header-logo header-logo

Being well at the Bar

18 April 2025 / Barbara Mills KC
Issue: 8113 / Categories: Opinion , Career focus , Health & safety , Profession , Mental health
printer mail-detail
216138
Now is the time to take a proactive approach to barristers’ wellbeing, rather than waiting for things to go wrong: Barbara Mills KC sets out the case for better support

The Bar Council is the representative voice of the profession in England and Wales, and we have 18,000 members comprised of self-employed and employed barristers. When I became chair of the Bar in January, I pledged to prioritise barristers’ mental health and wellbeing this year.

Psychological wellbeing within the profession is rarely spoken about, and yet our ‘Wellbeing at the Bar’ report 2024 highlighted that 23.7% of barristers who responded to our survey reported low psychological wellbeing, and 31.4% of respondents indicated they weren’t coping. The Bar Council seeks to address and support the wellbeing challenges faced in the profession.

Women, barristers from an ethnic minority background, younger and more junior barristers all reported lower levels of wellbeing compared to their colleagues. Further, there are particular challenges in certain practice areas. Barristers working in criminal and family

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll