The Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference 2021 leads a month of flagship events for the Bar

Is it enough? Budget 2021

The Bar Council described the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget last week as “a step in the right direction”, but cautioned there will still be a shortfall of funding to tackle the justice crisis, restore public confidence and reduce the backlogs in our courts and tribunals.

Following Bar Council calls for essential investment in the justice system to tackle the backlog in the courts and tribunals, the Chancellor announced extra funding for courts to increase capacity and begin to tackle the delays in the system. Additional funding to increase the thresholds for means-tested legal aid, to expand access to justice to those who cannot afford it and increase the capacity of the civil legal aid sector, were announced, and an extra £477 million is to go to help the criminal justice system’s recovery from Covid-19 to cut delays and start to reduce Crown Court backlog.

Listen to Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC, telling BBC Radio Four’s Law in Action why the funding doesn’t go far enough.

Guest blog: “Perhaps now it is time for more direct action” at the criminal Bar

“Alarming” report shows justice at breaking point

The Bar Council has described a new National Audit Office report as “alarming” and further evidence that the system needs long-term investment after years of cuts. Published days before the Chancellor’s Budget statement, the NAO report identified a 302% increase in the number of cases waiting longer than a year in the Crown Court, 60,692 cases in the Crown Court backlog, and a 48% increase in the Crown Court backlog between March 2020 and June 2021.

New wellbeing action plan announced

A new action plan to improve wellbeing at the Bar has been announced by the Bar Council and other members of the Wellbeing at the Bar initiative.

Workload management, particularly in crime; low/inadequate incomes and bullying and harassment will be prioritised after results from the latest Bar Council Working Lives Survey revealed the need for more focus on these areas of life at the Bar.

Election results are in

The candidates elected to the 2022 Bar Council have been announced. They will represent the profession at Bar Council throughout the year.

New social mobility drive follows success of #IAmTheBar

Heard of the Bar Council’s award-winning social mobility campaign, #IAmTheBar? Now it’s time for the next generation of barristers.

Bridging the Bar has launched a campaign, backed by the Bar Council, to raise the profile of aspiring barristers from all backgrounds with #IAmTheFutureOfTheBar. Students pursuing careers as barristers are sharing their stories of their journeys so far on the path the Bar to inspire others thinking of following the same route.

Bar Council: Tougher sanctions for sexual misconduct

Disbarment should be an indicative sanction for misconduct of sexual nature, the Bar Council has said in its response to the second BTAS consultation on sanctions. In its response to the consultation, the Bar Council said: “An indicative sanction of 24 months to 36 months suspension for middle range misconduct of a sexual nature (Misconduct Group B) is insufficiently punitive…Disbarment should therefore be included as an indicative sanction.”

Counsel: Taking action on race at the Bar

Bar backs Pro Bono Week

The Bar has been playing its part in marking the 20th Pro Bono Week. The Bar Council has taken to social media to celebrate the Bar’s pro bono commitment and Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC has featured in the press to highlight the importance of pro bono work at the Bar and beyond. The Bar Council also supports the Advocate Pro Bono Awards.

Barrister Representative for the Joint Bar Council and Bar Standards Board Audit Committee

Employment judge

In-house barrister on the Bar Council’s Legal Services Committee

Bar Council Law Reform Lecture

Exploring the role of law reform in the context of climate change

30 November, online

The 19th Annual Bar Council Law Reform Lecture will be given by The Rt. Hon. Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill and Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme.

The new MINI Electric

With COP26 taking place in Glasgow during November, there is a huge focus around sustainability and how we can all make changes in our lives to go greener.

The timing has never been better to make the switch to electric and with the new MINI Electric, you have all the benefits of the iconic MINI, with zero driving emissions and substantial savings.

Are you ready to make the switch?

Tackling race inequality

The Race Equality Foundation is proud to be working to tackle race inequality across public services in the UK, in Black History Month and all year round. For years, the Foundation has produced research and policy interventions around inequalities in health, housing and other areas, and run grassroots community-based programmes.

All of the Foundation's work helps to improve the lives of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Please consider supporting its work by making a donation.