Baroness Harriet Harman KC and leaders of the barrister profession are set to examine the Bar’s culture at this year’s Bar Conference, ahead of the publication of the independent report into bullying and harassment at the Bar.  

Baroness Harman will share what she has heard across the country while conducting her review and will be joined by Bar Chair Barbara Mills KC, Leon Kazakos KC and Lachlan Stewart to discuss the Bar’s role in changing the culture. 

The criminal justice system is also under review this year with the Gauke review of sentencing and the Leveson review of the criminal courts both due to report in the lead up to the conference on Saturday 7 June. An expert panel – including Dr Natalie Byrom, Dr Tom McNeil, Mark Allan and Ash Patel – will answer: how likely is real change for justice?

The Post Office Horizon It Inquiry, set to report this year, is but one of many ongoing public inquiries, with calls for new inquiries almost becoming quotidian. Lord Norton of Louth, who chaired the House of Lords inquiry into public inquiries, together with Jason Beer KC, whose caseload includes the Thirlwall, Southport and Nottingham inquiries, will unpack whether they deliver in the public interest.

The Bar Council is delighted to announce that the keynote speakers include the Lady Chief Justice and Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE. The renowned statistician - who acted as a statistical witness at the Thirlwall Inquiry - will explore how failing to appreciate statistics’ limitations can have profound legal and human consequences. 

Looking ahead: family law and reflective practice
The Bar Council’s latest data on wellbeing showed that a third of barristers are struggling to cope with their workloads. Heavy workloads, long hours and emotionally demanding cases mean barristers are often under tremendous pressure. Charlotte May KC is leading the Bar Council’s working group on reflective supervision and together with a panel of experts will explore how this well-established tool can help the Bar.
 
Family law is constantly evolving with increasing recognition that vulnerable families and domestic abuse victims need greater support and protection. Delegates will hear from President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane, Her Honour Judge Carole Burgher and other experts on what’s next for family law as we strive towards a system that is both trauma-informed and survivor-focused.
 
The Bar’s Pro Bono Award – the Lifetime Achievement in Pro-bono: the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award – will also be presented at the conference by the Lady Chief Justice.
 

Bar Council Chair Barbara Mills KC said: “Bar Conference is the one opportunity in the legal calendar where we can all come together to discuss the issues affecting our profession and the sector more widely, from ethics and wellbeing to the future of public inquiries.

“2025 is the ‘year of the review’, not only for the criminal justice system but for the Bar too. Baroness Harman’s review will provide the profession with recommendations which will pave the way for real change.

“The Bar Council has led the Bar through its evolution over the past 131 years and our Bar Conference and its varied programme, offering something for everyone, is testament to that.

“We’re delighted to be hosting Bar Conference in Birmingham for the very first time this year and I am looking forward to seeing members from across the Bar join us on the Midland Circuit for this unique event.”

Read the full Bar Conference programme