The Treasurer’s end of year message 2025

As the year draws to its close, I have been looking back on my year as Treasurer. It has truly been a great privilege to serve as Treasurer this year. I was keenly aware of that privilege throughout my year and at the same time I have enjoyed my year immensely.

There have been many significant events during the year. The year started with the important process of finding a new Under Treasurer to replace Anne Sharp CBE who was due to retire at Easter. There were many highlights and enjoyable events including Domus Dinners, two Grand Days, the Garden Party, Family Day, circuit dinners in Birmingham and Liverpool, Black Book lectures, the Diversity Dinner, the Chapel Concert, three concerts by Blaze Ensemble, Education and Training Weekends, eight Call Days, the Remembrance Service, the Treasurer’s Lecture and two Carol Services.

The Inn spent a considerable amount of time this year considering the proposal from the Bar Council as to the deferral of Call to the Bar. That consideration culminated in the debate at November Council. I want to pay tribute to all the Benchers who contributed to that debate which was well informed, thoughtful, well-reasoned and conducted in the spirit of trying to help the Inn make the right decision. In the light of that debate and the following poll of all of the Benchers, the Inn has reached its own conclusion on the appropriate way forward. This has been communicated to COIC, which will be taking the views of all four Inns before reporting back to the Bar Council.

The Inn also welcomed the publication of Baroness Harman’s report on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar, to which we submitted evidence.  We are committed to implementing its recommendations and to ensuring the Inn, and the Bar more widely, is a safe, inclusive place where everyone can thrive. This work is ongoing, and I recommend watching our recent panel discussion with Baroness Harman if you haven’t already.

The Inn’s Librarian took the initiative of holding two sessions which explored and explained the opportunities for barristers to use AI in the course of their work. These sessions were very popular and really informative. Free trials of one closed AI product continue to be available in the library. The Inn has thereby taken the lead amongst the Inns in relation to AI which is likely to continue to develop in the future at great speed.

I want to thank all Benchers for their consistent support throughout the year. The Benchers’ attendance at the Inn’s events is important and many Benchers do essential work on the Inn’s committees and give generously of their time by taking part in our vital educational and training activities. Members of Hall have also made a huge contribution to those educational and training activities and I am equally appreciative of their work.

At every stage, I have derived enormous help from all the staff of the Inn. Our former Under Treasurer, Anne Sharp CBE, served the Inn magnificently for some six years and she postponed her retirement for a number of months to help us with the transition to our new Under Treasurer, Emma Hopkins OBE. Emma has now been with us for about four months and has already made a huge contribution to the work of the Inn, bringing with her considerable experience which will prove valuable to us in the years ahead.

The Heads of Department have very great experience in their areas of work. At all stages, I found it essential to listen carefully to their advice as, inevitably, they know a great deal more than a Treasurer who is in post for one year only.

But the quality of our staff does not stop with the Under Treasurer and the Heads of Department. I was pleased to find that all of our staff had the right “can do” attitude which helped a great deal. In particular, I would like to mention one event which was great fun for my wife and me and brought home to me the quality of our staff, in this instance the kitchen staff. On the day of the November Grand Day, we were invited to join the kitchen staff at 9 am to “help” them prepare for Grand Day. The kitchen staff were outstandingly patient and kind in showing us the workings of the kitchen where we could see for ourselves how they achieve, day after day, such high standards from which we all benefit. A huge thank you to them.