The Bar Council's Bar Talk

Up-to-date news directly from the Bar Council

29 November 2019

Bar Council launches justice manifesto

The Bar Council has launched ‘Urgent Action Required: The Bar Council’s 2019 Manifesto for the Justice System’ ahead of the General Election on 12 December. It sets out six recommendations for the next government to help build a strong and effective justice system, ensure everyone has fair access to justice and recognise the value of legal services.

The manifesto has been issued to the press, prospective parliamentary candidates and other relevant stakeholders.

Read the manifesto

Highlights from the 34th Bar and Young Bar Conference

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The 2019 Bar and Young Bar Conference on Saturday 23 November, chaired this year by Rachel Langdale QC, was yet another successful event for the Bar Council. With keynote speeches from The Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond, Professor Phillippe Sands QC, breakout sessions with the likes of The Secret Barrister, The Rt Hon Lady Justice Carr, The Rt Hon Lady Justice Thirlwall, The Rt Hon Lord Hughes of Ombersley and Jon McLeod of Brunswick Group participating, this year’s conference at The Grand Connaught Rooms in London provided a rich programme of activity for the 250 attendees.

Read the Chair of the Bar’s conference speech

Read the Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee’s speech

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Court ID update: 30 more courts join

Thirty more courts have today been added to HMCTS’ professional access (ID Card) scheme, that allows members of the Bar to gain easier access to the courts thanks to a Bar Council’s digital ID card for barristers.

Find out which courts have now joined

“I cannot believe this is my last Counsel column”

For Richard Atkins QC, his term as Chair is almost over, but the Bar Council’s work continues at pace, says the outgoing Chair in his final column in Counsel magazine.

Read the Chair's Counsel column

Ethics and practice update: just in time for Christmas

New guide on gifts and entertaining

A new guide to advise barristers in relation to the giving and acceptance of gifts and entertainment has been published on the Bar Council’s Ethics and Practice Hub.

Access the guide

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Bar Placement Week

We are looking for host chambers or employed Bar organisations in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle to host students as part of our Bar Placement Week social mobility programme between 18-20 February 2020. If your chambers or organisation is interested in supporting this scheme, please contact ?subject=Bar%20Placement%20Week.

Obituary: Ian McDonald QC (1939-2019)

Described as an incredibly kind, generous and straight talking man, whose "sense of fairness was contagious", Counsel magazine remembers Ian Macdonald QC, a barrister notable as a pioneer of committed anti-racist legal practice, whose death was announced on 12 November 2019.

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