Blog: The good, the bad and the diversity of social media

Barristers urged to share views on GCB budget plans for 2022/23

The Bar Council is urging the profession to share its views on the General Council of the Bar’s overall budget and practising certificate fee plans for the next financial year. Proposals include the Bar Standards Board’s own spending plans on regulation of the profession for 2022/23.

New funding for race discrimination cases

Legal practitioners can now apply for financial support towards their clients’ cases if it relates to racial harassment and discrimination under a new initiative from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

The scheme will include claims under any part of the Equality Act 2010, as long as they relate to race discrimination (including harassment and victimisation). This may include, for example, cases in employment, recruitment, housing, education and more. The claim can be one that is already in a court or tribunal or one that is at an earlier stage.

Bar backs disability inclusion

The Bar Council’s 1 in 8 disability seminar, looking at how chambers can adapt to be more inclusive for pupils, practising barristers and their staff, saw almost 100 people register to hear from experts on issues such as reasonable adjustments for improving chambers’ accessibility and what support is available to the Bar.

The event, in partnership with LPMA and the IBC, took place this week in the run up to International Day of Disabilities (Friday 3 December) and marked the Bar Council’s commitment to support barristers with disabilities through its new membership of the Business Disability Forum, whose experts took part in the seminar.

Rape prosecutions: Chair of the Bar gives evidence to Parliament

Earlier this week the Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC, gave oral evidence to the Parliamentary Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the investigation and prosecution of rape. 

The Chair told the committee of MPs: “We are going to see these backlogs and delays in the system persisting past 2024 and we know that with these sorts of cases [rape], the one thing that matches delay is attrition. People give up. And that’s where we let the victims of sexual violence down.”

Barristers launch equality, diversity and inclusion directory

Nine barristers from the inaugural Bar Council Leadership programme have launched the Bar’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion directory. Laura Bayley (Crucible), Bo Kay Fung (Financial Conduct Authority), Chris Gutteridge (Exchange Chambers), Narinder Jhittay (Maitland Chambers), Khadija Leuenberger (36 Stone, part of The 36 Group), Francesca O’Neill (1 Chancery Lane), Lydia Pemberton (3 Paper Buildings), Andrew Powell (4 Paper Buildings) and Susanna Rickard (Serjeants’ Inn Chambers) have researched and published the resource for use by barristers, chambers and others setting out guidance on a wide range of topics to encourage the profession to adopt and embrace improved practices.

The Legal Aid desert landscape

At last month’s Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference LexisNexis shared a preview of their upcoming report on Legal Aid deserts, with family law insights from Shárin Diegan of Goldsmith Chambers. The full write-up of the session is now available to read, including research findings highlighting areas within the UK which are in the greatest need of support.

Guest blog: Race discrimination – “The law is an incredibly powerful tool for holding bodies to account”

Guest blog: “Encouraged and focused” despite the Bar’s challenges

Francesca Kirby, criminal barrister at Red Lion Chambers, shares her experiences of this year’s Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference, which took place on 17-20 November, and the fact that, despite the challenges faced by today’s Bar she came away from the conference reinvigorated and hopeful.

Guest blog: From Iceland to the Bering Straits

As a rank-and-file practitioner working at the Court for 30 years, Bill Bowring, argues that the Court of the Council of Europe is the most effective mechanism in the world for protecting human rights. Read his latest blog for BarTalk about the launch of a new initiative involving National Bar Associations and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe.

Guest blog: Law reform - Drug Consumption Rooms a key weapon in war on drugs?

Effective drug abuse initiatives such as Drug Consumption Rooms must be explored if the UK drugs crisis is to be effectively tackled, says this year’s Bar Council Law Reform Essay Competition winner, Joseph Lord, in a blog based on his winning entry.

APPG on Legal and Constitutional Affairs’ virtual event

Tuesday 7 December 13:00 - 14:00

Solving the court backlogs

The APPG Co-Chairs Laura Farris MP and Lord Hunt of Wirral will be joined by speakers including Derek Sweeting QC, Chair of the Bar Council, to discuss the steps the Government is currently taking to address these backlogs, and what further action is needed.

Judicial Appointments Commission Recorder application seminar

9 December 2021 17.00-18.00