A year at the front

The year has flown by, and this is Mark Fenhalls KC’s last column as Chair of the Bar. Mark said: "After saying I was hoping for a quiet year, it has been anything but."

Read Mark’s final column for Counsel magazine

Collective action on anti-bullying

As we head into the Christmas party season, the Bar Council is mindful that this time of celebration with colleagues can sometimes become an ordeal of sexual innuendo, inappropriate advances, groping and harassment. Using Talk to Spot, accessing Bar Council support, and becoming an active bystander can create change, says Sam Mercer, the Bar Council's Head of Equality and Diversity.

Read Sam's article in the December edition of Counsel magazine

Celebrating the Employed Bar

The Bar Council’s Employed Bar Awards showcase the wealth of talent among employed barristers. This year, the Bar Council partnered with Gray’s Inn to host the Awards as part of their annual Employed Bar Dinner. Congratulations to the winners in the five award categories.

Read about the winners in Counsel magazine

International Rule of Law Lecture

The Bar Council's International Rule of Law lecture was delivered by the President of The Gambia Bar Association Salieu Taal, who was involved in the vitally important transitional justice process following the end of Jammeh's dictatorship in the country. You can now watch a recording of the lecture online.

Watch the lecture online

Introductory guide to email security from our partner Mitigo

Your business email account is the most common entry point for criminals and is at the root of many successful cyber-attacks. Our cybersecurity partner Mitigo describes how attacks start, some common consequences, and provides ten top tips for keeping secure.

Read more

Young Bar on tour

Read the article by Michael Polak and Michael Harwood in this month’s Counsel magazine. Writing on behalf of the Young Barristers' Committee they explain why young barristers should build their practice internationally – and they highlight the relaunched grant programmes that can help.

Read Young Bar: home and away

Law reform essay competition winners

Congratulations to Emma Meadows, winner of this year's Bar Council law reform essay competition with ‘Crossing the Constitutional Rubicon: why mediation should be compulsory in all civil disputes’.

The competition, kindly sponsored by City Law School, is aimed at developing and fostering an interest in law reform. It invites entrants to submit a 3,000-word essay making the case for a reform to English, Welsh, or European law.

Read Emma's essay on the Counsel magazine website

The judges also awarded prizes for essays on diverse subjects from standing in judicial review claims, permitted development rights, and reform of the Official Secrets Act, to negligence in human rights law and covert human intelligence sources.

Read the essays picked by the judges

Homes for Ukraine scheme

The Bar Council's Homes for Ukraine Scheme has been designed to match Ukrainian lawyers and civilians who are seeking accommodation in the UK to be matched with barristers who have volunteered to open their homes for a minimum period of six months.

To be included in the scheme, you must be prepared to offer accommodation to an applicant for a period of at least six months. If you are not a British citizen, then you must have had leave to remain in the UK for a period of at least six months.

Find out more information and volunteer

Childcare support for parents

The Government has launched a new Childcare Choices webpage where businesses and families can find out about financial support to cover childcare costs. The support is not limited to nurseries and childminders – it can be used for breakfast or after-school clubs, holidays, activity clubs and more. The information applies to England and Wales.

Find out the information for parents

Rape and serious sex offences (RASSO) training

The South Eastern Circuit RASSO Training Seminar is now available to watch online. Topics covered include recent developments and Section 41 YJCEA 1999 (Sexual History of Complainants), disclosure, questioning vulnerable witnesses, human trafficking, alcohol and remembering rape, and CPS policy.

Watch the video via the SE Circuit website

Barristers invited to share views on GCB budget plans and PCF proposals for 2023/24

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

The consultation is open until Friday 13 January 2023 at 17:00.

Read and respond to the consultation

Christmas, holidays and mental health

Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, your mental health might be affected by the occasion. It's a time of year that often brings extra pressure and it can impact on mental health in lots of different ways. 

The mental health charity Mind has collated a very useful list of contact numbers for organisations offering support on a range of issues including mental health, suicide, substance abuse, and domestic violence. The information covers both England and Wales.

Access the contacts list and find out about support services available

Bar Council Christmas opening hours

The Bar Council office will be closed from Friday 23 December to Monday 2 January inclusive for the Christmas break. Information about Bar Council resources and services is available on our websites:

• Main Bar Council website

• Bar Council Ethics and Practice Hub

• Wellbeing at the Bar
• Talk to Spot (available 24/7)

From everyone at the Bar Council we wish you a peaceful and restful Christmas and Happy New Year.

BarTalk next year

This is your last BarTalk of 2022. We hope you’ve enjoyed the newsletter this year. The next edition of BarTalk will be published on Thursday 12 January 2023. If you want to send us information to include or suggest a blog idea, please contact the communications and marketing team via email.

Email: ?subject=BarTalk%20ideas%20and%20feedback

Blogs

Anglo-Dutch Exchange

Young lawyers have taken part in an Anglo-Dutch exchange for more than 50 years. The work exchange scheme, organised by the Young Barristers’ Committee, has been running in one form or another since 1966. The exchange scheme allows UK lawyers of less than seven years’ practice to spend time with the Young Bar Associations of Amsterdam, the Hague and Rotterdam and in 2023 we will be hosting the event in London.

Members of the 2022 cohort have blogged about the event:

I did not imagine that my career would take me overseas, says Martha Smith-Higgins

I jumped at the chance to expand my knowledge, says David J. M. Barr

To say I am glad I applied is an understatement, says Thomas E. Sherrington

Events

Human Rights Act Reform: A dangerous or welcome change?

Thursday 12 January

Starts 18:00

London

Join JUSTICE in 2023 for their first in a series of fundraising events discussing the current threats to human rights and the rule of law in the UK. The panel includes the 2023 Chair of the Bar Nicholas Vineall KC alongside Sir Peter Gross, Jessica Simor KC and I. Stephanie Boyce. The event will be chaired by The Rt Hon. the Lord Mance.

Public Access for barristers

Thursday 26 to Friday 27 January

09:30 to 13:30

Online

This Bar Council course provides an opportunity to extend the terms of your practising certificate and widen your potential income streams. The course offers an in-depth review of the BSB regulatory framework and discusses strategies to manage the risks associated with public access work.

PNBA mentoring

Wednesday 18 January

Starts 18:00

London, in-person

The Professional Negligence Bar Association (PNBA) is running a speed mentoring evening on Wednesday 18 January starting at 18:00. The event is designed for PNBA members who are under ten years’ call.

Fair recruitment and selection

Wednesday 1 February

10:00 to 14:00

Online

This Bar Council training will help you to recruit fairly and in accordance with BSB guidelines. The course will cover the principles of fair selection, avoiding bias, competency-based interview techniques, and applying consistent selection criteria throughout the process