//Welcome to 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.

Next Event

Join us on Thursday, 3 October at Middle Temple for a Seminar - A Day in the Life of Lawyer's from .... Find out how lawyers who belong to various companies and associations spend their time. Speakers: Akbar Khan, Secretary-General, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Mark Karpiniski, Barrister, RAF, Prash Naik, General Counsel, Channel 4 and Simon Puleston-Jones, Head of Europe, Futures Industry Association. Book this event HERE.

Latest News

Lady Hale appointed President of the Supreme Court - BACFI is delighted that Lady Hale has been appointed President of the Supreme Court, taking up the new role on 2nd October this year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40679293.

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

Announcement - BACFI congratulates Lorinda Long, a member of the general committee, on her re-election as Treasurer of the Bar Council for 2018. This will be her fourth term.

BSB announces decision on the future of Bar training (24 March 2017) - At its recent Board meeting, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) decided that it will authorise a limited number of future training routes for prospective students to qualify as barristers. Review the full announcement HERE.

Employed Bar Awards 2017 - The Employed Bar Committee of the Bar Council have announced that nominations for the inaugural Employed Bar Awards 2017 are now open! BACFI is proud to be sponsoring the award for outstanding achievement by a barrister in a corporate organisation or solicitors’ firm. All the details can be found on their website www.employedbar.com. This initiative was inspired by the responses in the Employed Bar Survey conducted last autumn and is intended to celebrate the successes and to recognise the diverse achievements of employed barristers. The Awards ceremony will be held at the Tower of London on the 30 June 2017. On the night, you can expect: • Yeoman Warders to greet you and escort you around the site; • A private tour of the Crown Jewels; • A drinks reception in the White Tower; • A three course meal in the New Armouries; • The presentation of the awards; • Yeoman Warders locking you in the Tower in the historic 'Ceremony of the Keys'! Please note that tickets will be available in due course. If you are interested in attending, please email your expression of interest to Dominique Smith.

2016 Denning Lecture - The Rt.Hon. Dominic Grieve MP QC delivered the 2016 Denning Lecture on the topic: “The British Bill of Rights – substance or poltergeist?” on 11 November 2016 in the Inner Temple. It was a fascinating exposition into how the United Kingdom was at the forefront of enshrining human rights post the Second World War, and the crisis that liberalism now faces in the wake of the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump. The lecture provoked wide-ranging questions and the former Attorney General was excellent at explaining the intersection between law and politics. Review the text HERE.

The BSB are considering the responses to the recent consultation on employed barristers’ scope of practice. In the meantime, they have agreed this statement, which applies to any barristers who may be practising already in ways that may technically breach the rules. This may be of particular interest to BACFI members. The main message is people don’t need to do anything for the time being unless there are other breaches of the Handbook, or there is client detriment as a result of their current arrangements. They will clarify what they intend to do with the rule change in the new year.

Public Access Training - Consider an alternative to doing Top-Up courses with the Bar Council. Further details are available on the Barristers Direct website.