Policy Assistant (9-Month Fixed Term Contract)

Job Title: Policy Assistant (9-Month Fixed Term Contract)

Hours: 35 hours per week - Full-time

Starting Salary: 29005

Location: High Holborn London

The Bar Council represents approximately 18000 barristers in England and Wales. It promotes the Bars high-quality specialist advocacy and advisory services; fair access to justice for all; the highest standards of ethics equality and diversity across the profession; and the development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The Bar Council is the governing body and the Approved Regulator for the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Policy Assistant to support our Policy team. The Policy Assistants work on projects throughout the Bar Councils Policy team and support the delivery of a wider programme of work to meet the teams commitments in its various business plans. This role will specifically support the Director of Policy and each of the following teams within the Policy team:

• Regulatory Affairs Law Reform and Ethics;
• Legal Practice and Remuneration;
• Diversity & Inclusion and CSR;
• International; and
• Research

Each team works in partnership with a range of Bar Council representative committees details of which can be found on our website.

The Policy Assistants general responsibilities will be as follows:

• Provide programme support to the Heads of Policy Policy & Programme Managers Policy Analysts and the Director of Policy
• Assist Policy colleagues across the Department as required with the progression of policy development across all areas of policy. This may include assisting with the drafting of papers minute taking and attendance at relevant meetings.
• Support a number of the Bar Councils projects and programmes for example:
  • international work and exchanges with lawyers from other jurisdictions
  • the annual Law Reform Essay Competition and Law Reform Lecture
  • the annual International Rule of Law Lecture
  • the annual Pupillage Fair and Law Fairs
  • Bar Placement Week
  • the London Legal Aid Walk
  • the Bar Mentoring Service and the Women in Law Pledge
  • the International Grants Programme
  • the Pre-Application Judicial Education Programme

In return the Bar Council offers excellent terms and conditions of employment including:

• Up to 31 days annual leave

• Up to 12% employers pension contribution

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

• Life cover and more

For more information about this role please click on the Apply tab on the top right. All candidates are required to apply online with a CV and Cover Letter.

Candidates with a disability who require reasonable adjustments should contact The Bar Council is part of the Disability Confident scheme. Candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role will be guaranteed an interview under this scheme.

Closing Date: 10 June 2025

Proposed Interview Date: w/c 23 June 2025

The independent practicing Bar of England and Wales is more than 16500 strong and plays a crucial role in upholding the principles of government accountability under law and vindication of legal rights through the courts.

A strong and independent Bar exists to serve the public. As specialists independent advocates barristers enable people to uphold their legal rights often acting on behalf of the most vulnerable members of society.

The Bar makes a vital contribution to the efficient and effective operation of criminal and civil courts. It provides a pool of talent from increasingly diverse backgrounds from which a significant proportion of the judiciary is drawn and on whose independence the rule of law and our democratic way of life depends.