Bar Conference is the one opportunity in the legal calendar where all members of the Bar can come together to discuss pertinent issues affecting our profession and the sector more widely, from ethics and wellbeing to the future of public inquiries.
Bar Chair, Barbara Mills KC said: ‘We’re delighted to be hosting Bar Conference in Birmingham for the very first time this year and I am looking forward to seeing members from across the Bar join us on the Midland Circuit for this unique event.’
Midland Circuit Leader, Harpreet Sandhu KC said: ‘The Midland Circuit is very excited about the Bar Conference being held outside London for the first time.’
Bar’s culture, public inquiries and the future of justice
Baroness Harriet Harman KC and leaders of the barrister profession are set to examine the Bar’s culture ahead of the publication of the independent report into bullying and harassment at the Bar. Baroness Harman will share feedback she has heard across the country while conducting her review and will be joined by Barbara Mills KC, Leon Kazakos KC, Former Leader of the South Eastern Circuit, and Lachlan Stewart, Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee, to discuss the Bar’s role in improving the culture at the Bar.
The criminal justice system is also under review this year with the Gauke review of sentencing and the Leveson review of the criminal courts both due to report in the lead-up to the conference. An expert panel – including Dr Natalie Byrom, researcher and policy adviser; Dr Tom McNeil, CEO of The JABBS Foundation; Mark Allan, Chief Executive of RCJ Advice; and Ash Patel, Programme Head for Justice at the Nuffield Foundation – will discuss: how likely is real change for justice?
The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, set to report this year, is but one of many ongoing public inquiries, with calls for new inquiries almost becoming quotidian. Lord Norton of Louth, who chaired the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee, together with Kate Eves OBE, Chair of the Brook House Inquiry, and Jason Beer KC, whose caseload includes the Thirlwall, Southport and Nottingham Inquiries, will unpack whether they deliver in the public interest.
Barbara Mills KC said: ‘2025 is the “year of the review’” not only for the criminal justice system but for the Bar too. Baroness Harman’s review will provide the profession with recommendations which will pave the way for real change. The Bar Council has led the Bar through its evolution over the past 131 years and our Bar Conference and its varied programme, offering something for everyone, is testament to that.’
The keynote speakers include the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, and Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE. The renowned statistician – who acted as a statistical witness at the Thirlwall Inquiry – will explore how failing to appreciate statistics’ limitations can have profound legal and human consequences.
Looking ahead: family law, reflective practice and career progression
The Bar Council’s latest data on wellbeing showed that a third of barristers are struggling to cope with their workloads. Heavy workloads, long hours and emotionally demanding cases mean barristers are often under relentless pressure. Charlotte May KC is leading the Bar Council’s working group on reflective supervision and together with a panel of experts will explore how this well-established tool can help the Bar.
Family law is constantly evolving with increasing recognition that vulnerable families and domestic abuse victims need greater support and protection. Delegates will hear from the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Nicole Jacobs, Her Honour Judge Carole Burgher and other experts on what’s next for family law as we strive towards a system that is both trauma-informed and survivor-focused.
Bar Conference also includes practical sessions on navigating ethical dilemmas as well as taking silk and joining the judiciary with a distinguished panel of new and experienced KCs and a Judge of the Upper Tribunal. There is also a session looking at the impacts on public law of planning for development and the environment.
The Bar’s Pro Bono Award – the Lifetime Achievement in Pro-bono: the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award – will be presented on the day by the Lady Chief Justice.
Have a look at the full conference programme.
Book your ticket today
Standard price tickets are £170 (+VAT). There is a 20% discount available for Bar Representation Fee subscribers and those in income band one. The discounts can be combined for a total of up to 40% off.
