Real talk. It jolted me when one of my children asked, “What is most important; sleep, work or playtime?” I had to ask myself whether this was a hint that I was neglecting those close to me? That I had succumbed to the insidious grasp of the demands of life at the Bar? Those pressures […]
I need help
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.
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.
These resources have been designed specifically for those who have completed their BPTC and for pupils up to tenancy.
Resources
Guidance on how to introduce wellbeing policies and initiatives and on tackling a wellbeing issue in chambers.
Examples of successful wellbeing initiatives adopted by chambers, Specialist Bar Associations and the Inns of Court.
Support
Who to talk to, how to get help in coping with the pressures and demands of life at the Bar.
Who to talk to and how to get help, resources are for clerks and staff themselves.
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.
The confidential 24/7 helpline with access to counselling for barristers, pupils, clerks and chambers’ staff.
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News / Events: Work-life balance
Charlotte May KC’s wellbeing journey
My wellbeing journey started back in 2014, when I was invited to join the Bar Wellbeing Committee as the IP Bar Association representative. I confess that, at the outset, I did not know much about wellbeing or why it was relevant to practice at the Bar. Shortly after I joined the Committee, and in an […]
Giraffes and hyenas… A personal perspective (Theo Huckle KC)
Giraffes and hyenas… A personal perspective Don’t get me wrong. I am no David Attenborough. But when you’re invited to the Kruger Park in South Africa, it’s a bit hard to turn down. So, there I was a couple of weeks ago, driving from Johannesburg for 6 hours to get to the Phalaborwa Gate and […]
Wellbeing at the Bar Blog: Kathy Wong
Bar Council: World Mental Health Day 2018 2018 was going to be an exciting year for me. I resolved to start the new year, a new me. Along with the new me, I started my new job at the Bar Council with a spiffing new project, Wellbeing at the Bar. I felt like the luckiest […]
Wellbeing at the Bar Blog: Nicholas Hill
Learning to be your best self at work and at home When considering what to cover in this blog I cast my mind back to my previous piece, published in June last year. In some ways, not so long ago. In others, however, that seems quite some time past, particularly when considering what has been […]
Wellbeing at the Bar Blog: Sarah Vine
The Counter-Intuitive Solution Barristers hate not working. We complain incessantly about how much work we have to do, but there is no more accurate metric of a barrister’s self-worth (at least in professional terms) than how busy they are. Respond to this refrain by suggesting to a barrister that they need to take more time […]
Wellbeing at the Bar Blog: Helen Randall
Wellbeing from the start Speaking to mini-pupils and conducting interviews for pupillage recently, it has struck me how unwilling anyone wishing to join the profession is to acknowledge the need for a work/life balance. I entirely understand the dilemma, and am sure I was guilty of it too. They want to join a profession with […]
Wellbeing at the Bar blog: Helen Randall
Court Sitting Hours It must surely be obvious to anyone who takes a second to think about it that a barrister’s working day extends far further than the time they spend in a court room. Every case needs to be read in detail and carefully prepared. Trial strategies need to be planned, speeches written, applications […]