Bar Council warning after Cabinet Office report leaked

The Bar Council has responded to a leaked Cabinet Office report obtained by the Guardian newspaper which found that almost half of rape victims are dropping out of investigations.

Update on Criminal Legal Aid Review

Chair of the Bar, Richard Atkins QC, updates the profession on the Criminal Legal Aid Review of advocacy fees, having met with the Lord Chancellor following the announcement of the General Election.

Bar Council urges BSB to stop fiddling with handbook

The press, including The Times, Law Society Gazette and Legal Futures, reported that the Bar Council has strongly criticised the Bar Standards Board (BSB) for bombarding barristers with updates to its Handbook which risked becoming “overwhelming”.

Responding to the BSB’s call for evidence for a Handbook review, the Bar Council warned that any “fundamental reconsideration” was likely to bring “further, avoidable confusion and disruption”.

A message from Rachel Langdale QC, Chair of the 2019 Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference

I am writing to encourage you to join us at the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference in London on Saturday 23 November 2019.

The role of the barrister has never been under greater scrutiny - and some would say - greater strain. And, as we enter a polarised general election campaign in which the role of the justice system has already featured, barristers will want to make their voices heard more than ever before.

So what better opportunity is there to engage in the debate than to join with other leading figures in the profession at this year’s Bar Conference?

We will be focusing on the cutting edge of practice with leaders in crime, family, commercial, chancery and employment law, as well as hearing from some of our most senior judges, including the Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond. Senior practitioners from the regions will widen the conference’s perspective, enabling it to take in the Bar’s work across the UK, and we will hear from international practitioners, who play a central role in promoting our justice system globally, and working in courts and tribunals across the world.

Above all, this is a chance for you to listen and to be heard; to share and gain inspiration from those who represent the very best of our profession.

I hope to see you there.

Importance of legal journalism to be recognised

The Bar Council's 28th Legal Reporting Awards competition has opened. The competition is open to print/online and broadcast journalists in recognition of the media's role in promoting a greater understanding of the law to the public.

Five things we did in October

What does the voluntary Bar Representation Fee help the Bar Council achieve on the profession’s behalf? See a snapshot of our work in our feature "Five things the Bar Council did” and read the top five picks from October from our Head of Services, Carolyn Entwistle.