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Chair of the Bar: evidence, investment, and the rule of law
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 In this month's column for Counsel magazine, Nick Vineall KC urges "everyone to take part" in the Barristers’ Working Lives survey and highlights this year's "pretty impressive" pupillage awards (including earning guarantees) total of £26.5m. He also updates the Bar on developments linked to the Civil Legal Aid Review and the Illegal Migration Bill; and congratulates Alex Chalk KC MP on his appointment as Lord Chancellor.
Read Nick’s column
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 We are delighted to announce that Sam Townend KC has been elected unopposed as Chair of the Bar for 2024. Sam is the current Vice Chair and a silk at Keating Chambers practising in domestic and international construction, energy and professional negligence work. He is also a mediator and adjudicator. Sam is a former member of the Young Barristers’ Committee, was co-chair of the Bar Council Legal Services Committee in 2022, and currently chairs the Regulatory Review Working Group.
Speaking on his election as Chair for 2024, Sam said: “I am both delighted and privileged to be elected as Chair of the Bar for 2024. Our justice system has for too long been bereft of both Government policy interest and adequate funding with devastating consequences in terms of convictions, average delays in child custody cases approaching a year, and delayed justice across all sectors. As 2024 is likely to be general election year, an opportunity is provided to push justice up the political agenda and I aim to take advantage of this opportunity in the public interest.”
Lorinda Long has been elected unopposed as Treasurer for 2024 and there will be an election for the Vice Chair for 2024. The results will be announced later this month.
Find out more about the Officers of the Bar Council
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Debating the cab rank rule
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Following the Bar Council debate on the cab rank rule some elements of the media misreported our position. Last week Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC issued a statement, ‘The cab rank rule is a bedrock obligation’, which was emailed to all members of the Bar.
Read Nick’s statement
As part of the wider debate, Michael Harwood, Chair of the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee, said: "When you unilaterally withdraw legal services you are … undermining one of the core ethical foundations that keeps justice systems moving, which is access to the courts and equality before the law."
Read Michael's comments on the Reuters website
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Barristers' Working Lives: help us to help you
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 Much has changed since our last Barristers' Working Lives survey in 2021 and we need your help to build an accurate, detailed picture of the challenges barristers face today to help us support the profession effectively.
The survey covers wellbeing and work-life balance; working hours and patterns; experiences of bullying, harassment or discrimination; practice development and working practices; and Bar Council services.
If you have already completed the survey, thank you for your help. If not, please take 15 minutes to do so. The results are anonymous and will help us shape future policies, events and initiatives to support you at work.
Complete the survey
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Volunteer through Bar in the Community
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If you are looking for volunteering opportunities where you can use your professional skills to support charitable work, take a look at the Bar in the Community (BIC) initiative by Advocate. BIC offers a range of local and national volunteering opportunities for barristers and chambers professionals.
You can sign up to receive regular updates via the BIC webpage and/or advertise volunteering opportunities for others.
Search the BIC opportunities
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Social Mobility Summit 2023
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The Bar Council’s award-winning #IamtheBar campaign shone a light on social mobility at the Bar. Building on that success, we are delighted to launch the 2023 Social Mobility Summit, taking place in London and online on Friday 14 July.
This practical half-day event for barristers and chambers professionals will support the Bar to deliver effective interventions on social mobility. It will explore the latest thinking on positive action and contextual recruitment, and map current activity to identify gaps.
Find out more and register to attend
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 The Bar Council offers IT and GDPR support for barristers and chambers. We have launched a dedicated webpage where you can browse the full suite of cybersecurity and GDPR guidance, tools, articles and reports, and book essential cybersecurity training.
Find out more about the support on offer
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 Cyber risk management: 6 reasons why your chambers needs independent assurance
Cyber breaches are not acts of God. They are preventable, provided you have taken the right steps to protect your practice from attack. The central theme of this article is that the only way to prove to yourself and your senior leadership team that you have put the right defences in place, is to obtain independent assurance.
