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Barristers inherently face very specific challenges on a daily basis. If you need some help click on support to find contact details and advice on seeking support.

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Help for clerks and staff

The professional lives of clerks and chambers’ staff include many potential stressors. If you don’t know how to broach an issue, want advice on your options.

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Help for students and pupils

These resources have been designed specifically for those who have completed their BPTC and for pupils up to tenancy.

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Resources

Our vision

Find out what Wellbeing at the Bar aims to achieve.

Policy & practice

Guidance on how to introduce wellbeing policies and initiatives and on tackling a wellbeing issue in chambers.

Media pack

Logos and banners to help you to promote wellbeing.

Case studies

Examples of successful wellbeing initiatives adopted by chambers, Specialist Bar Associations and the Inns of Court.

Support

Support for barristers

Who to talk to, how to get help in coping with the pressures and demands of life at the Bar.

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Support for clerks and staff

Who to talk to and how to get help, resources are for clerks and staff themselves.

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Support for students and pupils

Who to talk to and how to get help for those who have completed their BPTC and for pupils up to tenancy.

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Assistance programme

The confidential 24/7 helpline with access to counselling for barristers, pupils, clerks and chambers’ staff.

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Good Wellbeing Practice

Over the last five years over 60 Chambers and bar-based stakeholders have shared their wellbeing experience to give others inspiration, ideas, tips of what to do and what not to do. We have recently relaunched the programme and are now updating our case studies to reflect recent activity. This will be available here in due course.

Consideration of Workloads (1 Crown Office Row, Brighton)

Chambers carefully considers barristers' existing workloads before accepting new instructions, particularly mindful of junior practitioners' narrower knowledge base, which may necessitate more time for tasks. Practice Managers consult barristers before scheduling significant engagements to ensure workload compatibility and avoid undue stress.

Local Community Volunteering (3 Verulam Buildings)

Chambers actively engages in community volunteering, with members, pupils, and staff dedicating time monthly to support Camden Foodbank and a local secondary school. This commitment, including pro bono work by junior barristers, not only benefits the community but also enhances volunteers' mental health and well-being.

Pupil Mentoring Guide (One Essex Court)

A mentoring guide for pupils aimed at offering consistent, non-judgmental support to help them transition into Chambers life. Tips for successful mentoring are shared in this guide, including, having regular, in-person meetings every fortnight, ensuring a bullet point agenda is prepared and shared in advance of the meetings and adopting a reflective approach.

Hybrid Healthy Tool (Wilberforce Chambers)

An extension for Microsoft Teams was introduced, enabling members to indicate online what days they will be in Chambers and view when others are also in. This fosters a culture of collaboration and visibility among team members.

Special tea (Atkin Chambers)

Chambers offer a range of very successful and well attended in-chambers social events. These include tea every day at 4pm and the introduction of ‘not to be missed’ cakes once a week.

Certificate of Recognition

The Bar Council offers Certificate of Recognition for chambers, SBAs, Circuits and Inns working on wellbeing. These Certificates acknowledge the huge effort across the profession to support the wellbeing of barristers, clerks and chambers' staff.

Applications for the Certificates of Recognition will be considered in April and October (twice per year). All applications received between 1 October and 31 March will be considered in the April round. Applications received between 1 April and 30 September will be considered in the October round. Any applications will be processed within a 4-week period of the deadlines (30 September and 31 March). Any certificates issued before September 2022 will no longer be valid from 01 April 2023.

Guidance on making an application for the new Certificate programme can be found here.
Reapplication forms for those with an old Certificate are here
Application forms for those who wish to apply for the first time are here.
Further guidance for SBAs, Circuits and Inns here

If you have any questions, please email equality@barcouncil.org.uk

Congratulations to those chambers, circuits and Inns of Court who have received a certificate through the Bar Council Wellbeing Certificate programme. Sam Mercer, Head of Equality at the Bar Council, said: “We are delighted to award the new Wellbeing Certificates in recognition for outstanding work to improve wellbeing at the Bar. The certificates are valid for three years and we are still encouraging other organisations to apply. It is great to see so many organisations are willing to put in so much effort to support barristers and staff.” We are pleased to announce that we have awarded 12 certificates 2024. View Full Article