New Bar Council Chair Sets Focus on Fair Billing, Briefing, and Well-being

Prime Highlights:

Kirsty Brimelow KC pledges to tackle unfair briefing practices and improve billing for junior barristers and women in the profession.
She commits to stamping out bullying and harassment while promoting wellbeing through trauma-informed training for barristers and chambers’ staff.

Key Facts:

The earnings gap between male and female barristers has widened over the past four years, prompting the Bar Council to encourage pay audits and discussions on fair remuneration.
The Bar Council will work with the Law Society to promote fair briefing and launch a campaign to improve billing practices across the Bar.

Background:

The new Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC, has outlined a comprehensive set of priorities aimed at improving conditions for barristers, particularly focusing on fair briefing, billing practices, and wellbeing. Speaking at Gray’s Inn, Ms Brimelow set out 12 priorities and made it clear she would take a firm stance against bullying and harassment.

A barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, and former chair of both the Criminal Bar Association and the Bar Human Rights Committee, Ms Brimelow highlighted the crisis in the criminal courts and legal aid as top concerns. She also emphasised the need to address earnings gaps, noting that Bar Council figures show the gap between male and female barristers has widened over the past four years.

“Under my leadership, the Bar Council will encourage chambers to audit earnings by protected characteristics and promote meaningful discussions on pay,” Ms Brimelow said. She added that support will be provided to women and minority barristers to help them recognise their worth during fee negotiations.

On billing and briefing, Ms Brimelow announced plans to launch a campaign to improve billing practices, especially for junior barristers who often under-report their work. She also intends to collaborate with solicitors to promote fair briefing practices, having already held discussions with the Law Society.

Ms Brimelow called on the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to focus on its core regulatory duties and improve efficiency, noting that rising costs and poor enforcement have been unsustainable. She welcomed the regulator’s new chair, Professor Chris Bones, and his plans to reduce report-handling costs.

The Chair also addressed bullying and harassment, confirming that the new commissioner for conduct, a woman, has been appointed following recommendations from the Harman report. “I will stamp my own foot on bullying or harassment, whilst wearing heels,” she said.

Finally, Ms Brimelow announced plans to pilot trauma-informed training for barristers and chambers’ staff, reinforcing her commitment to the well-being of the Bar.

Her appointment signals a proactive approach to long-standing issues, aiming to ensure a fairer, more supportive, and more sustainable environment for all barristers.