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In 2025, Barbara Mills KC (then Chair of the Bar) set up the Active Wellbeing Working Group (AWWG). The AWWG is chaired by Charlotte May KC and its current committee includes Sam Mercer (Bar Council representative) and, from the Bar, Kama Melly KC, Richard Blakeley KC, Stephen Barratt and myself, Emma Cross.
That year, the AWWG embarked on an ambitious project to shift the profession’s approach to wellbeing. Instead of focusing solely on crisis intervention, the aim was to build a culture of prevention – one where barristers could reflect on the emotional and relational challenges of practice before they became overwhelming. At the heart of this initiative was a simple question: could structured reflective practice, long used in medicine and psychotherapy, meaningfully support barristers in their day-to-day professional lives?
To find out, the Bar Council partnered with Balint Legal to run its first pilot programme of Balint groups across the Bar – facilitated peer-discussion sessions, run by Balint-trained former lawyers, designed to help barristers (and solicitors) explore the emotional dimensions of their work. Two groups were established: one for Chancery and commercial practitioners in London, and another for criminal and family barristers on the Western Circuit. Each group met for six 90-minute sessions between June and December 2025.
What emerged from this pilot was a rich picture of how reflective practice can support the modern Bar, where it works best and where the model needed refinement during the pilot process.
One of the clearest findings from the evaluation was that Balint groups can be delivered safely and effectively within the culture of the Bar. Participants consistently reported feeling comfortable with confidentiality, supported by their peers and able to speak openly about the pressures of practice. Almost all participants found the peer group format helpful in terms of learning from one another’s experiences and gaining alternative perspectives.
For many, the simple act of hearing others articulate similar struggles was profoundly validating. As one participant put it: ‘Knowing that the group exists… has had a calming and soothing effect.’ In a profession often marked by isolation, the groups offered a rare space for solidarity.
Mixed seniority proved to be a particular strength. Junior barristers valued hearing that their more experienced colleagues had faced similar challenges, while senior practitioners appreciated the fresh perspectives offered by those earlier in their careers. The result was a sense of shared professional humanity that transcended hierarchy.
The majority of participants reported positive effects on their wellbeing, their interactions with clients and colleagues, and their ability to reflect on difficult situations with greater objectivity.
Some described being better able to step back from emotionally charged cases. Others noted improvements in boundary-setting, self-compassion and perspective-taking. One participant reflected that after presenting a difficult case to the group, they were ‘much more able to be “outside” of the problem, looking in rather than all-consumed by it’.
Notably, those who attended four or more sessions were significantly more likely to report meaningful benefits. This suggests that reflective practice is a skill that deepens with repeated engagement rather than a one-off intervention.
While the overall response was positive, the pilot helped develop the Balint model in real time to meet the needs of the Bar.
At mid-point, a small but notable group of Chancery and commercial practitioners felt constrained by the traditional Balint focus on the client-professional relationship. From the second session onwards, the stressors brought to the group included predicaments with judges, opposing counsel, clerks and in-team dynamics as well as instructing and lay clients.
This allowed the facilitators to adapt the Balint method to offer a more flexible framing that explicitly welcomed all professional relationship stressors and may better serve the diversity of practice at the Bar.
Attendance varied across both groups, with only four participants attending all six sessions. Work pressures, illness and unpredictable court commitments were the main reasons for absence. Some participants expressed frustration when others dropped out early, particularly given the waiting lists for places.
Most participants felt adequately prepared for the sessions, though several said an online introductory session would have helped manage expectations – especially for those unfamiliar with the Balint approach.
In terms of delivery format, the overwhelming preference was for in-person sessions. Participants emphasised the importance of reading body language, building rapport and being fully present without digital distractions. A minority suggested that occasional online sessions could work once trust had been established.
Despite the limitations of a small pilot, the findings point to a clear conclusion: structured reflective practice has real potential to support wellbeing and professional development at the Bar. Participants described the groups as validating, grounding and professionally enriching. Even those who did not find the model personally transformative still expressed positive views about the experience.
The pilot also revealed a growing appetite for reflective practice within the profession. Following the pilot, other sets of chambers have set up professionally facilitated Balint groups for their members.
Based on the evaluation, several recommendations emerge for the next phase of development:
The 2025 pilot marks an important step in the Bar Council’s commitment to proactive wellbeing. It demonstrates that reflective practice, long a staple of other professions, can be meaningfully adapted to the unique pressures of the Bar.
With further testing and feedback, Balint groups could become a cornerstone of a healthier, more reflective professional culture. They offer not only a space for emotional processing, but a reminder that even in a demanding and often isolating profession, barristers are not alone in their experiences.
The AWWG is planning a Balint introductory session this summer with a view to running a further Balint pilot in the autumn. If you are interested in learning more or attending the introductory session, please email equality@barcouncil.org.uk. You can read more about Balint at www.balintlegal.co.uk. See also www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk for support and resources.
Emma Cross is Chair of the Western Circuit Women’s Forum and a barrister at Magdalen Chambers specialising in public and private law children cases.
