The Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference brings together the profession at a time when it is vital that we unite behind our common interests and principles, push forward our agenda for diversification and growth, and consider what we want the Bar and justice system of the future to look like.
The 2020 conference took place from 18-21 November 2020.
Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference 2020
Forward thinking: Bar of the Future
Held entirely online across four days through a series of live speaker, panel and discussion sessions, this year's conference is a fully accessible opportunity to hear the big issues of the profession being addressed by outstanding barristers and renowned subject area experts. We aim to bring together representatives from all circuits, areas of work and levels of experience to learn from each other’s experiences, gain practical insight into key issues facing the Bar, and consider the forward thinking we need to shape the Bar of the future.
Why attend?
With sessions split over four days (across Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, Friday afternoon and all day Saturday), the conference is designed to fit around your schedule. To ensure you can get the best value out of the event, this year you can either sign up to attend the whole event or just choose the individual sessions you would most like to attend.
Sign up to the full conference and take the opportunity to:
- Attend over 10 hours of insightful panel and speaker sessions across four days
- Hear from over 30 expert speakers
- Achieve up to 8 hours of CPD
- Learn from colleagues working in a range of areas across the Bar and judiciary
View the full programme below.
The programme: sessions and speakers
View the full programme as a PDF
17:15-17:30
Welcome from the Chairs of the Bar and Bar Council's Young Barristers' Committee
Amanda Pinto QC (Chair of the Bar of England and Wales)
Katherine Duncan (Chair of the Bar Council's Young Barristers' Committee)
17:30-18:00
Delivering Justice in 2021
The Lord Chief Justice will speak about priorities for 2021, including how the court modernisation programme will ensure the effective delivery of justice. Followed by a Q&A session.
18:00-19:00
Taking action: Race and the Bar
This panel will discuss how, individually and collectively, we can address the causes of systemic discrimination through positive steps to improve diversity within the profession. Our speakers will stimulate conversation by sharing examples of what can be done to ensure equality of opportunity in the recruitment, retention and progression of Black and other minority ethnic barristers.
Chair
Simon Regis (Bar Council Race Working Group Co-Chair, Employed Barrister of the Year)
Speakers
Jo Sidhu QC (25 Bedford Row, Criminal Bar Association Vice-Chair)
Natasha Shotunde (Garden Court, Black Barristers' Network Chair)
Baroness Ruth Hunt (Deeds and Words – Bar Council Leadership Programme)
Martin Forde QC (1 Crown Office Row)
16:30-17:00
Quantifying legal demand growth and the impact of Covid-19 with LexisNexis
How can you measure the impact of COVID-19 on the Bar and demand for legal services? LexisNexis will share the Q2 2020 findings from our LexisNexis GLP Index. The index tracks demand in the legal market, showing the impact of COVID-19 on the Bar and Practice Areas.
Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference sponsor
17:30-18:30
Leading the charge - our international position
As the UK leaves the EU and seeks new trade agreements with other nations, the opportunities for international growth in and outside Europe are plentiful. Join our panel of leading international practitioners, including the Chancellor of the High Court (Master of the Rolls from 2021), to discuss our future role in the international legal market. Hear how barristers can expand their international practice in the UK and overseas and how the UK can remain a leading global centre for dispute resolution.
Chair
Steven Thompson QC (XXIV Old Buildings; Bar Council International Committee Chair)
Speakers
The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos (Chancellor of the High Court)
Mehvish Chaudhry (Harcourt)
Rachel Barnes (3 Raymond Buildings)
13:00-14:00
Adapting chambers for the future
Covid-19 has significantly affected sets of all shapes and sizes across England and Wales. They have quickly responded with management and operational changes. Our panel will discuss how the chambers model can be adapted to ensure long-term success and sustainability, explore examples of flexible working and give advice on the effectiveness of virtual marketing and business development techniques.
Chair
Tony McDaid (Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, No5)
Speakers
Neil Hawes QC (Bar Council Remuneration Committee Chair)
Catherine Calder (Joint Chief Executive, Serjeants’ Inn, LPMA Co-Chair)
Julia King (Head of Chambers, Castlegate)
Lisa Watts (Marketing Consultant, 3PB)
17:30-18:30
Ethics and advocacy: identifying and resolving dilemmas
Join our Ethics and Advocacy panel in identifying whether challenges relate to practical advocacy or ethical dilemmas. The panel will deal with problems including remote hearings and Covid-related issues. Delegates will consider scenarios in both employed and self-employed practice and have an opportunity to discuss their own views. Our panellists’ practices range across all jurisdictions.
Chair
Susan Grocott QC (Deans Court)
Speakers
Charlotte Pope-Williams (Pinsent Masons LLP)
Cathryn McGahey QC (Temple Garden, Bar Council Ethics Committee Vice-Chair)
Sa’ad Hossain QC (One Essex Court, Bar Council Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Committee Co-Chair)
Kannan Siva (Albion)
10:00-11:30
November meeting of the Bar Council
Watch a live stream of the November meeting. This meeting is open to practising barristers at the Bar. To confirm your attendance, email us by by 19 November. You must be a practising barrister to attend.
