Emergency hardship fund created to support pupils and junior barristers
updated on 15 April 2020
An emergency hardship fund will be provided by the Inns of Court to support pupils and junior barristers throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as well as an emergency fund for barristers in urgent financial need, which will be available soon.
The four Inns of Court said they are working on urgent measures to assist barristers who are most in need. According to the Law Gazette, the Barristers’ Benevolent Association (BBA) will introduce an emergency fund, while each of the Inns are creating hardship funds aimed at assisting pupils and junior barristers who are not eligible for the self-employed government support or the BBA’s emergency fund.
According to a recent Bar Council survey, more than half of barristers’ chambers will not survive the next six months without financial aid if the current pressures continue, and 81% will collapse within 12 months.
