The new Chair of the Bar Samuel Townend KC delivered his inaugural speech in the Great Hall of Lincoln's Inn. He set out two clear priorities for 2024: securing more resources for the justice system and supporting the profession to become more resilient and sustainable.
His wide-ranging speech outlined the underfunding that has put the criminal and family justice systems "at the point of structural failure", a strong call for significant investment, a warning against the political attacks on lawyers, and his commitment to support the profession on earnings disparities, action on Race at the Bar, and tackling bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Sam also spoke about the need to reduce regulatory costs and burdens on the profession, the arguments for changing timing of Call, and the need for Parliament to review the role of corporates in bringing private prosecutions, in light of the Post Office Horizon scandal.
Read or watch Sam's speech online: https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/sam-townend-kc-inaugural-address.html
