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Judicial review: “No evidence” courts are overreaching
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The Bar Council has refuted the Lord Chancellor’s claim in his foreword of the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on reform of judicial review that there is a “growing tendency” for judicial overreach. In its response to the consultation, the Bar Council has said the Lord’s Chancellor’s foreword “is simply not correct” and that that the Government is rushing this consultation. The Bar Council says that the six week consultation is “wholly inappropriate” as a timeframe to fully consider these proposals, particularly as they go beyond measures recommended by the Independent Review of Administrative Law.
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Bar Council warns LSB against regulation by fiction
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The Bar Council has warned that a Legal Services Board (LSB) research exercise on quality indicators with 69 members of a public panel “was based on materials about fictitious law firms” and was not applicable to the Bar. Responding to the LSB’s latest consultation on regulating the legal professions, the Bar Council said: “We would not want the Bar to be swept up in regulatory reforms underpinned by evidence relating to another profession, based on such a small sample size.”
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Chair’s Counsel column: Have your say
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In his latest column for Counsel magazine, Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC, writes on the many ways barristers can have a say and get their voice heard through the Bar Council.
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Who’ll be the next Chair of the Bar?
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Mark Fenhalls QC has been confirmed as Chair-Elect of the Bar, whilst Nick Vineall QC is Vice-Chair-Elect of the Bar. Mark Fenhalls QC will become Chair of the Bar in 2022. Lorinda Long remains as Treasurer.
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Bar Council Spring meeting highlights
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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Attorney General and Chair of the Hong Kong Bar Association were guest speakers at the latest meeting of the Bar Council on 24 April 2021. The Bar Council, which is made up approximately 115 barristers who represent different constituencies of the Bar, also heard the latest developments from the Bar Council’s Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, Education & Training Committee and Law Reform Committee, as well as the BSB.
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2,000+ barristers have already completed Bar ‘census’
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The Bar Council is conducting a major survey into career progression, working practices and other key areas of life at the Bar. The results are anonymous and will help us shape future policies, training programmes and initiatives to support the Bar. It is vital that we have feedback from as much of the profession as possible across all practice areas and specialisms, from employed and self-employed practitioners alike.
The deadline for completing your response is 17:00 on Tuesday 18 May 2021.
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Bar Council backs Charter for Black Talent
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The Bar Council has given its support to an initiative which aims to increase the number of talented Black professionals in senior positions in the financial and professional services sectors in the UK.
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New sexual misconduct sanctions plans announced
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The Bar Council is urging the Bar to get its voice heard by responding to a new BTAS consultation on sanctions guidance.
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Domestic Abuse Bill doesn't go far enough
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The Bar Council has said it is 'disappointing' that the Government has ignored its call to make non means tested legal aid available in all domestic abuse cases, after the Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent.
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Four Bars unite over China's sanctions against barristers
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The four professional bodies of barristers and advocates of the United Kingdom and Ireland have united in their condemnation of the sanctions announced by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) government against barrister members of the legal profession and their “immediate families”.
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Updated link to Standard Contractual Terms
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The BSB Handbook states that the cab rank rule applies to “the Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020 as published on the Bar Council’s website”.
The relevant Bar Council webpage has been updated. Barristers and clerks may therefore wish to check they are using the latest link.
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 Last Friday saw the Bar Council join forces with the Free Representation Unit (FRU) to launch an Instagram takeover. Using a combination of Instagram Stories and grid posts, FRU CEO David Abbott introduced the Bar Council’s Instagram followers to the vital work FRU carries out. Figures such as Daniel Barnett and the Secret Barrister explained why they supported FRU and encouraged people to get involved with the organisation.
