barcouncil.org.uk

The Bar Council, also known as the General Council of the Bar, is the representative body for barristers in England and Wales. It provides advice, guidance, training and events for members, promotes the Bar's career and business opportunities, and influences policy and legislation on the justice system. It is the approved regulator for practising barristers and delegates its regulatory functions to the operationally independent Bar Standards Board.

Its customers are barristers and chambers, who are members of the Bar. The Bar Council states that it has over 18,000 members, both self-employed and employed barristers. It offers training courses, events, helplines, mentoring and wellbeing support, and it partners with organisations that provide products, services and offers to the profession. Members also subscribe to the Bar Representation Fee when they are authorised to practise.

The body was created in 1894 to deal with breaches of barristers' professional etiquette, and became the professional body for barristers under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. It has a Brussels Office within its Representation, Policy and Services teams. Recent published work includes a toolkit for chambers on bullying and harassment and a campaign on juries.

Product: Professional representation, regulation oversight, training, events, guidance and member services for barristers.