BAR COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP OPEN TO STUDENTS
Students considering a career at the Bar can now become involved with the Bar Council and support the organisation's work on access to justice, as well as benefit from a number of services offered to subscribers by the Bar Council, the representative body for barristers.
For the first time, students studying for an undergraduate qualification or higher can sign up to support the work of the Bar Council, which includes initiatives aimed at making the profession more accessible as a career, through a special rate Bar Representation Fee (BRF).
Students who sign up will get access to a number of benefits:
Free attendance at many Bar Council events
Bar Talk: The Bar Council's fortnightly update on what is happening in the profession
Xexec membership: access to over 500 discounts and other benefits from retailers and other companies.
In addition, students who sign up, for a fee of £24 a year payable annually or £2 monthly by direct debit, will get less obvious but equally important benefits.
Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, explains:"Being part of an organisation such as the Bar Council can help students considering a career at the Bar feel closer to the action. They get a clearer insight of the challenges and opportunities, through information channels such as BarTalk or via free events to which they would not otherwise get access.
"From meeting students at the recent Bar Council Pupillage Fair and through attendance at law careers events around the country, the message coming back is that there is an appetite for students to be more involved in the Bar Council's work. We are the representative body of the Bar. We cannot afford to ignore tomorrow's barristers."
Funding from the BRF goes towards key initiatives and campaigns, many of which benefit students. Such as:
Pupillage Fair - allows students looking towards a career at the Bar to meet with a number of key representatives from chambers, course providers and SBAs, as well as previous pupils who will be able to offer advice and tips.
The Wellbeing at the Bar Portal - provides support and guidance to the Bar on wellbeing and mental health
Pupils' Helpline - gives confidential advice to members of the Bar who are currently undertaking Pupillage. An experienced or independent barrister is available to assist with any issues during Pupillage.
Young Bar Hub and Young Bar Toolkit - provide support to barristers in their early years of practice and address key issues that are relevant to the Young Bar. This includes advice on building and managing a practice or financial affairs and much more.
Practising barristers can, and most do, also pay the BRF for £100 per year, or £8.34 a month by direct debit. The new student BRF can be paid monthly too at £2 a month. Students of any subject can sign up to the Bar Council membership package here.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 and [email protected].
The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:
The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
Fair access to justice for all
The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.
The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board