‘Census’ of the Bar launched

For the first time since 2017, the Bar Council is conducting a major survey capturing a snapshot of barristers’ working lives and how career progression, working practices, wellbeing and other key areas have changed over the last four years. 

Practicing barristers: please complete the 2021 Working Lives survey. It will only take 10-15 minutes of your time, and your input is vital in helping to highlight the Bar’s current condition and future needs.

Bar Council campaign sees sitting days cap lifted

The Ministry of Justice has today announced that there will be no limits on the number of sitting days in the Crown Court and sitting days in civil and family courts will increase in an effort to tackle the growing backlog of cases in the courts. The move follows calls from the Bar Council to increase sitting days to tackle the backlog.

Derek Sweeting QC, Chair of the Bar, said: “This is a welcome announcement and a cause we’ve been campaigning for, publicly and in discussions with the Ministry of Justice, since 2019 when we opposed the government’s decision to cut sitting days.”

DPP, AG, Hong Kong Bar chief + more at Saturday’s Bar Council meeting

Prominent figures from the legal world, including the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General, Chair of the Hong Kong Bar Association, and others will be speaking at Saturday’s meeting of the Bar Council.

Barristers can follow proceedings via the Twitter hashtags #BarCouncil and #BarCouncilLive on Saturday 24 April from 10am.

Bar Council members will also hear from the Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC, Chief Executive of the Bar Council, Malcolm Cree CBE, Advocate, BSB, and Bar Council committees.

Barristers can probe MoJ on judicial review overhaul

Later today (22 April), barristers will get the chance to ask questions of government officials over plans to overhaul judicial review when the Ministry of Justice hosts an urgent webinar from 17:00-18:30 for the Bar to hear about the proposed reforms.

Inns roll out vital pandemic hardship funds

Support is available from the Inns of Court for barristers who have suffered financial hardship due to the pandemic:

Opportunity for UK/EU TCA arbitrators

The government is seeking people to appoint to lists of arbitrators and expert panellists for the dispute settlement mechanisms within the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Eighteen chambers already signed up to new Bar Council initiative

Eighteen chambers have already signed up to the new Bar Council Sustainability Network, which only launched last month and provides a range of services and support for chambers, Inns and others to help them transition to a more sustainable way of working – saving not just carbon emissions but costs.

Money laundering and terrorist financing: Updated guidance

In response to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 and the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the Bar Council’s Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Guidance has been updated.  Practitioners should note the AML Regulation’s expanded definition of a tax adviser, further requirements for carrying out customer due diligence and a new list of high-risk third countries.  The Bar Council’s AML Guidance has also been published within Part 2 of the Legal Sector Affinity Group’s Legal Sector Guidance and should be read in conjunction with that sector-based guidance.

Legal Aid Census

The Bar Council is supporting the #LegalAidCensus, the largest survey of the post-LASPO landscape, which will help inform research and policy to shape the sector. If you are a current, former or aspiring legal aid practitioner, please take part.

Pick up a rapid Covid-19 testing kit from a pharmacy near you

As lockdown eases and many barristers and chambers employees spend more time in courts, chambers or communal workplaces, please be aware that rapid lateral flow tests are now available to collect from pharmacies across the country. The service is available to people not exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms. If you have symptoms you should self-isolate and take a PCR test. To find out where you can get a rapid test near you, visit the NHS testing webpage and enter your postcode.

FRU in Instagram takeover

Don’t miss the second of the Bar Council’s hotly anticipated Instagram takeovers on the 30 April, when the Free Representation Unit take control of the platform to talk about their work, their plans for the future, and how you can help. It’s sure to be informative, inspirational – and might even feature a star guest or two.

HMCTS pre-sentence report pilot goes live

HMCTS has started its PSR pilot which has gone live in Coventry, Bexley, Bromley, Brighton and Doncaster Magistrates’ courts. HMCTS will roll-out the next wave of pilots between 3 -17 May 2021

Recruits sought for new Young Bar Advocate committee

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Advocate has launched Young Bar Advocate and is looking for an executive committee to help plan how to support the junior Bar to do pro bono and build successful careers.

Guest blog: Leading the Bar towards carbon neutral

Navigating social media for the Bar

27 May 2021, 17:30 - 19:00 (online)

Get the most from social media and maximise your presence and reach. Hear from our panel of experts:

Melissa Davis, Chief Executive, MD Communications

Joanna Hardy, self-employed barrister, Red Lion Chambers

John Battle, employed barrister, ITN and Bar Council Ethics Committee member.

Discounts available for BRF payers, pupils, barristers in income bands 1 & 2, Free for pupils earning below £25,000 pa.

Inner Temple History Society Lecture: Gilds and Things:
Keeping the Peace in 10th Century London by Dr Rory Naismith

4 May 2021, 17:30-19:00, online

Tickets for this Zoom webinar are free but booking in essential. The booking deadline is 2 May.

Inner Temple Social Context of the Law Series: 

Should UK Judges and ex-Judges Be Sitting in Hong Kong?

6 May 2021, 18:00-19:30, online

• The Rt Hon Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury (President of the UK Supreme Court, 2012-2017; arbitrator, One Essex Court, Lincoln’s Inn Bencher)
• The Rt Hon The Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, 2015-2016; Senior Counsel, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Inner Temple Bencher)
• Moderator: Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC (Falcon Chambers, Inner Temple Treasurer)

Tickets for this Zoom webinar are free but booking in essential. The booking deadline is 3 May.