England: Criminal barristers facing mental health crisis

The Bar Council of England and Wales said a “preliminary analysis” of the data, based on a survey of 1,346 barristers, was concerning, The Guardian reports.

It shows that 40 per cent of criminal barristers have seen their workload increase in the last two years and a third are considering new career options.

Nearly 60 per cent said they were working more than 51 hours a week, and of those, nearly half were working more than 60 hours a week.

Only half said they felt able to balance their home and work lives.

A spokesperson for the Bar Council said: “A preliminary analysis of the raw data from our survey suggests life at the criminal bar is challenging, with barristers in criminal practice recording some of the longest working hours, highest workload and greatest levels of dissatisfaction with their working lives.

“This is a cause for concern and is why we are campaigning for a better-funded system of justice.”

Scottish barrister Kay Sprnigham QC tweeted: “If this were happening to anyone other than the self-employed, it wouldn’t be tolerated.

“We have to find better ways of supporting each other at the Bar.”

Sarah Vine, wellbeing director at the CBA, added: “There is a mental health crisis in the profession and it is so insidious.”