Barristers welcome Harrow Crown Court’s reopening as an example of how to cut court backlogs
Barristers have welcomed the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) announcement that Harrow Crown Court has reopened after nearly three years.
Bar Council responds to LSB projects and LeO budget announcements
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has said that more must be done to strengthen ethics, it has capped the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) budget and the LSB Public Bodies Review call for evidence by the MoJ has now closed.
Pump Court Chambers - Family Finance (30 April 2026)
£ TBD | Family Finance | London, Winchester, Swindon, Canterbury
Pump Court Chambers (Employment) - 30 April 2026
£ TBD | Employment | London, Winchester, Swindon, Canterbury
Pump Court Chambers - Children (30 April 2026)
£ TBD | Children | London, Winchester, Swindon, Canterbury
Jury proposals “a cure worse than the disease” – Geoffrey Robertson KC, founding head of Doughty Street Chambers
The distinguished silk writes that the government has overlooked the constitutional importance of trial by jury
Pupils positive about pupillage with incidents of bullying and harassment falling but disabled and second six pupils more negative, survey finds
The Bar Council’s annual pupil survey found 83% had an overall positive pupillage experience while more than half (56%) described it as ‘very positive’.
Pupil survey report 2026
This report is generated from our annual survey of pupils.
Beat the drum for English law – legal, government and business leaders agree
In this blog Natalie Darby, Head of Policy: International at the Bar Council, explains the importance of coming together to promote English law.
Bar Council pledges to defend international rule of law
The Bar Council supports the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) statement on the protection of international law and justice.
Barristers urge government to deliver specialist courts for sexual and domestic abuse cases, instead of restricting jury trials
The Bar Council, together with the Criminal Bar Association, is calling on the government to open specialist courts which would retain a jury but focus on sexual offences and domestic abuse cases, prioritising vulnerable victims/complainants.
Government’s proposal puts magistrates' courts at ‘high risk’ Bar Council warns as backlog reaches record high
New Ministry of Justice figures show that the magistrates' court backlog has now reached a record high of 379,437 cases. Meanwhile the government propose to move more serious cases out of the Crown Court and into the magistrates' court.
CourtWatch report is "timely intervention" says Bar Chair
The CourtWatch London project report shows why pushing to remove rights to elect to the Crown Court and moving many more cases to the magistrates’ court is flawed.
How does the Bar Representation Fee support the young Bar?
Among the payments for insurance, accountants, practising certificates, train fares and much-needed coffees with friends, the BRF can fall way down our list of priorities. However, in my view, the BRF is a small donation that allows the Bar Council to do important work for the benefit of the whole profession.
'Pause and breathe': advice to follow in your pupillage interview from interviewers themselves
Barristers, who have between them interviewed hundreds of aspiring barristers, share words of wisdom to bear in mind as you head into your pupillage interview – and into your career at the Bar.
MoJ client account interest plans “overly broad” and “flawed”
The Bar Council has opposed the proposed scheme in response to the MoJ consultation
Garden Court Chambers - crime (no deadline)
£1200 per month | Crime| London | start date: as soon as possible
Over 3,200 lawyers including retired judges, past and present Bar Council Chairs and a former DPP call on Prime Minister to stop jury trial proposal
More than 3,200 lawyers including a former head of the CPS, retired judges, senior barristers, solicitors and academics have urged the Prime Minister to stop the government's jury trial reforms ahead of a parliamentary debate on new legislation.
"‘Give to gain’ is the hand outstretched to women": Bar leaders reflect on IWD
For International Women's Day, our women Bar leaders discuss what they hope to see change for women at the Bar in the next decade, what they would do differently if they were starting their career at the Bar today and much more.