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Renew your Practising Certificate and #BacktheBar
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The annual Authorisation to Practise (AtP) period is now open until Friday 31 March through the MyBar portal. During the process you will be asked if you would like to subscribe to the voluntary Bar Representation Fee (BRF).
Only 29% of the Practising Certificate Fee comes to the Bar Council and the BRF provides vital funding allowing us to carry out much of our representative and campaigning work.
Andrew Twigger KC, Maitland Chambers, shares #WhyIbacktheBar: "As Chair of the Chancery Bar Association, I pay the BRF because I have seen first hand all the amazing work the Bar Council does on behalf of our members and the Bar as a whole. You may wonder what the Bar Council has ever done for you, but everyone benefits in many ways, such as through lobbying about court reform and regulation, providing ethical guidance, or promoting increased diversity and inclusion throughout the Bar."
Browse the reasons why other barristers have chosen to back the Bar
Find out more about the Bar Representation Fee (BRF)
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PM and Home Secretary attacks on lawyers betray a startling ignorance
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This week the Home Secretary sent an email using the words "an activist blob of left-wing lawyers" and the Prime Minister described the Leader of the Opposition as "just another lefty lawyer standing in our way".
Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC said these comments "betray a startling and regrettable ignorance about the role of lawyers in society... Lawyers should not be associated with the causes of their clients as a result of representing their clients."
Read and share the statement
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10 areas to prevent ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks are the most devastating type of cybercrime and can cripple your business. One estimate shows professional services suffered around 20% of ransomware attacks in 2022 making it the worst affected sector. Our cybersecurity partner Mitigo have outlined 10 key areas to stop ransomware and help you reduce your risk of an attack.
Read their article
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Bar Council hails the Singapore Convention on Mediation
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 The Bar Council has welcomed the UK Government’s commitment to ratify the Singapore Convention on Mediation. It is the Bar Council's longstanding view that mediation is an important contributor to cost-effective dispute resolution.
Sam Townend KC, Vice Chair of the Bar, said: "The move bolsters confidence in the UK legal sector and is further recognition of the vital contribution that British lawyers make to UK exports."
Read the Bar Council's press release
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Bar Conference is taking a break, help us shape the next steps
We always want to deliver the best events for our members so the Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference is taking a break in 2023 so that we can take a step back to review our flagship event and make sure it delivers everything the Bar wants and needs.
We need your help. Please answer our short survey by Sunday 12 March and tell us about the types of career-related events you like to attend. The survey should take no more than three minutes. Take the survey
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Pupillage Fair 2023
Please save the date for the Bar Council's Pupillage Fair taking place in-person in central London on Saturday 14 October 2023. Last year the Pupillage Fair welcomed over 700 aspiring barristers and over 90 exhibitors. More information to be announced soon.
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Cybersecurity at the Bar
15:00 - 18:00, Tuesday 23 May in London
Introducing our new event, Cybersecurity at the Bar. This informative and practical event will support chambers in improving their cybersecurity and creating a culture of cyber resilience. It will help you to better understand the different types of cyber threats and attacks prevalent across the legal sector today and the practical steps that can be taken to protect against them. A 10% early bird discount is available until Friday 31 March 2023.
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Sponsored by Mitigo Cybersecurity
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Improving equality and diversity at the Bar is a priority for the Bar Council and for this year’s International Women's Day we have been promoting our Women in Law information, blogs, guidance, resources and support on offer to barristers and chambers.
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Neurodiversity at the Bar
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#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek takes place 13 to 19 March so it's a great time to read barrister Oliver May's Counsel article on stigma at the Bar and what can be done to tackle it. Oliver is the Chair of Neurodiversity in Law and a member of the Bar Council Disability Panel.
Counsel magazine: Neurodiversity at the Bar
Neurodiversity in Law has also organised a programme of events for #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek in London, Manchester, and online.
Find out more information
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Nominations now open for legal aid awards
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The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023 are now open, and the Bar Council is proud to sponsor the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year Award. The closing date is Monday 24 April.
Find out more information and nominate
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Global support for an independent judiciary and legal profession
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 At the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference taking place in India this week, 42 Bar leaders have unanimously endorsed a declaration highlighting the importance of a properly funded and independent judiciary and stressed the important, democratic role of an independent legal profession.
The conference chair and former Commonwealth Lawyers Association President Brian Speers said: “This is an important declaration agreed between the leaders of the legal profession in over 40 countries who are members of the Commonwealth. It re-affirms the importance to democracy and the protection of the rights of an individual, of independent legal representation and of being heard before an independent court”.
Read the Commonwealth Lawyers Association declaration
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Pathways and opportunities
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Treasury Counsel Pathway
The CPS has announced a second pathway, a 12-month positive action scheme for advocates who have the potential to become Treasury Counsel in the future, particularly those from under-represented groups. A launch event will take place at 17:30 on Thursday 16 March online.
