for the Earth. In 2025, the lecture was given by Sir Nicholas Mostyn and he focused on family law, open justice and the rule of law.
The committee often works on submissions and consultation responses; we have a system in place that involves various barristers providing an update at each of our meetings and they will cover their practice area. Part of the role of being on the committee is to tell us about the things that are happening or likely to happen. We can't respond to all consultations, but we have a great relationship with the Law Commission, and we also have a sense of what has a realistic prospect of going forward.
All practising barristers in England and Wales are entitled to get in touch to highlight a consultation and suggest we should respond and we will look at it. We tend to try and match the consultations with the barristers who have the relevant expertise, but I do emphasise to committee members that they shouldn't be afraid to put a hand up and say they're willing to learn and bring a fresh perspective.
The Bar Council represents the interests of the Bar, and so to that extent, we will always be in regular contact with colleagues including the Chair of the Bar and Specialist Bar Associations. We try and reach out to as many people as possible. If there is a real divergence of opinion at the Bar and we cannot speak with one voice, we can present a number of different credible voices in those instances. We always take care to set out different positions. For example, during the Brexit debates, the Bar Council produced a series of Brexit papers which had to navigate widely differing opinions. We are known for doing this in a politically neutral way with authority.
Now looking at ECHR rights and our relationship within Europe, we will need to do this again and to speak in a way that is respectful of differing opinions, whilst providing a credible and purposeful account of where we're heading.
Politicians from all the parties, include the current and previous governments, have trusted our expertise. The committee produces briefing papers, which can help Members of Parliament and peers in the Lords to understand a specific issue. We might set out some pros and cons that could arise from reforms without straying into policy.
We are fortunate to have a good reputation, which we are keen to protect with high quality work, so the Bar Council continues to speak clearly, with expertise and on a politically neutral basis.
The Law Reform Committee enables the Bar to speak with one collective voice on many issues with a clarity of purpose and a vision for the future. If you can, I would recommend you get involved. It has been something I have been willing to do pro bono for many years alongside a busy practice because of the value I have derived from the work, and the many fantastic friendships and acquaintances I have made along the way. It has been an honour to serve as Chair.
Eleena Misra KC is a specialist in employment law, professional discipline and investigations at Old Square Chambers.