Research
The Bar Council’s research team was created in 2019 and is designed to support the Bar Council’s Strategic Plan 2019 - 2024.
We believe in providing a robust evidential basis for all Bar Council’s policy work. Our focus is on using evidence from research and data to develop an informed approach to our work.
The research team is responsible for managing and creating reports that we publish as well as analysing data to better inform our decision-making and policy positions.
The research that we use to inform our policy is ethical, sustainable, and collaborative. All our work is underpinned by a solid evidence base.
Our aims are to:
- Incorporate research and evidence into all our policy decisions
- Strengthen and build networks and relationships
- Develop a systematic way of sharing, communicating and storing research, data and evidence internally and externally.
If you would like to get in touch with us, you can contact Dr Rose Holmes, Head of Research, at [email protected]
Demographics dashboard
The Demographics dashboard uses aggregated data derived from the data collected by Bar Council and Bar Standards Board CRM membership database which contains basic monitoring information on all practising barristers in England and Wales.
View the Demographics dashboard
Our most recent research reports
Pupil Survey 2024
This year’s survey incorporated pupils’ experience in 2023, exploring any changes in the last two years to the experiences of this key group of the profession
Pupillage Gateway Report 2023
The report uses data from the Pupillage Gateway, a recruitment portal owned by the Bar Council and used to advertise vacancies and recruit aspiring barristers for pupillage at the Bar
Bullying, harassment and discrimination at the Bar 2023
The report draws on data from Barristers' Working Lives 2023 and Talk to Spot
Gross earnings by sex and practice area at the self-employed Bar 2023
Analysis of gross earnings declared by the self-employed Bar during the authorisation to practise process in 2023 by sex and practice area
Barrister earnings by sex and practice area - 2022 update
This 2022 report update shares what’s happened to earnings at the self-employed Bar over the last year and show where differences between men’s and women’s earnings have reduced, and where the differences have grown.
Life at the Young Bar report
The Young Bar is the future of the profession. In this report, we present a snapshot of life at the Young Bar in 2021.
Pupils survey report March 2022
Report summary of our second annual survey of pupils that took place in February 2022.
Working Lives 2021 wellbeing analysis
A report on the condition of barristers' wellbeing in 2021
Pupillage Gateway report 2021
Analysis of pupillage data: guidance for candidates and AETOs
Race at the Bar Report 2021
The Bar Council’s Race Working Group's 2021 report addressing inequality at the Bar and proposing a series of recommendations for action.
Barristers Working Lives report 2021
The 2021 survey of barristers' working lives was designed to explore the lived experience of working as a barrister in 2021.