Bar Council Barristers' Working Lives report 2023
The 2023 survey looks into the impact of the court system following the pandemic and barristers' views on wellbeing and work-life balance
Cyber Security Matters - Mitigo
Mitigo's guide to cyber risk management for barristers and chambers
Becoming a barrister brochure
This brochure introduces you to life as a barrister - one of the most dynamic and challenging careers available.
Bar Council spending review submission: fixing the foundations of the justice system
Our submission to the multi-year Spending Review announced by the Chancellor in July 2024.
Match funding criminal pupillages
Our policy briefing on why the government should match funding for criminal pupillages at the self-employed Bar, provides costings, and explains how the pupillages could be administered.
Justice short changed - public funding of the justice system
Our new report analyses government spending on the justice system from 2009/10 to 2022/23
Bar Council Annual Report 2023/2024
Read about our activities in 2023/24
Barristers in international arbitration brochure
A brief introduction to international arbitration to be used by barristers for prospective clients.
Bar Council Manifesto for justice 2024
The Bar Council's manifesto for justice makes the case for change to the justice system with 8 recommendations.
A lens on justice: The move to remote justice 2020 - 2024
This report evaluates remote hearings in England and Wales from the perspective of legal professionals. It sets out what has been working, what’s not and where improvements or changes are needed.
New practitioner earnings differentials at the self-employed Bar April 2024
Analyses patterns that might account for the earnings gap between men and women at the self-employed Bar found in every practice area in the 0-3 years' post qualification experience (PQE) group.
Pro Bono Guide for Pupils and Supervisors
Guidance for pupils and supervisors for providing pupils with pro bono experience.
Pupil Survey 2024
This year’s survey incorporated pupils’ experience in 2023, exploring any changes in the last two years to the experiences of this key group of the profession
Pupillage Gateway Report 2024
The report uses data from the Pupillage Gateway, a recruitment portal owned by the Bar Council and used to advertise vacancies and recruit aspiring barristers for pupillage at the Bar
Wellbeing at the Bar report 2024
This February 2024 report on wellbeing is based on data from the whole population of UK practising barristers 2023.
Bullying, harassment and discrimination at the Bar 2023
The report draws on data from Barristers' Working Lives 2023 and Talk to Spot
Bar Council response to LSB consultation on first-tier complaints November 2023
Our response to the Legal Services Board’s Consultation on First-tier complaints – draft section 112 Requirements, Guidance and policy statement for approved regulators under the Legal Services Act 2007.
Bar Council response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on Reforming Fees in the United Kingdom Supreme Court
Our response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on Reforming Fees in the United Kingdom Supreme Court.
Gross earnings by sex and practice area at the self-employed Bar 2023
Analysis of gross earnings declared by the self-employed Bar during the authorisation to practise process in 2023 by sex and practice area
Bar Council consultation response - Welsh Tribunals Consultation
The response of the Bar Council to the Welsh Government’s consultation on a new tribunal system for Wales: white paper
Starting at the Bar: your essential guide (2023)
Written by the The Bar Council’s Young Barristers' Committee (YBC) , this guide offers answers to your questions and signposts to a vast array of resources.
Bar Council response to MoJ consultation on Legal Aid Fees in the Illegal Migration Bill August 2023
Barristers in the international legal market 2023
How barristers can help to provide solutions to a wide range of disputes and assist with many types of legal issues, and how you can instruct a barrister through a chambers that offers international services.
List of defaulting solicitors
The Bar Council list of defaulting solicitors and other authorised persons.
Life at the employed Bar report February 2023
Our report about and for the employed Bar, including recommendations we are leading on
Race at the Bar progress report November 2022
This short report includes an update on pupillage and silk appointments by ethnicity for 2022 and a summary of race-based activity across the Bar in the past year.
Access Denied: The state of the justice system in England and Wales in 2022
This November 2022 report blends key statistics and powerful testimony to show the scale of the challenges faced and describes the trends and issues that are most acute in our justice system today.
