The Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee

This information is supplied by the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee. 

The Bar Council, the body that represents around 18,000 barristers in England and Wales, has several committees; one of which is the Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC).

The YBC is the voice of all barristers under seven years of practice, often referred to as the ‘Young Bar’. This year’s chair of the YBC is Amelia Clegg, a barrister at BCL Solicitors. This year, Amelia has three priorities:

• Give a voice to junior barristers at the employed Bar.
• Support women in the profession.
• Use her transatlantic experience and connections to develop relationships between the Bar and American law organisations.

What does the YBC do?

For more than 70 years, the YBC and its members have been representing, supporting and helping barristers with their professional development.

Representation

The YBC liaises with stakeholders and others, such as the government and MPs, to promote new barristers’ interests and advocate on their behalf. For example, the YBC was part of the negotiating team that secured an uplift on the Magistrates’ Court Protocol for the Greater London area. The YBC was also involved in developing the Bar Council’s strategy for pressing the government for financial support during the coronavirus pandemic.

Support

The YBC provides professional development tools and advice from mental health support to financial assistance to ensure barristers at the early stage of their careers are supported. The YBC often holds events to ensure the Young Bar feel supported and know what support is available to them. For example, they host webinars exploring the likes of ethical dilemmas and the issues junior barristers may be confronted with.

The Starting at the Bar guide, written by barristers for barristers, contains all the information to help barristers manage their finances, work allocation and more. For more information on the support available to the Young Bar, head over to the Bar Council website. 

Help young barristers build a thriving practice

The first seven years as a barrister are crucial, so the YBC is committed to making sure junior barristers are well equipped to master their practice and build a thriving career at the Bar. The YBC holds plenty of events, allowing barristers to network and grow both at home and abroad.

When it comes to the latter, the YBC’s international professional and legal development grants programme offers barristers the chance to apply for part funding for overseas programmes, so they can take part in initiatives that offer them a global perspective on legal issues and help them to thrive in an increasingly competitive legal market.

Another of the YBC’s international initiatives is the Anglo-Dutch Exchange, a three-day professional exchange programme with the Netherlands. This opportunity helps young barristers to build professional and personal relationships as well as get their foot in the door of another legal jurisdiction.

Find out more

For more information on the YBC, you can:

• have a look at the Young Bar webpages on the Bar Council website;
• sign up to the Young Bar newsletter for guidance, opportunities, events and more; and
• contact the YBC with any further questions at: [email protected].

This information is supplied by the Bar Council’s Young Barristers’ Committee.