*/
Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of the Bar, explains the new Bar Representation Fee and the works that it funds.
I would guess that if you were asked to identify the highlights of your year, renewing your practising certificate wouldn’t even feature on a long-list. But it is vital to protect and safeguard the infrastructure which allows the Bar to continue to practise and develop. We want to make that process as smooth and as easy as we can for you, and to explain clearly what the money is for, and the value it provides.
Most of the income from the Practising Certifi cate Fee (PCF) funds the regulation of the profession primarily through the activities of the independent Bar Standards Board. Some funds the wider work of the Bar Council (which alongside regulatory activities, constitute ‘permitted purposes’). But there are very important aspects of our work – notably representing and promoting the interests of barristers and the Bar as a whole – which cannot, by law, be funded through the PCF. That is why we ask for a voluntary contribution over and above the PCF.
When you receive your Practising Certificate Fee renewal notice later this month, you will see a notable change from last year. Whereas in recent years we have asked members of the Bar to support our representative activities through a voluntary Members’ Services Fee (MSF), this year we are instead asking you to consider paying the new Bar Representation Fee (BRF) which will replace the MSF.
We have been talking to barristers through a programme of focus groups across the country. It is clear from these conversations that a lot of people think that the MSF helps us fund the range of discounts which we offer the Bar. That’s one myth we are keen to dispel, and we clearly need to do a better job of explaining what the fee is actually for. The name change is an important part of that.
It’s true that being part of a collegiate profession should enable you, through our block purchasing power, to access a range of high quality goods and services that you would expect a modern and forward-looking representative body to be in a position to provide. But that commercial activity actually raises money to support our broader representative activities. It is all self-financing and it comes at no cost to the Bar. It is simply one way in which we can provide you with added value and also raise further funds, commercially, to support our representational activities.
The income we generate through the voluntary fee, now the BRF, actually helps us to represent you to Government, to the media and to the wider world. It funds, in whole or in part, our lobbying and press activities, our domestic and international business development both for direct access and traditional referral work; we have set up a Bar Nursery, operate a mentoring service, issue remuneration guidance and support – and that is just a small amount of the work which we do to support your practices and promote e-ffective access to justice.
In order to continue to o- er what we hope are high quality and relevant services, we need your support. We also need your feedback and to hear more from you about how we are doing. We recognise that it is not a one-way street. In return for your support, we also need to be more accountable to you. From this year, you will start to see the BRF logo across publications and materials which your BRF helps to support so that you can see exactly where your money is going. We will ensure that there is a more visible presence for the Bar Council executive team across the Circuits so that you have an opportunity to talk to us in person about the work we are doing. We now publish an annual report which focuses on how we are performing against our
strategic plan and we will continue to be as transparent as possible about our programme of activities and future strategy.
We recognise that it is a time of significant challenges for many parts of the profession, but it is also a time when we need to be in a strong position to maximise any opportunities which present themselves. We recognise that you want a representative body which is on the front foot and providing you with relevant and dynamic services which meet your needs. We are committed to rising to that challenge and we hope that you will support us, through the BRF, to do just that.
Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of the Bar Council
Stephen has been Chief Executive of the Bar Council since June 2013. Before that he spent two years with Cisco, and five years as Chief Executive of BECTA, the UK Government education technology agency.
Before joining the Bar Council as Chief Executive in 2013, Stephen held a variety of senior public and private sector posts in education policy, most recently as Chief Executive of BECTA, the UK Government education technology agency and with Cisco, the networking giant.
Most of the income from the Practising Certifi cate Fee (PCF) funds the regulation of the profession primarily through the activities of the independent Bar Standards Board. Some funds the wider work of the Bar Council (which alongside regulatory activities, constitute ‘permitted purposes’). But there are very important aspects of our work – notably representing and promoting the interests of barristers and the Bar as a whole – which cannot, by law, be funded through the PCF. That is why we ask for a voluntary contribution over and above the PCF.
When you receive your Practising Certificate Fee renewal notice later this month, you will see a notable change from last year. Whereas in recent years we have asked members of the Bar to support our representative activities through a voluntary Members’ Services Fee (MSF), this year we are instead asking you to consider paying the new Bar Representation Fee (BRF) which will replace the MSF.
We have been talking to barristers through a programme of focus groups across the country. It is clear from these conversations that a lot of people think that the MSF helps us fund the range of discounts which we offer the Bar. That’s one myth we are keen to dispel, and we clearly need to do a better job of explaining what the fee is actually for. The name change is an important part of that.
It’s true that being part of a collegiate profession should enable you, through our block purchasing power, to access a range of high quality goods and services that you would expect a modern and forward-looking representative body to be in a position to provide. But that commercial activity actually raises money to support our broader representative activities. It is all self-financing and it comes at no cost to the Bar. It is simply one way in which we can provide you with added value and also raise further funds, commercially, to support our representational activities.
The income we generate through the voluntary fee, now the BRF, actually helps us to represent you to Government, to the media and to the wider world. It funds, in whole or in part, our lobbying and press activities, our domestic and international business development both for direct access and traditional referral work; we have set up a Bar Nursery, operate a mentoring service, issue remuneration guidance and support – and that is just a small amount of the work which we do to support your practices and promote e-ffective access to justice.
In order to continue to o- er what we hope are high quality and relevant services, we need your support. We also need your feedback and to hear more from you about how we are doing. We recognise that it is not a one-way street. In return for your support, we also need to be more accountable to you. From this year, you will start to see the BRF logo across publications and materials which your BRF helps to support so that you can see exactly where your money is going. We will ensure that there is a more visible presence for the Bar Council executive team across the Circuits so that you have an opportunity to talk to us in person about the work we are doing. We now publish an annual report which focuses on how we are performing against our
strategic plan and we will continue to be as transparent as possible about our programme of activities and future strategy.
We recognise that it is a time of significant challenges for many parts of the profession, but it is also a time when we need to be in a strong position to maximise any opportunities which present themselves. We recognise that you want a representative body which is on the front foot and providing you with relevant and dynamic services which meet your needs. We are committed to rising to that challenge and we hope that you will support us, through the BRF, to do just that.
Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of the Bar Council
Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of the Bar, explains the new Bar Representation Fee and the works that it funds.
I would guess that if you were asked to identify the highlights of your year, renewing your practising certificate wouldn’t even feature on a long-list. But it is vital to protect and safeguard the infrastructure which allows the Bar to continue to practise and develop. We want to make that process as smooth and as easy as we can for you, and to explain clearly what the money is for, and the value it provides.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
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
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
In this wide-ranging interview, Professor Jo Delahunty KC, Family Law KC of the Year, talks to Anthony Inglese CB about the values that shaped her, the moment she found her vocation and, in an intensely personal call to arms, why time is running out for the legal aid Bar
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
Thomas Roe KC and Andrew O’Kola respond to an article by Dr Leonardo Raznovich (Counsel , October 2025) – ‘Privy Council colonialism? Piercing the constitutional veil’
Chair of the Bar reports back
The client’s best interests could be well-served by sharing the advocacy with junior counsel more often than you might think – Naomi Cunningham and Charlotte Eves explore some less orthodox ways to divide the speaking role
