The Bar Council is at the forefront of advocating for more sustainable working practices and remains pivotal in attempts to improve wellbeing at the Bar

ARTICLE

Work-life balance – it is the eternal struggle for young barristers. The workload may be vast, and the hours may be long, but as for the idea that burning yourself out at the beginning of your career is worth it in the end – that notion is losing traction among a newer generation of legal practitioners.

Our recent Life at the Young Bar report provides evidence of the need for change. Young barristers report lower scores for psychological wellbeing and overall wellbeing when compared to the rest of the Bar (and, not surprisingly, average scores for all criminal barristers are lower when compared to other areas of legal practice).

One of the report’s key recommendations was the need for bolder leadership to improve working conditions and work culture. This is a challenge the Young Barristers’ Committee (YBC) is determined to meet and this year the committee has put work-life balance and wellbeing at the heart of its work. Work-life balance and wellbeing are key, as are related issues including bullying and mental health.

One of the things that has become apparent over the last two years is how damaging the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown have been for our mental health. Working too long and too hard whilst being unable to see family and friends has been tough. But not being able to go into work and court, see colleagues and – crucially for the Young Bar – forge and nurture the relationships that might sustain us for the rest of our careers, has been devastating.

We believe that a key part of work-life balance is avoiding being ‘chained to your desk’. Professional events where you can network, socialise, and let off a little steam are key weapons in the arsenal for not becoming overwhelmed by work. That’s why the YBC has decided it is important this year to offer opportunities for young barristers to come together in person and grow their practices as they should be able to.

The committee is very pleased to be hosting a session at the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association’s ‘Race to the Commonwealth and Beyond’ conference on 21 and 22 July in Birmingham. This offers an opportunity for young barristers across the country to meet with their colleagues both internationally and on the Midland Circuit, and explore ideas and best practice around sports law.

We will also be co-hosting the annual International Weekend alongside the European Young Bar Association, on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September, representing an opportunity for young lawyers across Europe to come together for a set of panel discussions and activities, exchanging knowledge and experience, and building those much-needed links.

We will also be organising the annual Anglo-Dutch Exchange, through which a group of young barristers from England and Wales will travel to the Netherlands to be hosted by their Dutch counterparts in a cultural exchange to broaden the horizons of both groups of legal practitioners.

That is not to say that attending events is the only thing that matters. It is the opportunity to do good work for our clients and uphold the rule of law that really makes for a rewarding career at the Bar. However, this cannot be done without adequate remuneration and working conditions.

The Bar Council recently revealed that 43% of courts in England and Wales have closed since 2010 and legal aid fees for barristers continue to fall short of what is required. The criminal Bar is under extreme strain at the moment. All this impacts on wellbeing and is detrimental to a balanced and healthy working life. The Bar Council is working hard to make sure the government appreciates how poor the situation is right now.

It also provides the Wellbeing at the Bar hub, which offers a dedicated online space for barristers to access more information and resources that are focused on wellbeing within the profession.

Beyond this, creating leisure time outside work and making sure that ‘there is more to life than work’ are simple but effective ways in which you can make things manageable. We each have our own little things that help us to unwind.

Jumping on my bike to work, court, and to see friends is a quick and easy way for me to let off a bit of steam, and even where the weather is not on my side, getting my toolbox out and having a tinker helps take my mind off the stresses and strains the day brings, says Vice Chair Mike Harwood.

Spearfishing or swimming takes my mind off work, says Chair Michael Polak. When you are lying on the bottom of the sea waiting for a fish to unsuspectingly swim past, thoughts about work and other stresses disappear and you come out of the water feeling calm and ready to face life’s challenges.

Work-life balance can also be helped by enabling greater flexibility and more reasonable working practices – the Young Barristers’ Committee is on your side on this, and if you would like to get in touch to talk to us or have any questions or concerns then please email: YBC@barcouncil.org.uk.

Finally, summer is a good time to take a break, get away from work, and recharge before autumn begins. If you can’t do this, try to make sure you spend time away from your desk and get out into the good (or not so good!) weather. In the meantime, stay safe and stay healthy.

Michael Polak

Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee

Mike Harwood

Vice Chair of the Young Barristers’ Committee