BREAKING: Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated to the press today that he may scrap controversial plans to reduce access to jury trials.

New rules on reporting Income Tax will affect almost all self-employed barristers from next month. We’ve published a guide from our Taxation Panel to help barristers comply with the new Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. https://bit.ly/4fgVyIN

How do courts make sentencing decisions for children? In this new blog post, criminal and public law silk Samuel Skinner KC @the36group.bsky.social explains the law & guidelines on sentencing children and explores the difficulties in finding the right sentence: www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/loc...

Congratulations to all the nominees shortlisted for our Employed Bar Awards 2026! Take a look at the shortlist and be sure to join us on Thursday 5 November to celebrate the winners ➡️ https://bit.ly/3xKUhb9

Writing in @theguardian.com, Chair of the Bar Council @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social explains why we're making the case for the minimum age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales to be increased from 10 to 14. ➡️ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Book your ticket for this year's Bar Conference on Saturday 14 November. Our unique programme of expert speakers will debate the big issues and provide practical advice for career development. Book now ➡️ https://bit.ly/4vQeipN

Modern slavery was the theme of our Law reform lecture tonight with Dame Jennifer Eady DBE as keynote speaker & joined on the panel by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons, Peter Carter KC, Parosha Chandran, Adam Smith-Anthony & Chair of our Law Reform Committee Eleena Misra KC.

Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC addressed the Youth Justice Legal Centre Summit this morning, highlighting our new report that recommends raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14.

A glorious day for our summer #BarCouncil meeting kindly hosted at @lincolnsinn.bsky.social Ashworth Centre ahead of our annual summer reception to thank our hundreds of volunteers and staff. Follow along for updates from the meeting…

Today we're launching a new expert report calling for the age of criminal responsibility in England & Wales to be increased from 10 to 14. We explain how a change to the min. age will lead to better outcomes for children & society. @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social 👉 www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/inc...

The Bar Council’s Commissioner for Conduct and Bar Standards Board (BSB) have agreed a new protocol on reporting serious misconduct. ​ The way you can report serious misconduct has changed - you can now report to the Commissioner via Talk to Spot, as well as the BSB. https://bit.ly/4oqGxbw

'It's essential we keep public participation in the justice system.' Chair of @thebarcouncil.bsky.social, @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social on why jury trials shouldn't be curtailed & how to really fix the courts backlog. Sign up to our weekly juries newsletter to stay updated: bit.ly/3PuvuRQ

Today we are hosting MPs in courts across England and Wales to hear about the issues affecting the criminal justice system as part of our #JusticeNeedsJuries campaign. First stop Merthyr Tydfil👇

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, it's important to recognise that good wellbeing starts during pupillage. We're resharing this piece from Counsel Magazine, written by our current Young Barristers' Committee Chair Amelia Clegg and former Chair Lachlan Stewart.

Pupillage special: Look after your wellbeing from the start

Tap into every source of support, urge Lachlan Stewart and Amelia Clegg, Chair and Vice Chair of the Bar Council's Young Barristers' Committee

counselmagazine.co.uk

In response to today's King's speech, Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC has emphasised our opposition to restricting jury trials, called for more investment for the justice system and welcomed plans to reset UK-EU relations. Our full reaction ➡️ https://bit.ly/4wp4mUG

We’re calling on the UK Government to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. Kirsty Brimelow KC said: "The safety of lawyers is essential to the rule of law and a functioning liberal democracy." Read in full➡️ https://bit.ly/435L7SI

Last week our Chair @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social had a very constructive meeting with Sir Mark Rowley, Metropolitan Police Commissioner, covering violence against women & girls (including abuse through harmful practices), rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases, delays pre-court and AI.

Anneli Howard KC closed our International collective redress conference by highlighting all the experience in the room, and thanking everyone for attending including the sponsors.

"If the government replaces proposals for judge-only trials with trials by a judge plus two magistrates we are out of the frying pan and into the fire." Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC's letter to the Times sets out why we're completely opposed to any restriction on jury trials⤵️ #JusticeNeedsJuries

Opening our International collective redress conference, The Hon. Mrs Justice Kelyn Bacon, President of the CAT said collective redress facilitates access to justice, enables efficiency and can support compliance. Its about making the civil justice system work for the many.

Chair of the Bar, @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social gives opening remarks at today's Ukraine law day. She explains the importance of our cross-border collaboration 4 years on from the start of the conflict.

Claire Davies KC has been elected as the Vice Chair of the Bar Council for 2027. She will join Heidi Stonecliffe KC, elected as Chair, and Lucinda Orr, re-elected as Treasurer, alongside Dame Maria Miller, Bar Commissioner for Conduct, as the officer team for 2027. ➡️ https://bit.ly/4cAVW4T

This excellent guide demystifies terms/ acronyms. Climate literacy is essential. How else for informed conversations? I am encouraging the Bar - across all jurisdictions- to engage/further engage.Estelle Dehon KC is co-chair of the Bar Council’s Nature and Climate panel. @thebarcouncil.bsky.social #

Estelle Dehon KC@estelledehon.bsky.social · 4mo ago

And here it is! The Cornerstone Climate Guide - Key Concepts and Definitions is live 🌍 🎉 Thank you so much @kirstybrimelow.bsky.social and The Bar Council of England and Wales for your support in promoting climate literacy across the Bar and beyond. cornerstonebarristers.com/the-cornerst...

We’re launching our first Bar Council engagement survey to better understand barristers' views, needs and expectations of us in our role as a professional body. To ensure you receive our survey, check your preferences in MyBar (instructions in image). www.barcouncil.org.uk/about/about-...

We're looking for chambers to support the next generation of barristers and host students from underrepresented backgrounds to give them insight into life at the Bar. If you're interested in hosting students as part of our Bar Placement Scheme, please complete the form: https://bit.ly/4tpeiM2

Today our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC will be out on the Western Circuit to speak with barristers and chambers professionals but first on the agenda is a stop at this year's conference of the Association of Law Teachers. Kirsty opened with a keynote address on freedom, law, power and social justice.

In a joint opinion piece for the Telegraph, our Chair Kirsty Brimelow KC and Labour MP Charlotte Nichols set out – from the Bar’s perspective and victims’ perspective – why the government’s proposals to curtail jury trials won’t work. Read the full op-ed ➡️ https://bit.ly/3OIhvaq

Join us on 8 May for the International Collective Redress Conference, organised by The Bar Council of England and Wales (@thebarcouncil.bsky.social) in partnership with the Centre of European Law. Read the programme ⬇️ www.barcouncil.org.uk/training-eve... Book⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internatio...

International collective redress conference

Come together to discuss, compare and contrast experiences and practices in class actions and collective proceedings.

eventbrite.co.uk

Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC opens the #BarCouncil meeting with "record attendance" online and in person, as Sir Brian Leveson is our guest speaker tonight.

Founding head of Doughty Street Chambers Geoffrey Robertson KC has written a polemical attack on the government's proposals to restrict jury trials through the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which begins committee stage scrutiny this week. Read more: www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/jur...