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We’ve had a busy summer. Justice has been in the news and for those able to take a summer break –welcome back. Looking forward, I want to set out key events and activities for the rest of the year.
Baroness Harriet Harman KC will publish her independent report on bullying and harassment at the Bar. This is an important moment for us. The report’s findings and recommendations will have positive ramifications for years to come. Harriet has accepted our invitation to deliver a webinar where she can talk about the review, her recommendations and answer your questions on the evening of 17 September.
The legal aid systems remain unavailable due to the cyber incident. The situation has been intolerable for many. We continue to focus on securing the full restoration of the payment systems for civil and family cases. Our series of billing seminars in September will, among other things, walk attendees through the claims process to make sure colleagues are billing for all the fees they are entitled to. There are three separate sessions focused on crime, civil (family) and civil (non-family) respectively (sign up here).
The justice system is still running on empty, and the publicly funded Bar continues to face challenging and difficult circumstances. The Bar Council will be heading to party conferences to engage with politicians from across the political spectrum and replay the key issues at the Bar.
From 15 to 19 September, our International Committee has arranged another UAE business development visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai with a focus on family law (see here).
The theme of this year’s Opening of the Legal Year on 30 September and 1 October is the global safety and protection of lawyers. We have jointly organised events with the Law Society, and I look forward to hosting our international guests. We will continue the conversation about the protection of lawyers on European Lawyers’ Day on 25 October.
On 23 October, the Careers at the Employed Bar panel event and the Employed Bar Dinner organised by the Bar Council and Gray’s Inn will take place (sign up here). The panel is for aspiring barristers and those who are considering a move to the Employed Bar. On the night you can hear directly from practitioners about their careers. Members of all four Inns are welcome to attend both events.
I am delighted to be ‘in conversation’ with Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, at Inner Temple on 28 October. The Lady Chief and I are both Benchers at Inner and want to explore the big issues facing the justice system, Bar and Bench. Look out for tickets.
Our Pupillage Fair takes place from 13 to 18 October. It is always a huge successful event where aspiring barristers can meet pupillage providers and experts from across the Bar. If you’re keen to share your knowledge with the next generation of barristers, please sign up to volunteer for our CV clinic.
Wellbeing is one of my key priorities this year and I’m pleased that our pilot Balint group reflective practice meetings are under way and going well. On 13 November, I’ll be hosting an evening event to update you on our wellbeing work with some special guest speakers. Please put this date in your diary.
Also in November, the Bar Council will be sending a delegation to the annual International Bar Association Conference in Canada starting on 2 November.
The Bar Council’s Disability Inclusion online event – to help chambers make adjustments for mobility-impaired people – will take place on 4 November (sign up here) and Pro Bono Week will be from 3 to 7 November. On 13 November the Bar Council has organised Handling Client Complaints, an online panel event for barristers and chambers (book your place here).
The Law Reform Essay Competition is now open and closes on 23 October 2025. The winners of this prestigious prize will be announced before Christmas. Also before the end of this year, we will be publishing our Barristers’ Working Lives survey and holding our annual International Rule of Law Lecture – watch out for more details to be announced soon.
We are looking for candidates to stand for election to the Bar Council. If you want to use your skills and expertise to shape policy and the practice of the law, then I would encourage you to stand. The nomination period runs from 9 to 20 September. Being of service to the Bar and being a part of the creation of a modern inclusive profession has been one of the highlights of my career.
Barbara Mills KC is the 2025 Chair of the Bar. She is a specialist family practitioner at 4PB and former Co-Chair of the Bar Council’s Race Working Group.
We’ve had a busy summer. Justice has been in the news and for those able to take a summer break –welcome back. Looking forward, I want to set out key events and activities for the rest of the year.
Baroness Harriet Harman KC will publish her independent report on bullying and harassment at the Bar. This is an important moment for us. The report’s findings and recommendations will have positive ramifications for years to come. Harriet has accepted our invitation to deliver a webinar where she can talk about the review, her recommendations and answer your questions on the evening of 17 September.
The legal aid systems remain unavailable due to the cyber incident. The situation has been intolerable for many. We continue to focus on securing the full restoration of the payment systems for civil and family cases. Our series of billing seminars in September will, among other things, walk attendees through the claims process to make sure colleagues are billing for all the fees they are entitled to. There are three separate sessions focused on crime, civil (family) and civil (non-family) respectively (sign up here).
The justice system is still running on empty, and the publicly funded Bar continues to face challenging and difficult circumstances. The Bar Council will be heading to party conferences to engage with politicians from across the political spectrum and replay the key issues at the Bar.
From 15 to 19 September, our International Committee has arranged another UAE business development visit to Abu Dhabi and Dubai with a focus on family law (see here).
The theme of this year’s Opening of the Legal Year on 30 September and 1 October is the global safety and protection of lawyers. We have jointly organised events with the Law Society, and I look forward to hosting our international guests. We will continue the conversation about the protection of lawyers on European Lawyers’ Day on 25 October.
On 23 October, the Careers at the Employed Bar panel event and the Employed Bar Dinner organised by the Bar Council and Gray’s Inn will take place (sign up here). The panel is for aspiring barristers and those who are considering a move to the Employed Bar. On the night you can hear directly from practitioners about their careers. Members of all four Inns are welcome to attend both events.
I am delighted to be ‘in conversation’ with Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, at Inner Temple on 28 October. The Lady Chief and I are both Benchers at Inner and want to explore the big issues facing the justice system, Bar and Bench. Look out for tickets.
Our Pupillage Fair takes place from 13 to 18 October. It is always a huge successful event where aspiring barristers can meet pupillage providers and experts from across the Bar. If you’re keen to share your knowledge with the next generation of barristers, please sign up to volunteer for our CV clinic.
Wellbeing is one of my key priorities this year and I’m pleased that our pilot Balint group reflective practice meetings are under way and going well. On 13 November, I’ll be hosting an evening event to update you on our wellbeing work with some special guest speakers. Please put this date in your diary.
Also in November, the Bar Council will be sending a delegation to the annual International Bar Association Conference in Canada starting on 2 November.
The Bar Council’s Disability Inclusion online event – to help chambers make adjustments for mobility-impaired people – will take place on 4 November (sign up here) and Pro Bono Week will be from 3 to 7 November. On 13 November the Bar Council has organised Handling Client Complaints, an online panel event for barristers and chambers (book your place here).
The Law Reform Essay Competition is now open and closes on 23 October 2025. The winners of this prestigious prize will be announced before Christmas. Also before the end of this year, we will be publishing our Barristers’ Working Lives survey and holding our annual International Rule of Law Lecture – watch out for more details to be announced soon.
We are looking for candidates to stand for election to the Bar Council. If you want to use your skills and expertise to shape policy and the practice of the law, then I would encourage you to stand. The nomination period runs from 9 to 20 September. Being of service to the Bar and being a part of the creation of a modern inclusive profession has been one of the highlights of my career.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