Barrister earnings by sex and practice area - 2022 update
This 2022 report update shares what’s happened to earnings at the self-employed Bar over the last year and show where differences between men’s and women’s earnings have reduced, and where the differences have grown.
Pupillage Gateway Report 2022
Analysis of pupillage data: guidance for candidates and AETOs
Government legal panels: an analysis of membership by ethnicity and sex
The Bar Council is committed to improving diversity across the profession. Over 3,000 barristers (24 per cent of the self-employed Bar) sit on one of the government panels featured in this report. Panel membership provides for a source of high-quality work for the Bar, so it is important we monitor who gets onto different panels, and who gets the best work on those panels.
Mentoring at the Bar guide
Download our guide - for establishing good mentor relationships at the Bar.
Bar Council data analysis criminal Bar April 2022
Research from 2020-21 relating to barristers who earned some fee income from publicly funded criminal work during this time.
Pupils survey report March 2022
Report summary of our second annual survey of pupils that took place in February 2022.
Cybersecurity questionnaire by the Law Society and Bar Council
The cybersecurity questionnaire is a tool for chambers to review information security measures.
Life at the Young Bar report
The Young Bar is the future of the profession. In this report, we present a snapshot of life at the Young Bar in 2021.
Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group Response Wellbeing Research 2021
Wellbeing at the Bar working group response to 2021 wellbeing survey findings
Working Lives 2021 wellbeing analysis
A report on the condition of barristers' wellbeing in 2021
Race at the Bar Report 2021
The Bar Council’s Race Working Group's 2021 report addressing inequality at the Bar and proposing a series of recommendations for action.
Bar Council Spending Review submission 2021
Recommendations for the Chancellor's 2021 Spending Review
Barristers Working Lives report 2021
The 2021 survey of barristers' working lives was designed to explore the lived experience of working as a barrister in 2021.
Pupillage Gateway report 2021
Analysis of pupillage data: guidance for candidates and AETOs
Barrister earnings data by sex and practice area report 2021
Key findings in the differences in average earnings by practice, area and the trends for earnings over the last 20 years.
Barristers in the International Legal Market 2021
The Barristers in the International Legal Market publication highlights the strong reputation held by the Bar of England and Wales across the globe, and the breadth of services which the Bar can offer international clients across all areas of practice. The brochure explains how prospective clients can instruct a barrister and features a list of chambers currently offering international legal services.
Roadmap for Returning to Chambers
Guidance and a template risk assessment for returning to work in chambers
Running on Empty - Civil Legal Aid Report
The Bar Council looks at civil legal aid practice, documenting the policy challenges and working circumstances of this type of publicly funded work.
The Bar Council Pupillage Fair 2020 programme
Download the Pupillage Fair 2020 event programme
Sitting days - HMCTS correspondence with Chair of the Bar Council
HMCTS CEO assures Chair of the Bar Council that Recorders are not at risk over sitting days
Pro bono opportunities
View our list of Pro bono schemes and opportunities available to barristers.
Financial affairs accounting and tax A-Z
This toolkit is designed for barristers, including pupils, in the early years of practice.
Chambers Social Responsibility (CSR) infographic
See the basic information on CSR
UK Bilateral Law Associations
View a list of UK bilateral Law Associations which can provide good networking and speaking opportunities
Building and managing your practice A-Z
This toolkit covers some of the most common queries asked about developing your practice at the young Bar and is divided into two sections.
Employed Bar A-Z toolkit
A useful A-Z toolkit for employed barristers
Guide to Pro Bono
Read the Guide to Pro Bono: Free Legal Advice in England and Wales, published by the Bar Council in partnership with the Law Society and CILEx.
Chambers Social Responsibility Guide
See the purpose of social responsibility and how it applies to chambers.
Licensed Access Guidance
Guidance on instructing a barrister through Licensed Access