The Bar Council

23/06/2026

📢 Calling all young barristers and junior solicitors. Don't miss our next networking opportunity in London on Thursday 10 September.

We're hosting 'Building a strong barrister-solicitor relationship' panel event as part of our thriving in your first years of practice event series.

Our panel of barristers and solicitors will talk you through what makes great client care, what can go wrong, and what's important when it comes to collaboration.

You'll have the chance to ask questions and build your professional network at a post-event reception.

Take a look at the feedback from our networking event in March.

22/06/2026

Calls have been growing to reconsider scrapping jury trials.

Several stories in the weekend papers highlighted just some of the issues with eroding this deeply entrenched constitutional principle.

The criminal justice system crisis is one of Kirsty Brimelow KC's priorities this year as Chair, and she has been leading our campaign against the government proposals to reduce jury trials.

Find out more⤵️

18/06/2026

"As an aspiring barrister, my journey to the Bar was anything but traditional.

"Coming from a working-class background and the first person in my family to attend university, I entered higher education determined to create opportunities that previous generations had not.

"I was faced with socio-demographic and financial barriers that could easily have discouraged me from pursuing my ambitions, but I refused to let something beyond my control determine where I was going."

After 11 years of dedication to her goal of becoming a barrister, Leonie Hughes was called to the Bar by The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in April.

In this blog, she discusses how she overcame challenges and the advice she has for those also wishing to pursue their dreams ⬇️

17/06/2026

We're continuing to support MP court visits across England and Wales so they can hear about issues affecting the criminal justice system directly from those who work in it.

Barrister and Midland Circuit assistant junior Jack Stuart met with Juliet Campbell, MP for Broxtowe, at Nottingham Crown Court. Discussions included the significant impact that prisoner delays to court has on trials, and staffing levels throughout the criminal justice system.

MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, David Simmonds, went to Harrow Crown Court where he met with barrister Daren Samat and talked through court inefficiencies and the impact on barrister retention rates, particularly among the young Bar.

Thank you to all the MPs for coming and listening to our concerns, and to barristers and court staff for sharing their views.

15/06/2026

The Bar Council’s Commissioner for Conduct and Bar Standards Board have agreed a new protocol on reporting serious misconduct. ​

This is a significant milestone in delivering the recommendations of Baroness Harman’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar.​

The way you can report serious misconduct has changed, as well as reporting to the Bar Standards Board, you can now report to the Commissioner via Talk to Spot.

https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/bullying-and-harassment/talk-to-spot.html

15/06/2026

The Bar Council’s Commissioner for Conduct, Dame Maria Miller, and Bar Standards Board have agreed a new protocol on reporting serious misconduct.

This has changed the way you can report, what constitutes serious misconduct and the evidence you need.

The protocol is a significant milestone in delivering the recommendations of Baroness Harman’s review of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar.

Read more⬇️

15/06/2026

A special day in the diary of Chair of the Bar as we took Kirsty Brimelow KC back to her old primary school in Whittle-Le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire.

Kirsty visited the year 6 class and supported the delivery of one of our Speak for Success lessons. Today's lesson was how to disagree respectfully.

Speak for Success is a set of free resources for teachers to help empower young people (aged 7-11) build confidence and develop their oracy skills. And all lessons are aligned with the curriculum in England and Wales.

We designed these resources together with teachers and barristers with support from Gray's Inn, The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple and The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

If you're in touch with your local primary school please do let them know about our free engaging resources. https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/policy-representation/policy-issues/education/speak-for-success.html

11/06/2026

The Justice Committee has criticised the government's plan to limit the right to a jury trial because it lacks "a concrete evidential basis”.

In the Times today, our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC said "it’s difficult to understand why the government has not sought to achieve a broader consensus both in and outside parliament on these proposals before pushing ahead…”

Read more: https://bit.ly/4e0xAlQ

The government proposals for judge-only hearings for sentences up to three years in England and Wales is unlikely to reduce the crown court backlog, MPs say

10/06/2026

The Justice Committee has today published its report on the Courts and Tribunals Bill, setting out several issues with the bill.

We agree with the Justice Committee’s conclusion that it’s difficult to understand why the government has not sought to achieve a broader consensus both in and outside Parliament on these proposals before pushing ahead with them.

Read our full response and the report⤵️

03/06/2026

Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC joins presenter Dr Joelle Grogan on the BBC’s The Law Show podcast to discuss youth justice, sentencing and the age of criminal responsibility.

Listen via BBC Sounds ⬇️