//Welcome to BACFI

Follow us on LinkedIn     Follow @BACFI

BACFI represents the interests of employed and non practising barristers providing legal services in commerce, finance and industry - the CFI Bar. It also welcomes student members and members of the Inns of Court who are interested in a career outside Chambers.

BACFI was founded in 1965 and merged in 2004 with the Employed and non practising Barristers' Association (ENPBA). BACFI provides representation, education and support to barristers working in a commercial environment and works to promote "one Bar", to ensure that the status and interests of our members are fully recognised and taken into account by the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board (BSB).

In 2000, employed barristers were granted equal practising rights with the self employed and gained 14 elected seats on the Bar Council. BACFI is a recognised Specialist Bar Association and though it remains independent of Bar Council, members sit on the Council and many of its Committees. BACFI is also represented on the BSB and some of its committees and through its Professional Issues Committee contributes on members' behalf to both BSB and Bar Council consultations. If you are interested in contributing  to BACFI's work or in standing for election to the Bar Council or appointment to the BSB, please contact us.

BACFI also focuses on professional development and career opportunities for its members and hosts a variety of CPD seminars and social networking events throughout the year. Our flagship Denning Lecture and Christmas party is the highlight of our social year.

Membership is open to all barristers and student members of the Inns of Court. To join BACFI, click HERE.

BACFI aims to provide equality of opportunity for anyone who comes into contact with the organisation and to ensure that no-one is discriminated against. BACFI is committed to developing an organisation in which all service users, workers and visitors enjoy equal rights. 

Next Event

Join us on Wednesday, 17 October at City Law School for a Students' Evening. Come along and find out from our panel of employed barristers about internships, pupillages, and how to write a great CV.  Register for this free event HERE. 

Latest News

The second Annual Employed Bar Awards took place at the Imperial War Museum on Friday 29th June. We are very pleased to announce that BACFI Vice President Ros Wright and BACFI committee member Grant Warnsby were both worthy winners of their respective categories. Congratulations to them both! Details of their awards are below:

• Exceptional Contribution to the Employed Bar Award: (Sponsored by BACFI) This award is to recognise an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Employed Bar and made a substantial impact in raising its profile. Winner: Ros Wright CB QC Ros Wright CB QC was General Counsel and Head of Policy at the Securities and Futures Authority before being appointed at the first female Director of the Serious Fraud Office where she led a number of high profile fraud prosecutions. She retired from the Serious Fraud Office, where she was Director for 6 years, in 2003 and since then has been a non-exec director of the OFT.

• Outstanding achievement by a barrister in a corporate organisation or solicitors firm: This award recognises the outstanding achievement of a barrister in a corporate organisation or solicitors’ firm. Winner: Grant Warnsby Grant Warnsby has provided high quality commercially focused legal advice to BP’s worldwide exploration and access work, with particular expertise on complex international joint ventures in some particularly challenging countries.

BSB Regulatory Update - Review October's Regulatory Update from the Bar Standards Board HERE.

New third edition of BSB Handbook (Version 3.3 updated 24 May 2018 including 9th edition of The Code of Conduct) now available HERE.

Official Bar Directory 2018/9 - If you haven't reactivated your official Bar Directory profile for 2018/19 yet, you can ensure your details are included by registering now. Claiming your official Bar Directory profile is straightforward, free and should only take you a couple of minutes. The Bar Council has partnered with the tech team at Juriosity to launch the new Bar Directory as an online-only platform. The new and improved Bar Directory now includes a number of exciting features, including a self-publishing tool to enable you to maximise your exposure to thousands of potential clients by posting your articles in the Juriosity Knowledge Centre for free. For more details go to www.juriosity.com. If you are interested in finding out the additional benefits of purchasing an enhanced Bar Directory profile, please contact info@juriosity.com or 020 391 20617 to discuss. Individual Enhanced Profiles cost just £99+VAT for one year and £499+VAT for an organisational profile. Discounts are available for customers quoting 'BACFI membership'.

“Our business plan for 2018” - we have created a business plan for both BACFI purposes and in order to provide information to others.

Read BACFI’s The A-Z of Offering a Pupillage in Commerce and Industry HERE.

New Situations & Vacancies

Judicial Appointments Commission (see details of current and forthcoming vacancies - HERE)

Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) - Closing date: 4 October 2018 - 13:00

High Court Judge - Expected to launch: October 2018

Salaried Judge of the Upper Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber - Closing date: 27 September 2018 - 13:00

Senior Circuit Judge, Resident Judge - Expected to launch: October 2018

District Judge - Expected to launch: October 2018

Salaried Judge of the First-tier Tribunal - Expected to launch: October/November 2018