The Young Barristers’ Committee
positive and potentially negative aspects of technology on barristers’ professional lives, including the link to our work on wellbeing. YBC have also investigated some of the LawTech opportunities which might be of interest to the Bar. Remuneration The cuts to legal aid brought in by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) reduced the availability of public funding for almost all civil and family work. The impact of the act, plus past increases to court fees in the civil courts and the employment tribunal, has disproportionately affected the work available to those at the junior end of the Bar. There has also been an increase in the number of paid ‘McKenzie Friends’, particularly in the family courts. The YBC has previously contributed towards the Bar Council’s policy work in highlighting these issues, and responding to the judicial consultation on paid McKenzie Friends. Remuneration for criminal work is also an area that continues to receive intense focus. This year, the YBC is heavily involved in the CPS fee review and Criminal Legal Aid Review which are currently underway. Education and training The YBC’s work on education and training has principally involved responding to consultations sent out by the BSB in relation to Future Training for the Bar, forming part of a working group alongside the Bar Council’s Education and Training Committee. The YBC has been a strong supporter of the Bar Council and Inns of Court proposals to introduce a two-part BPTC, which will aim to reduce costs and improve standards, and it is hoped that the Inns will soon be authorised to deliver such a course.
applicants from non-traditional backgrounds, the YBC is currently involved in supporting the Bar Council’s new ‘I am the Bar’ campaign, which aims to highlight examples of social mobility and different paths into the profession. Several YBC members are ‘social mobility advocates’ who have had their stories featured, and Twitter engagement around this issue is also high. The YBC is also involved in Bar Placement Week, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary, where 60 students from around the country come to London to experience a week of working with barristers, and receive advocacy training and talks from those in practice. Wellbeing at the Bar The YBC has continued to be closely involved with the Bar Council’s Wellbeing at the Bar Working Group, which has developed a series of online resources to help barristers manage their wellbeing; support others in chambers; and provide guidance and assistance to those supporting someone in difficulties. The Wellbeing at the Bar website (www.wellbeingatthebar.org.uk/) is a fantastic resource on such matters and a student section will be added soon. There are also dedicated pages on wellbeing in the Young Bar Toolkit. Young Bar Annual Workshop This year the YBC held its fourth annual workshop, entitled ‘Invest in yourself, elevate your practice”. The workshop was designed to focus on practical assistance with life at the modern Bar, looking at areas such as marketing and wellbeing, alongside more traditional practice development in each of criminal, civil and family practice. Our keynote speaker was the Vice Chair of the Bar, Amanda Pinto QC. Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference On Saturday 23 November, for the fifth year running the Young Bar Conference
Responding to concerns that stereotypes about the Bar are off-putting to potential
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