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‘All Rise’ against bullying and harassment
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 Barristers are being asked to back ‘All Rise’, a new initiative aimed at tackling the perceived culture of tolerance towards bullying and harassment at the Bar. Barristers are urged to buy one of All Rise’s wooden pin badges to wear around chambers (or their place of work) and at court. The pin is a symbol of each barrister’s commitment to watch out for and stand against abusive and belittling behaviours. The aim of the project, which has been launched by a group of barristers who were on the inaugural Bar Council Leadership Programme, is to encourage 25 per cent of the Bar to be active bystanders against bullying, belittling and bad behaviour. All Rise is also looking for chambers and other organisations to become sponsors of the project.
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Talk to Spot is the Bar Council’s online tool for the Bar to confidentially and anonymously report inappropriate behaviour and concerns relating to Covid-19.
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If your chambers or other organisation is planning to create a new role, you could be eligible to apply for funding as part of the Kickstart Scheme.
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New report: LexisNexis GLP Index identifies latest legal profession trends
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LexisNexis’ new GLP Index has been launched today to help the Bar prepare for the coming months and assist the profession in its business development and strategy planning in a post-pandemic era. Based on meticulous data analysis and an evidence-based approach to assess trends within the legal profession, this invaluable tool separates the losses from the gains and identifies opportunities for growth.
Supported by the Bar Council, the LexisNexis GLP Index successfully deciphers the turbulence of the last 12 months across a range of specialisms and illustrates the potential future of the legal profession in 2021.
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Advocate launches a case-based mentoring scheme
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As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Advocate has launched Collaborate - a brand new mentoring scheme. It aims to encourage senior barristers to share their wisdom and leadership skills to benefit junior members of the Bar to take on pro bono work that challenges them.
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The Bar Council recently met with the Lord Chancellor, Law Officers and their Shadow counterparts. A group of human rights barristers met with Sir Peter Gross to discuss the Human Rights Act Review. Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC chaired two breakfast meetings with Midlands Conservative MPs and Northern Labour MPs alongside respective Circuit Leaders in the Midlands, North and North East and the Chair of the Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association. Discussions focused around local justice, court closures, backlogs and remote technology. Parliament is prorogued and the new session will begin with the Queen’s Speech on 11 May.
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Guest blog: The Secret ‘Fasting’ Barrister
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“Most of the year religion is not the focus of my life, but during Ramadan my faith takes centre stage.” An anonymous barrister from Red Lion Chambers guest blogs for BarTalk on a day in the life of a barrister during the month of Ramadan, and some of the unique experiences barristers face during the festival.
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A Student and Practitioner Guide
Peter Butt
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Clarity and precision in legal writing are essential skills in the practice and study of law. This book offers a straightforward, practical guide to effective legal style from a world-leading expert.
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Renewable Energy Legal & Commercial Conference: The Energy Transition: Legal Trends and Opportunities
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The first annual RenewableUK Renewable Energy Legal & Commercial Conference takes place at Eversheds Sutherland, immediately after COP26. Interactive panels and sessions will delve into matters of the UK’s road to net zero and legal implications, dispute resolution in renewable energy, how the law is enabling decarbonisation, digitisation and decentralisation, renewable investments, advances in renewable technology (including hydrogen, carbon capture and storage), new and forthcoming regulations and trends in M&A.
The conference will bring together for the first time all legal professionals including barristers, solicitors and advisors at energy developers and the supply chain whose work focuses on renewable energy and the transition to clean energy. The conference is generously sponsored by Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland, HFW, Twenty Essex, One Essex Street, Quadrant Chambers and Shepherd + Wedderburn.
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Navigating social media for the Bar
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27 May 2021, 17:30 - 19:00 (online)
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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.
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Get Legally Speaking to sponsor aspiring barristers
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Get Legally Speaking, the legal consumer podcast, is raising funds to sponsor students from underprivileged backgrounds who want to become barristers.
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If you would like to unsubscribe from emails like this or update your preferences for all Bar Council communications, as a practising barrister you can do so by logging into your MyBar profile.
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The Bar Council (England and Wales) · 289-293 High Holborn
London, London WC1V7HZ · United Kingdom
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