The Wellbeing at the Bar website has acted as a catalyst in bringing the Bar's attention to wellbeing. Following the successful introduction of a Certificate of Recognition for good wellbeing practice, which attracted over 30 applications in its inaugural round, the Bar Council has announced that it will reopen Certificate applications. This will enable chambers, Inns, Circuits, Specialist Bar Associations and organisations that employ barristers to apply on an ongoing basis, with applications assessed each quarter.

The next round will open on Tuesday 7 November 2017 and close on 1 February 2018. Details about all upcoming rounds will be available on the Wellbeing at the Bar website here.

The first tranche of recipients of the Certificate were announced by the Chair of the Bar, Andrew Langdon QC, at this year's Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference, with certificates awarded to a range of organisations - including Inns, SBAs and Circuits, as well as chambers all over the country.

He said: "We have been delighted by the response to the wellbeing certificate initiative and - judging by the applications - the efforts of so many across the Bar to promote resilience and wellbeing. Congratulations to all the recipients."

Rachel Spearing, Chair of the Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group, said: "We will be publishing case studies from our recipients on the Wellbeing at the Bar website over the next few weeks. The ideas, the impact of the initiatives and the tips on do's and don'ts from others at the Bar will, we hope, provide both inspiration and rich pickings for anyone interested in starting a wellbeing initiative in their own organisation."

On 4 November, the following organisations were awarded Certificates of Recognition:

11 King's Bench Walk Chambers 

Invictus Chambers                           

23 Essex Street Chambers  

Landmark Chambers

3 Pump Court Chambers

Littleton Chambers

4 New Square Chambers                                              

Maitland Chambers

4 Paper Buildings Chambers

Matrix Chambers

Criminal Bar Association                                              

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Charter Chambers                                                          

Outer Temple Chambers

Chancery Bar Association                                             

QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers

Doughty Street Chambers

Quadrant Chambers

Goldsmith Chambers                                                     

Ropewalk Chambers

The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn                                                                        

Serjeant's Inn Chambers

Guildhall Chambers

St John's Chambers

Henderson Chambers                                                    

St John's Buildings Chambers

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

The Western Circuit

Institute of Barristers' Clerks                                        

 

These recipients' case studies will be available to view on the Wellbeing at the Bar website by the end of November.

The Bar Council congratulate the above organisations and look forward to receiving more examples of innovative ideas to promote wellbeing best practice and ensure that barristers' workplaces are engaged with mental health issues of all kinds.

Ends

Notes to Editors

The Wellbeing Working Group consists of representatives from the Bar Council, the Inns of Court, Specialist Bar Associations, the Circuits, the Institute of Barristers' Clerks (IBC) and the Legal Practice Management Association (LPMA). Examples of initiatives across the bar to promote wellbeing can be found at: https://www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk/policy-and-practice/case-studies/

Wellbeing at the Bar (WATB) aims to:

  • Provide barristers and chambers' personnel with the information and skills they need to stay well

  • Support members of the profession through difficulties that affect their professional life

  • Help those responsible for or who are supporting those in difficulty or crisis 

Wellbeing at the Bar has had over 130,000 hits in its first year.

Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 and by email Steve Rudaini [email protected] or Shiryn Sayani [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.