Programme

Registration and exhibition open

Welcome

Speakers:
Harpreet Sandhu KC, Leader of the Midland Circuit
Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales

Keynote address by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Speech by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, followed by a Q&A with the Chair of the Bar.

Chair:
Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales

Speaker:
The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood KC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Justice under review: challenges, reform and renewal in the system

One year into the new government, the justice system is under review with the Gauke review of sentencing and the Leveson review of criminal courts underway. With the Bar making the case for sustainable investment in justice in the spending review, what does the future hold?  

In this session, FT journalist Alistair Gray will lead our expert panel in a thought-provoking discussion on the current state of the justice system, the key challenges facing the sector, and the opportunities for reform and improvement. We’ll consider the government’s commitments to halving violence against women and girls and tackling violent crime, the provision of legal aid and how its funded, and how to solve the intractable problem of the court backlogs.  

In this ‘year of the review’, our panel will be asked what is likelihood of real change for justice? 

Chair: 
Alistair Gray, Financial Times

Speakers: 
Dr Natalie Byrom, Researcher and Policy Advisor
Ash Patel, Programme Head of Justice at the Nuffield Foundation
More to be confirmed

Keynote address by the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales

Speaker: 
Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Lady Chief Justice

The presentation of the Lifetime Achievement in Pro-bono: the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award

We're proud to host the presentation of the lifetime achievement award, as part of the Bar Pro Bono Awards. 

Presented by:
Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Lady Chief Justice

Lunch and exhibition

Reflective practice: a powerful tool for barrister wellbeing 

The pressures of life at the Bar can be immense – long hours, high workloads, emotionally demanding cases, and the weight of professional responsibility. It’s no surprise that many barristers are at significant risk of stress, burnout and poor mental health, struggling to find the time or space to process the challenges they face.  

Reflective practice offers a powerful, structured way to enhance wellbeing, build resilience and improve professional performance. Already well established in medicine and other professions, reflective practice is gaining recognition as an essential tool for barristers.   

This session will explore:  

• The wellbeing challenges facing barristers

• How group and one-to-one reflective practice can help barristers manage stress, enhance resilience and prevent burnout

• Practical guidance for integrating reflection into a busy professional life 

Chair:
Sam Mercer, Head of Policy: Equality & Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility at the Bar Council

Speakers:
Charlotte May KC, Chair of the Bar Council working group on reflective supervision
Lucinda Soon, Solicitor and Organisational Psychologist 
More to be confirmed

Public inquiries: truth seeking or time wasting?

Every week, public inquiries are in the news – the Post Office, Grenfell, Infected Blood, Thirlwall... the list goes on. And new calls for inquiries inevitably follow major incidents.

Public inquiries promise truth, justice and accountability, but – at a cost of millions – do they actually deliver?  

Last year, a House of Lords inquiry concluded, “There is a perception that inquiries are frequently too long and expensive, leading to a loss of public confidence and protracted trauma for victims and survivors.” It proposed a new committee of Parliament to conduct oversight of public inquiries and hold the government to account over implementing inquiry recommendations.  

In this session we’ll explore the impact of public inquiries, question whether they serve victims and the public interest, and, if not, what changes need to be made. 

Speakers:
Lord Norton of Louth, Professor of Government, Director of the Centre for Legislative Studies, University of Hull, and Chair, House of Lords Select Committee on Statutory Inquiries
More to be confirmed

Navigating ethical dilemmas at the Bar 

Our practical ethical dilemmas session is back by popular demand. In this interactive breakout, a panel of experts from the Bar Council's Ethics Committee will guide you through some common ethical dilemmas at the Bar.

Whatever practice area you’re in, you’ll be asked to think about how you might approach questions arising from the duty to remain independent, the duty to maintain confidentiality, and navigating social media.    

Our panel will highlight some key conduct rules and resources and give some practical pointers on how to navigate tricky situations and balance competing interests.

Chair: 
Fenner Moeran KC, Co-Chair of the Bar Council's Ethics Committee

Speakers:
Zeena Begum, Pensions Regulator and Member of the Ethics Committee
Brian Cahill, Barrister and Member of the Ethics Committee
James Hines KC, Three Raymond Buildings and Co-Chair of the Bar Council's Ethics Committee

The future of family law – lessons learned and next steps for a more effective system  

Family law is constantly evolving. With increasing recognition of the need to support vulnerable families, protect survivors of domestic abuse, and prioritise child-centred outcomes, the justice system is undergoing significant change. The push for non-court-based resolutions, the rise of problem-solving courts, and a renewed emphasis on early intervention are shaping a more compassionate and effective approach to family justice.

Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion where leading experts will explore how the system is adapting to ensure better outcomes, how it’s creating a justice process that is trauma-informed and survivor-focused and the role of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDAC), Pathfinder Courts, and mediation in reshaping family law. 

This is an unmissable discussion for barristers committed to driving change and shaping the future of justice. Expect insightful debate, practical takeaways, and a forward-looking conversation on how the legal profession can play a vital role in reform. 

Chair:
Elizabeth Isaacs KC MCIArb, St Ives Chambers

More speakers to be confirmed

Coffee break and exhibition

All change please: evolving the culture at the Bar 

The Bar is steeped in history but constantly evolving as it strives to meet society’s needs and reflect the population it serves. The Bar Council has been at the forefront of that change – tackling the gender earnings gap, publishing the landmark Race at the Bar report, and appointing Baroness Harman to lead an independent review of bullying and harassment.

What makes change stick? And when the Bar changes, how can we bring everyone along?

In this panel discussion, we’ll explore what Baroness Harman has heard across the country as she’s conducted her review. We’ll consider what works and how everyone at the Bar can make a difference in culture change. And we’ll hear how the young Bar hopes to shape the profession in the future. 

Chair:
Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales

Speakers:
The Rt Hon the Baroness Harman KC, Independent review of bullying and harassment at the Bar 
Lachlan Stewart, Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee 
Leon Kazakos KC, Former Leader of the South Eastern Circuit 

Closing keynote

Statistics: clarity, caution, and consequences 

In this lively and engaging closing keynote, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE – Emeritus Professor of Statistics at the University of Cambridge, renowned statistician, communicator, and author – will address the critical role of statistical reasoning in legal practice. Sir David will explore how careful, responsible use of statistics can serve as a powerful tool for justice, but how a failure to appreciate their limitations can have profound legal and human consequences. 

Drawing on key themes from his recent books, The Art of Statistics and The Art of Uncertainty, Sir David will highlight the importance of statistical literacy and the challenges in understanding probability. Using real-world examples, he will illustrate how statistical understanding – whether in interpreting probability, using models, or acknowledging uncertainty – can play a vital role in both civil and criminal cases.  

Sir David will also reflect on his involvement co-leading the statistical teams for the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry and the Infected Blood Inquiry, and as a statistical witness at the Thirlwall Inquiry. 

The keynote will challenge attendees to engage critically with statistical claims and advocate for better understanding of uncertainty and probability. 

Speaker: 
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE, Emeritus Professor of Statistics, University of Cambridge 

Closing remarks

Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales