The latest Bar Council survey of barristers shows that more than 8 out of 10 respondents report a very good understanding of the profession’s code of conduct and ethical obligations. This finding emerges from the Bar Council’s Barristers’ Working Lives survey 2025, which canvassed all employed and self-employed barristers in England and Wales to answer a series of questions on professional ethics. The study recorded a response rate of 27 percent, ensuring a full view of the practising Bar.
High scores for ethical awareness
The data reveals a consistently high level of comprehension regarding the profession’s code of conduct. Respondents rated their knowledge of ethical obligations with a mean score of 8.45 out of 10. This strong performance suggests a robust ethical culture where barristers feel they have supportive networks to help them address challenges. Nearly eight in ten respondents indicated they would be ‘very likely’ to use colleagues as a primary source of ethical support. This trust extends to senior colleagues or managers, with 70 percent indicating they would be ‘very likely’ to seek guidance from these individuals. After seeking human support, other resources identified include the BSB website, the Bar Council ethical enquiries service, or the Bar Council ethics and practice hub.
Pressure from clients to act unethically was the most frequently cited challenge, affecting 51 percent of respondents. Maintaining professional independence was the next significant issue, reported by 31 percent of the group. The Legal Services Board has previously highlighted concerns about the misuse of non-disclosure agreements and strategic lawsuits against public participation. However, the survey found that only a very small number of barristers believe these issues represent key ethical challenges. The report suggests that any future work on these subjects should be highly specialised and targeted rather than broad regulatory changes. The Council has long stated that the most effective solution to tackle SLAPPs is legislation and not more regulation of the Bar.
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Support services and future focus
The Bar Council operates a weekday daily ethical enquiries service to assist barristers with identifying, interpreting, and complying with their professional obligations under the BSB Handbook. In 2024/25, the team answered nearly 4,000 calls and responded to over 500 written queries. The Council also hosts ethics webinars and continually reviews and updates ethics guidance for the profession, which is hosted on its ethics and practice website. Despite these strong support structures, one in three barristers reported completing ethics training in the last year. A similar proportion stated they had undertaken such training within the last five years, demonstrating a sustained commitment to professional development.
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar, stated that the survey was conducted to listen to the profession and better understand barristers’ experiences at work. She noted that the range of support, including committee work and practical assistance, ensures that the ethics culture at the Bar remains strong. While the report found no evidence to indicate the need to make substantial changes to the ethical regulation of the Bar, there is a desire to update the BSB Handbook to make it clearer and easier to use. By analysing the survey responses, potential follow-up actions have been identified, including organising training events focused on maintaining independence and dealing with pressure from clients to act unethically. The Council also aims to review guidance for employed barristers who may need further assistance. An ‘Ethics at the Bar report June 2026’ is now available online.