Book your place via email: ?subject=Second%20Treasury%20Counsel%20Pathway%20launch%20event
Find out more information
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The Pre-Application Judicial Education (PAJE) programme
The programme supports talented lawyers from under-represented groups when considering applying for a future judicial role. The programme helps to promote diversity within the judiciary. Three new courses start in May. Each includes a series of workshops delivered by judges and facilitated by the Bar Council, Law Society and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX). The deadline for applications is midnight on Thursday 6 April.
Find out more information
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Ethical dilemmas at the Civil Bar
Recorded in February, this online session explores ethical scenarios, including conflicts of interest and the illicit recording of court hearings or conferences.
Watch the recording
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Directory of legal aid providers
The Legal Aid Agency has published a directory of information about legal aid providers by category of law.
Download the directory
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Embracing equity
The International Bar Association's 50:50 by 2030 project is a first-of-its-kind nine-year global study on gender equality in the law. The project is identifying barriers and tracking progress in achieving equal representation of women at the highest levels of all sectors of the law across 16 jurisdictions. The project focuses on the proportion of women in senior roles and the effectiveness of diversity measures already introduced. The project is extraordinary in scope and promises to be ground-breaking.
Read Sara Carnegie's guest blog for the Bar Council explaining the 50:50 global gender project
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HMCTS Wales
Hywel Hughes, Head of Welsh Language Services at HMCTS, outlines how the service is changing and improving. He says: "At HMCTS, we’re committed to making sure that courts and tribunals users can communicate with us in Welsh if they choose to do so."
Read the blog
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Tackling judicial bullying
Inns of Court Alliance for Women event
Tuesday 21 March
Online and in-person London
18:00 - 20:00
This event will be introduced by Lady Justice Nicola Davies DBE, Treasurer of Gray’s Inn and a Co-Convenor of the Alliance the evening will begin with a speech from the Lord Chief Justice, The Rt Hon Lord Burnett of Maldon.
Followed by a panel discussion with Amanda Pinto KC, The Rt Hon Lady Justice Ingrid Simler, Natasha Wong KC, Laurie-Ann Power KC and the Bar Council's Sam Mercer.
Find out more information
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Running on empty
BACFI wellbeing seminar
Wednesday 12 April
London, in-person at Dentons
17:00 - 19:00
The Bar Association for Commerce Finance and Industry (BACFI) has organised an in-person wellbeing seminar in conjunction with the Employed Barristers' Committee. The event will explore how to recognise the signs of creeping burnout and how to manage your wellbeing alongside a long and successful career. Everyone is welcome to attend but you must register beforehand via email: ?subject=Running%20on%20empty%20event%20registration
Find out more information
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Feedback, upskilling and practice management
Middle Temple event
Tuesday 28 March
Online and in-person London
18:00 - 19:00
This Middle Temple event is open to all. The guest speaker is Dr Anna Colton, who will explore the issues of feedback, appraisals, upskilling and practice management and how they can be used to best effect.
Book your place
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London International Disputes Week
Monday 15 - Friday 19 May
In-person, London
This event is the biggest annual international lawyers conference in London and this year's theme is 'Adapting to a Changing World'.
The event features a varied technical programme combined with a variety of social and networking events to enable participants to share ideas, to make new contacts and renew old acquaintances.
Find out more information
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Bar Council vacancy for elected employed Junior over 7 years in practice/KC
Expressions of interest are invited from practising barristers who are an employed Junior over seven years/KC. Members of the Bar Council are expected to attend Bar Council meetings (either in person or virtually) and all candidates must hold a valid practising certificate.
The term of office will commence on Tuesday 4 April and end on 31 December 2023. Candidates are asked to submit a short statement of no more than 200 words to demonstrate their suitability for the post by 16:00 on Monday 27 March. The statements will be circulated to Bar Council 2023 members who will each vote for their preferred candidate.
Find out more information
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Bar Council Law Reform Committee
The Bar Council is seeking four practising barristers to join the Law Reform Committee. The committee is particularly interested in applications from barristers specialising in consumer law, company law, public law and criminal law.
Find out more information
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Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Advisory Group
The JAC's Advisory Group includes judges and practitioners from a range of backgrounds. The Group reviews the JAC’s test and selection materials before they are used and meets every 6 weeks throughout the year. The Bar Council is looking to nominate a barrister to join the Judicial Appointments Commission Advisory Group.
Find out more information
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Industry and Parliament Trust Trustee
The Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) is an independent, non-lobbying, non-partisan charity that provides facilitates engagement between Parliament and UK business. The IPT is non-party political and works with all parliamentarians and businesses of any sector or size. The IPT is looking for a volunteer legal Trustee to join its Board.
Find out more information
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Attorney General's Civil Panel Counsel
The Attorney General is seeking to appoint new members to three civil panels of junior counsel, the London A, B and C panels, to undertake civil work for government departments.
Applications must be submitted by midday on Wednesday 5 April 2023.
Find out more information
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