England: One in six young barristers want to quit due to workload and burnout

The Life at the Young Bar report, commissioned by the Bar Council and published yesterday, is based on research into barristers who have been practising for up to seven years.

A survey of young barristers in spring 2021 found that around one in six wanted to give up, with the top three reasons given being working hours, the unpredictability of working hours and the potential mental health consequences of remaining at the Bar.

The report also notes that the financial repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic “have been more significant for many of those in the Young Bar than across the whole Bar”, with nearly half of survey respondents reporting a negative impact on their overall financial situation and a third stating they had experienced financial hardship.

“This varied considerably by practice area, with those in criminal law appearing to experience this the most,” the report states. “There has, however, been significant upturn in earnings for many who had suffered, since then, as work has increased again and barristers now struggle to cope as courts attempt to clear the backlog”.

The report also flags up continuing concerns about harassment and bullying, with one third of young barristers saying they had experienced this either in-person or online in the last two years – with women, who make up nearly half of young barristers, nearly three times more likely to have experienced it than men.

Michael Polak, chair of the Bar Council’s young barristers’ committee, said: “This research should act as a wake-up call for those interested in the future of the profession. It’s clear we need to modernise the way that the Bar operates.

“Our culture, working practices, and wellbeing must be key themes of the Bar Council’s work on behalf of the Young Bar over the coming year.

“The report highlights the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with young barristers having experienced adverse changes to their personal finances, relationships with colleagues and overall wellbeing.”

Mark Fenhalls QC, chair of the Bar Council, added: “A career at the Bar is incredibly rewarding, but it is also challenging. The Bar Council is committed to improving the working lives of young barristers and ensuring everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

“Our profession has been ageing rapidly and we can ill-afford to lose the next generation for any reason. Increased use of technology can lead to some greater efficiency, but it can also make the training and development of young lawyers more difficult and leave many feeling isolated and disillusioned.

“The pandemic has increased pressure and stress on everyone, but that is no excuse for unacceptable behaviours. The Bar Council asks every barrister who experiences or witnesses inappropriate behaviour to use the online confidential and anonymous reporting tool ‘Spot’ so that we can take action.”