11:50-12:50
An eye on the horizon: reforming the justice system
Split into two separate sessions, Amanda Pinto QC will be discussing the justice system and priorities for the future with the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice and the Shadow Justice Secretary.
11:50-12:20
In conversation with The Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
12:20-12:50
In conversation with Rt Hon David Lammy, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
View the session pass details and prices below and book your pass
This session will be followed by the announcement of this year's Pro Bono Award winners for the Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono, the Sydney Elland Goldsmith award.
13:00-13:20
Meet the BMW Group VIP Team
Drop in to meet the VIP team at BMW and find out how you can benefit from exclusive discounts available across their entire range of BMW, BMW i, MINI and BMW Motorrad models.
Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference sponsor
13:30-14:30
Bar Council Book Club: A spotlight on Justice
Join the Bar Council’s first virtual book club with some of our most impressive barrister- authors with recently published works speaking about the justice system and their personal experiences of it. Our book club promises lively discussion on how to address problems with the administration of justice and diversifying our profession.
Chair
Amanda Pinto QC
Speakers
Alexandra Wilson (5 St Andrews Hill and author of ‘In Black and White’)
The Secret Barrister (author of ‘The Secret Barrister’ and ‘Fake Law’)
Sarah Langford (3 Paper Buildings and author of ‘In Your Defence’)
Chris Daw QC (Millennium and author of ‘Justice on Trial’)
14:50-15:50
Building resilience from adversity
Professor Andy McCann is an expert in human performance. With barristers’ wellbeing and personal resilience under more strain than ever, he will provide practical techniques that we can use to help cultivate resilience and maintain a positive mindset, with a view to overcoming adversity and setting up for success.
Chair
Elaine Banton (7BR)
Speaker
Professor Andy McCann (Director of DNA Definitive, Visiting Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University)
16:00-17:00
Choose your session:
Making the most of your Practice Review
A practical session designed for all members of the Young Bar by the Bar Council Young Barristers’ Committee on how to set yourself up for a thriving practice by plotting the course of your career from the start, using practice reviews to get the work you want (and need) by setting your expectations and boundaries.
Chair
Katherine Duncan (Garden Court, Bar Council Young Barristers' Committee Chair)
Speakers
Lucy Barbet (Joint Senior Clerk, 11KBW; Chair of the Institute of Barristers' Clerks)
Piers Doggart (Team Leader, Attorney General & General Private Law Litigation Team, Government Legal Department)
Fallon Alexis (QEB Hollis Whiteman)
The future of virtual justice
The rapid implementation of remote technology in response to Covid-19 has changed the way the justice system operates. Our panel will consider whether adopting a long-term hybrid approach will improve access to justice and what can be done to limit the disadvantages. Panellists will share best practice across different jurisdictions and consider where the line should be drawn between in person and remote hearings and which changes should stay in the system long-term.
Chair
Jacqueline Reid (11 South Square, Bar Council IT Panel Chair)
Speakers
Steven Snowden QC (12 King’s Bench Walk, Personal Injury Bar Association Chair)
Bibi Badejo (4 Brick Court)
The Rt. Hon Lord Justice Lindblom (Senior President of Tribunals)
Jaime Hamilton QC (9 St John Street)
17:10-17:20
Closing remarks
View conference sessions on demand
Buy a pass to view conference session videos
Event sponsors
BMW Group International & Specialist Sales Division
BMW Group are delighted to introduce their VIP Programme for the Bar, providing members with exclusive offers across the entire range of BMW models, the complete MINI family, BMW Motorrad Bikes and the growing choice of BMW i vehicles and plug-in hybrids. With a specialised department dedicated to your needs, our skilled, professional staff offer an established and highly regarded level of service and would be delighted to deal with your enquiry. What’s more, purchasing has never been more convenient, simple and affordable. With offers we guarantee won’t be beaten by the retail network, a simple online selection and ordering process and direct delivery options available. We take the hard work out of purchasing, so you can enjoy the ultimate drive.
To find out more about the programme benefits and to view our latest offers, please call 0370 700 5209, email [email protected] or visit our website.
LexisNexis
At LexisNexis, our mission is to advance the Rule of Law. Everything we do – from our products and services, to how we do business, is about ensuring that all people are equal under the law. We want to empower legal professionals to have access to the best in legal intelligence. We want to help you reach better answers faster and more efficiently.
Lexis®Library has the most up to date, comprehensive legal content
Our search will find the document or legislation needed in LexisLibrary and suggest connections that may not have been considered. With Atkins Court Forms, Banks on Sentence, The Family Court Practice, The Civil Court Practice 2020 and many more – there is no alternative.
Lexis®PSL helps add more value
Using and interpreting content is just as important as finding a piece of law. LexisPSL helps you find practical answers quickly with practice notes alongside time-saving tools, including thousands of precedents, checklists and how-to guides across 35 practice areas.
Paperless training packs
To minimise environmental impact and the amount of paper you have to carry with you, Bar Council training packs are paperless. As a delegate you will receive the materials you need for the training by email in advance, which you can access on your laptop or tablet or print in advace if required.
Throughout the training, there will be references to various Bar Council guidance or external documents which are included as a hyperlink within the attendee workbook.