In 2025, Barbara Mills KC (then Chair of the Bar) set up the Active Wellbeing Working Group (AWWG). The AWWG is chaired by Charlotte May KC and its current committee includes Sam Mercer (Bar Council representative) and, from the Bar, Kama Melly KC, Richard Blakeley KC, Stephen Barratt and myself, Emma Cross.
That year, the AWWG embarked on an ambitious project to shift the profession’s approach to wellbeing. Instead of focusing solely on crisis intervention, the aim was to build a culture of prevention – one where barristers could reflect on the emotional and relational challenges of practice before they became overwhelming. At the heart of this initiative was a simple question: could structured reflective practice, long used in medicine and psychotherapy, meaningfully support barristers in their day-to-day professional lives?
To find out, the Bar Council partnered with Balint Legal to run its first pilot programme of Balint groups across the Bar – facilitated peer-discussion sessions, run by Balint-trained former lawyers, designed to help barristers (and solicitors) explore the emotional dimensions of their work. Two groups were established: one for Chancery and commercial practitioners in London, and another for criminal and family barristers on the Western Circuit. Each group met for six 90-minute sessions between June and December 2025.
What emerged from this pilot was a rich picture of how reflective practice can support the modern Bar, where it works best and where the model needed refinement during the pilot process.
One of the clearest findings from the evaluation was that Balint groups can be delivered safely and effectively within the culture of the Bar. Participants consistently reported feeling comfortable with confidentiality, supported by their peers and able to speak openly about the pressures of practice. Almost all participants found the peer group format helpful in terms of learning from one another’s experiences and gaining alternative perspectives.
For many, the simple act of hearing others articulate similar struggles was profoundly validating. As one participant put it: ‘Knowing that the group exists… has had a calming and soothing effect.’ In a profession often marked by isolation, the groups offered a rare space for solidarity.
Mixed seniority proved to be a particular strength. Junior barristers valued hearing that their more experienced colleagues had faced similar challenges, while senior practitioners appreciated the fresh perspectives offered by those earlier in their careers. The result was a sense of shared professional humanity that transcended hierarchy.
The majority of participants reported positive effects on their wellbeing, their interactions with clients and colleagues, and their ability to reflect on difficult situations with greater objectivity.
Some described being better able to step back from emotionally charged cases. Others noted improvements in boundary-setting, self-compassion and perspective-taking. One participant reflected that after presenting a difficult case to the group, they were ‘much more able to be “outside” of the problem, looking in rather than all-consumed by it’.
Notably, those who attended four or more sessions were significantly more likely to report meaningful benefits. This suggests that reflective practice is a skill that deepens with repeated engagement rather than a one-off intervention.
While the overall response was positive, the pilot helped develop the Balint model in real time to meet the needs of the Bar.
At mid-point, a small but notable group of Chancery and commercial practitioners felt constrained by the traditional Balint focus on the client-professional relationship. From the second session onwards, the stressors brought to the group included predicaments with judges, opposing counsel, clerks and in-team dynamics as well as instructing and lay clients.
This allowed the facilitators to adapt the Balint method to offer a more flexible framing that explicitly welcomed all professional relationship stressors and may better serve the diversity of practice at the Bar.
Attendance varied across both groups, with only four participants attending all six sessions. Work pressures, illness and unpredictable court commitments were the main reasons for absence. Some participants expressed frustration when others dropped out early, particularly given the waiting lists for places.
Most participants felt adequately prepared for the sessions, though several said an online introductory session would have helped manage expectations – especially for those unfamiliar with the Balint approach.
In terms of delivery format, the overwhelming preference was for in-person sessions. Participants emphasised the importance of reading body language, building rapport and being fully present without digital distractions. A minority suggested that occasional online sessions could work once trust had been established.
Despite the limitations of a small pilot, the findings point to a clear conclusion: structured reflective practice has real potential to support wellbeing and professional development at the Bar. Participants described the groups as validating, grounding and professionally enriching. Even those who did not find the model personally transformative still expressed positive views about the experience.
The pilot also revealed a growing appetite for reflective practice within the profession. Following the pilot, other sets of chambers have set up professionally facilitated Balint groups for their members.
Based on the evaluation, several recommendations emerge for the next phase of development:
The 2025 pilot marks an important step in the Bar Council’s commitment to proactive wellbeing. It demonstrates that reflective practice, long a staple of other professions, can be meaningfully adapted to the unique pressures of the Bar.
With further testing and feedback, Balint groups could become a cornerstone of a healthier, more reflective professional culture. They offer not only a space for emotional processing, but a reminder that even in a demanding and often isolating profession, barristers are not alone in their experiences.
The AWWG is planning a Balint introductory session this summer with a view to running a further Balint pilot in the autumn. If you are interested in learning more or attending the introductory session, please email equality@barcouncil.org.uk. You can read more about Balint at www.balintlegal.co.uk. See also www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk for support and resources.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
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How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the role of cut-off levels, and the wider range of factors that must be considered when interpreting results for family court proceedings
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
The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Jemima Coleman and Zoë Leventhal KC on the evolving global movement seeking to reframe how we view nature: to recognise that nature possesses inherent rights and to enshrine these rights in law
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
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
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
