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Bar Council represents, promotes and supports almost 18,000 barristers in England and Wales. They also support aspiring barristers by running the Pupillage Fair, the Pupillage Gateway and much more. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about.html
Starting at the Bar: your essential guide is written by the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee to answer your questions and signpost resources. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/starting-at-the-bar-your-essential-guide.html
Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) represents and promotes the interests of the Young Bar – those under seven years’ call – on everything from career development to campaigning on remuneration and working conditions. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/bar-council-governance/committees/young-barristers-committee.html
Black Barristers’ Network provides support and increases the visibility of Black barristers within and outside the profession. linktr.ee/BlackBarristersNetwork
Bridging the Bar is a charity that supports aspiring barristers from a range of statistically underrepresented groups by providing work experience opportunities, mentoring, personal development workshops, resources and more. bridgingthebar.org
Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar is run by and for disabled aspiring barristers. They are working to dismantle barriers affecting disabled aspiring barristers and improve accessibility at the Bar through research, education, mentorships and more. www.bdabar.org
Circuits represent the six regions of the Bar of England and Wales. They provide important sources of support, advice and representation for barristers practising in those areas. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/about-the-bar/other-organisations.html
FreeBar aims to foster inclusion and support for LGBT+ people working as and with barristers. They make sure everyone from the Head of Chambers to pupils and staff members at all levels can share the experience of ‘Acceptance without Exception’. https://freebar.co.uk/
Inns of Court support barristers and students through various educational activities, lunching and dining facilities, access to common rooms and gardens as well as grants and scholarships.
Gray’s Inn: www.graysinn.org.uk/scholarships/bar-course-scholarships
Inner Temple: www.innertemple.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/scholarships/barcourseawards
Lincoln’s Inn: www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/scholarships-prizes/bar-professional-training-course
Middle Temple: www.middletemple.org.uk/education-training/scholarships-prizes
Inns of Court Alliance for Women encourages and supports women throughout their careers and aim to increase retention and diversity within the profession. www.innertemple.org.uk/your-professional-community/icaw
Kalisher Trust seeks to transform the lives of bright young people by developing their advocacy skills. www.thekalishertrust.org
Lawyers Who Care is committed to breaking down barriers for care-experienced aspiring lawyers. Their work includes providing a sense of community and belonging for care-experienced young people to feel seen in the profession for who they are. www.lawyerswhocare.org/whatwedo
Neurodiversity in Law empowers neurodiversity in the legal profession. They campaign to raise awareness, provide support and challenge the surrounding stigma. www.neurodiversityinlaw.co.uk
Pupil Helpline provides confidential advice and support during your pupillage. You can ask them anything. www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/pupil-barristers/pupils-helpline.html
Society of Asian Lawyers aims to support, promote and develop the legal profession within the Asian community in the UK. www.societyofasianlawyers.co.uk
Sikhs in Law represents students, chartered legal executives, solicitors, barristers and Judges across the UK. sikhsinlaw.co.uk
Specialist Bar Associations (SBAs) are dedicated to the interests of groups of barristers within specific practice areas and geographical regions. The 24 SBAs help promote their members’ interests. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/about-the-bar/other-organisations.html
Talk to Spot is an online tool for the Bar to confidentially and anonymously record bullying, harassment or discrimination concerns.
www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/talk-to-spot.html
Mental Health and Wellbeing at the Bar website is full of useful resources to ensure all those at the Bar feel supported. www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk
Pupil Survey is completed by pupils to tell the Bar Council all about your life at the Bar and help shape their work. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/pupil-survey-2024.html
Bar Standards Board is the Bar’s regulator which has information on the requirements to become a practising barrister, offers a new practitioner programme and more. www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification.html
Ethical Enquiries Helpline will answer your ethics queries, or you can visit the Bar Council’s Ethics & Practice Hub to access our archive of documentation. www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/ethics.html
International professional and legal development grant programme enables junior barristers to take part in initiatives which will offer them a global perspective on legal issues and help them thrive in a competitive legal market. www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/young-bar/international-legal-and-development-grant-program.html
Training and events are organised by the Bar Council from conferences and seminars to workshops and training courses to help pupils and barristers fulfil their professional development requirements and build their practice. www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-events.html
Pro bono (voluntary) work can be undertaken with charities like Advocate and the Free Representation Unit to help you build confidence in your abilities, improve your skills and decide what you would like to do in the future. www.barcouncil.org.uk/policy-representation/policy-issues/pro-bono.html
Bar Association for Commerce, Finance & Industry (BACFI) represents the interests of employed and non-practising barristers providing legal services in commerce, finance and industry.
