Press releases and news
Find all the latest major announcements, breaking news, press releases and commentary from the Bar Council on issues affecting the barristers' profession, justice and the rule of law.
The purpose of the Bar Council's press releases are to represent and promote the Bar nationally as well as globally, bring its voice to the public domain and defend the rule of law.
For more information about any press release or news item, call contact Press Office on 020 7092 8175 or email [email protected]
Bar Council statement on European Lawyers’ Day 2026
We champion lawyers as guardians against abuses of power.
Bar Council calls for withdrawal of all ICC sanctions
Legal organisations have joined together to condemn the latest sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court.
Bar Conference to tackle biggest legal issues from expert witnesses and open justice to AI and the environment
Experts are set to examine some of the most pressing issues facing the legal sector at Bar Conference on 14 November.
“We should be ashamed”: just one in five barristers think the public can access justice in an acceptable way
A new Bar Council report found that 4 out of 5 barristers think the public cannot access justice at an acceptable level.
‘Justice prevails’: Bar Council hails government decision to scrap jury trial plans
The Bar Council has welcomed the government announcement that it will no longer be scrapping jury trials ahead of the Courts and Tribunals Bill returning to Parliament.
International legal associations unite to protect rule of law
The Opening of the Legal Year comes at a time of growing concern over attacks on judicial independence and increasing threats and harassment faced by lawyers worldwide.
Record court backlogs after decades of underinvestment – Bar Council
New figures revealing record court backlogs in England and Wales provide further evidence that the government should scrap the previous administration’s plans to restrict access to jury trials.
International demand for UK legal services surging
New Law Society report shows the importance of law and barristers to the UK economy.
Bar Council responds to legal complaints case fees proposals
Many of the proposed changes, if implemented, will absorb LeO’s time and resources, and distract from addressing the backlog.
Bar Council reacts to specialist rape courts
Specialist courts, unlike the proposals to curtail jury trials, have already been shown to work.
Increase clarity and create new guidance to encourage more barristers to apply for silk, Bar Council report recommends
More practice-specific guidance is needed to assist barristers across the Bar to apply for silk, a new report from the Bar Council has found.
Bar Council welcomes appointment of new Justice Committee Chair
Catherine Atkinson MP, a former barrister who practised for 17 years, has become the new Chair of the Justice Select Committee, taking over from Andy Slaughter MP.
Bar Council urges government against "tampering" with jury trials
The government is reportedly considering a new proposal which would restrict the right to jury trial by giving judges the power to decide which cases go before a jury.
Bar Council welcomes government implementation of match-funded criminal pupillages
Match-funding criminal pupillages has been championed by the Bar Council since 2024 when it featured in its ‘Manifesto for justice’.
Bar Council criticises government criminal legal aid proposal as not backed by evidence
The Bar Council has criticised the long-awaited government proposals on criminal legal aid as “not backed by evidence” and “fundamentally unfair” in response to a Ministry of Justice consultation.