Reflective practice pilots
Our aim
Psychological wellbeing is important but rarely spoken about within the profession. We're seeking to address and support the professional wellbeing challenges faced by barristers. We want to encourage better practice habits and help barristers to spot problems early on. We also want to provide the right support that will help barristers protect themselves and support one another.
In 2025 we started to pilot different reflective practice delivery models and approaches. A reflective approach provides a space to analyse and evaluate professional experiences and debrief. As such, reflective practice support continuing professional development (CPD).
Balint group pilots
Our first pilot in partnership with Balint Legal involved groups rather than 1:1 support. Between June and December 2025, we ran two different Balint groups – one for crime and family practitioners on the Western Circuit and one for Chancery and commercial barristers in London.
Read more about this pilot from Barbara Mills KC, 2025 Chair of the Bar, in an article from Counsel magazine.
The impact of group reflective practice was evaluated early 2026. The results were incredibly positive, with 84% of respondents saying they found the sessions helpful for their wellbeing.
View the executive summary from our Balint Legal pilot. Marion Baker and Suzanne Jacobs, co-founders of Balint Legal, discussed the first pilot in more detail in a blog on our website, while Active Wellbeing Working Group member Emma Cross gave further insights into the pilot in a Counsel magazine article.
Future pilots
Following the success of our first Balint pilot, we will be running a second group pilot in autumn 2026.
On 2 July 2026, we hosted an online introduction to Balint Legal, explaining the Balint methodology and what participants can expect from the programme.
If you were unable to attend and would like access to the recording of the session, please email us.
Expressions of interest in the second pilot will be launched shortly.
We recommend that anyone interested in joining the September 2026 pilot watches the introduction session beforehand to gain a better understanding of the Balint methodology and the format of the programme.