Employed pupillage blogs demystifiy the process, exploring a day in the life for a barrister working for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and much more. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource-library.html?sort=recent&topic=employed-pupillage
Offers and discounts are available by paying the Bar Representation Fee. You will also receive a monthly subscription to Counsel magazine, discounts on hundreds of retailers such as Apple and a 20% discount on all Bar Council training and events. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/bar-representation-fee.html
Taxation and Retirement Benefits Handbook will help ensure you are tax and VAT-compliant. It’s available on the Bar Council’s Ethics and Practice hub. www.barcouncilethics.co.uk/documents/taxation-handbook/
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Bar Council represents, promotes and supports almost 18,000 barristers in England and Wales. They also support aspiring barristers by running the Pupillage Fair, the Pupillage Gateway and much more. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about.html
Starting at the Bar: your essential guide is written by the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee to answer your questions and signpost resources. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/starting-at-the-bar-your-essential-guide.html
Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) represents and promotes the interests of the Young Bar – those under seven years’ call – on everything from career development to campaigning on remuneration and working conditions. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/bar-council-governance/committees/young-barristers-committee.html
Black Barristers’ Network provides support and increases the visibility of Black barristers within and outside the profession. linktr.ee/BlackBarristersNetwork
Bridging the Bar is a charity that supports aspiring barristers from a range of statistically underrepresented groups by providing work experience opportunities, mentoring, personal development workshops, resources and more. bridgingthebar.org
Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar is run by and for disabled aspiring barristers. They are working to dismantle barriers affecting disabled aspiring barristers and improve accessibility at the Bar through research, education, mentorships and more. www.bdabar.org
Circuits represent the six regions of the Bar of England and Wales. They provide important sources of support, advice and representation for barristers practising in those areas. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/about-the-bar/other-organisations.html
FreeBar aims to foster inclusion and support for LGBT+ people working as and with barristers. They make sure everyone from the Head of Chambers to pupils and staff members at all levels can share the experience of ‘Acceptance without Exception’. https://freebar.co.uk/
Inns of Court support barristers and students through various educational activities, lunching and dining facilities, access to common rooms and gardens as well as grants and scholarships.
Gray’s Inn: www.graysinn.org.uk/scholarships/bar-course-scholarships
Inner Temple: www.innertemple.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/scholarships/barcourseawards
Lincoln’s Inn: www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/scholarships-prizes/bar-professional-training-course
Middle Temple: www.middletemple.org.uk/education-training/scholarships-prizes
Inns of Court Alliance for Women encourages and supports women throughout their careers and aim to increase retention and diversity within the profession. www.innertemple.org.uk/your-professional-community/icaw
Kalisher Trust seeks to transform the lives of bright young people by developing their advocacy skills. www.thekalishertrust.org
Lawyers Who Care is committed to breaking down barriers for care-experienced aspiring lawyers. Their work includes providing a sense of community and belonging for care-experienced young people to feel seen in the profession for who they are. www.lawyerswhocare.org/whatwedo
Neurodiversity in Law empowers neurodiversity in the legal profession. They campaign to raise awareness, provide support and challenge the surrounding stigma. www.neurodiversityinlaw.co.uk
Pupil Helpline provides confidential advice and support during your pupillage. You can ask them anything. www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister/pupil-barristers/pupils-helpline.html
Society of Asian Lawyers aims to support, promote and develop the legal profession within the Asian community in the UK. www.societyofasianlawyers.co.uk
Sikhs in Law represents students, chartered legal executives, solicitors, barristers and Judges across the UK. sikhsinlaw.co.uk
Specialist Bar Associations (SBAs) are dedicated to the interests of groups of barristers within specific practice areas and geographical regions. The 24 SBAs help promote their members’ interests. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/about-the-bar/other-organisations.html
Talk to Spot is an online tool for the Bar to confidentially and anonymously record bullying, harassment or discrimination concerns.
www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/talk-to-spot.html
Mental Health and Wellbeing at the Bar website is full of useful resources to ensure all those at the Bar feel supported. www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk
Pupil Survey is completed by pupils to tell the Bar Council all about your life at the Bar and help shape their work. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/pupil-survey-2024.html
Bar Standards Board is the Bar’s regulator which has information on the requirements to become a practising barrister, offers a new practitioner programme and more. www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification.html
Ethical Enquiries Helpline will answer your ethics queries, or you can visit the Bar Council’s Ethics & Practice Hub to access our archive of documentation. www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/ethics.html
International professional and legal development grant programme enables junior barristers to take part in initiatives which will offer them a global perspective on legal issues and help them thrive in a competitive legal market. www.barcouncil.org.uk/support-for-barristers/young-bar/international-legal-and-development-grant-program.html
Training and events are organised by the Bar Council from conferences and seminars to workshops and training courses to help pupils and barristers fulfil their professional development requirements and build their practice. www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-events.html
Pro bono (voluntary) work can be undertaken with charities like Advocate and the Free Representation Unit to help you build confidence in your abilities, improve your skills and decide what you would like to do in the future. www.barcouncil.org.uk/policy-representation/policy-issues/pro-bono.html
Bar Association for Commerce, Finance & Industry (BACFI) represents the interests of employed and non-practising barristers providing legal services in commerce, finance and industry.
Employed pupillage blogs demystifiy the process, exploring a day in the life for a barrister working for the Crown Prosecution Service, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and much more. www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource-library.html?sort=recent&topic=employed-pupillage
Offers and discounts are available by paying the Bar Representation Fee. You will also receive a monthly subscription to Counsel magazine, discounts on hundreds of retailers such as Apple and a 20% discount on all Bar Council training and events. www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/bar-representation-fee.html
Taxation and Retirement Benefits Handbook will help ensure you are tax and VAT-compliant. It’s available on the Bar Council’s Ethics and Practice hub. www.barcouncilethics.co.uk/documents/taxation-handbook/
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