Read the full article on independent assurance
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Intervention letter on Israel's proposed constitutional reforms
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Ahead of the Knesset returning from recess on 30 April, Chair of the Bar Nick Vineall KC wrote to the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to express deep concern over the proposed constitutional reforms, which represent “a direct threat to the rule of law and the independence of senior judiciary and lawyers.”
Read the press release and letter
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Legal Ombudsman Scheme Rule changes
Webinar
Tuesday 9 May
17:30 - 18:00
Online
The Legal Ombudsman is delivering a 'bitesize' 30-minute informational webinar, focussed on the recent changes to the Scheme Rules.
Find out more information
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Female Advocates’ Breakfast (FAB)
Tuesday 16 May
8:30 - 10:00
In person, London
FAB provides a forum for women across the profession to meet and get to know one another. This event brings female advocates together in an informal setting, creating a focal point for access to advice and role models at a variety of levels of call and to share experiences of the profession.
All female advocates are welcome to attend and sign up to the mailing list via email: ?subject=Female%20Advocates'%20Breakfast
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Social context of the law: Should our constitution protect against party elected leaders?
Inner Temple event
Tuesday 16 May
18:00 - 19:30
Online and in person, London
Guest speaker for the event is Sir John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde and President of the British Polling Council. The lecture will be followed by a reception. All welcome.
Find out more information
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Let's Talk about Anxiety
LawCare webinar
Thursday 18 May
12:30 - 13:30
Online
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, LawCare has organised a panel session about anxiety and what strategies can help to manage the symptoms.
Register to attend
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Public Access for barristers
Bar Council event
18 - 19 May
9:00 - 17:30
Online
This Bar Council 1.5-day Public Access for barristers course gives you the opportunity to extend the terms of your practising certificate and widen your potential income streams.
Find out more information
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HMCTS management information
HMCTS has published documents providing the latest management information on workload and timeliness for the period from February 2022 to February 2023 for criminal, civil and family courts, and tribunals.
Access the information
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Pre-recorded evidence: report on witnesses’ experience
The Ministry of Justice has published a report on the findings from a process evaluation of the implementation of Section 28 for intimidated witnesses, including survivors of rape and modern slavery.
Download the report
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Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) recruitment roadshows
The Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) will be recruiting for fee-paid and salaried Upper Tribunal Judges in the near future, so a series of roadshows have been organised to provide an opportunity to learn more about the role, the work and the application process.
The events will take place on 15 May at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre, 22 May at Field House, 15-25 Breams Buildings in London (this event will also be available online), 24 May at The Law Society Wales Office in Cardiff, and on 30 May at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.
Potential candidates from all backgrounds and circumstances are welcome and if you would like to attend then please specify the event location when you email:
If you want to attend the online event please ensure you provide an email address for the Teams invitation to be sent to. Please assume that once you have sent your preference, your name will be added to the attendee list and there will be no further confirmation email, unless any arrangements change.
Find out more about the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)
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Family Justice Council
The Family Justice Council is an interdisciplinary body with members drawn from a cross section of those who work, use, or have an interest in, the family justice system. The Council monitors the effectiveness of the family justice system, advising on reforms necessary for improvement and promoting an interdisciplinary approach to family justice in England and Wales.
The Family Justice Council currently has one vacancy for a junior barrister. The application deadline is 10:00 on Monday 15 May.
Find out more information
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Strategic Networking for Barristers and Clerks
New Training Module
Now that Bar events, conferences, and gatherings are back in full swing post-Covid, we are delighted to announce we are launching a new training module, Strategic Networking for Barristers and Clerks.
Most people attend events with the best of intentions but make small mistakes that render the investment of their time meaningless from a networking perspective, for example, talking mostly to connections they already know.
As part of our new online training portfolio focusing on enhancing business skills at the Bar, this course is specifically designed to help barristers and clerks learn how to develop a personal networking strategy that will lay the foundations for a successful career.
For more information contact us at or call 02896 216345.
Read more about our ever expanding compliance training portfolio.
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