Kirsty Brimelow KC sets her priorities for 2026, focusing on protecting jury trials, securing legal aid, and addressing children’s justice
Kirsty Brimelow KC, the newly appointed Chair of the Bar, has outlined her key priorities for 2026, spotlighting the crucial issues of jury trials, legal aid, and children’s justice. In her inaugural address at Gray’s Inn on January 12, 2026, Brimelow addressed the challenges facing the UK’s criminal justice system, vowing to protect the integrity of jury trials, secure increased legal aid funding, and advocate for a change in the law regarding the age of criminal responsibility.
A staunch advocate for maintaining the constitutional principle of jury trials, Brimelow has condemned recent government proposals aimed at reducing the number of jury trials in criminal cases. Drawing on the historic case of Edward Bushel in 1670, she highlighted the importance of juries in upholding the rule of law. According to Brimelow, the government’s suggestion to cut jury trials will do little to address the backlog of cases in the criminal justice system, which has been exacerbated by years of underfunding. She emphasised that proactive reforms, such as better case management and extended sitting days, are needed to alleviate the pressure on courts.
Brimelow also turned her attention to the chronic underfunding of legal aid, which she described as “back in sharp focus” for 2026. With a particular focus on criminal legal aid, she called for it to be placed on equal footing with essential services like the NHS. Legal aid, Brimelow argued, is fundamental to ensuring fairness and equality before the law. She revealed that while investment in legal aid in 2022 had helped reverse some of the declines in barristers’ income, the number of King’s Counsel (KCs) reliant on legal aid has fallen dramatically, with many leaving criminal work due to inadequate funding. Brimelow vowed to continue pressing the government for further investment to ensure that barristers remain in the public service system.
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales, which stands at just 10, is another area Brimelow aims to tackle. Recognising that the UK has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in Europe, Brimelow highlighted the need to raise this threshold to prevent vulnerable children from being trapped in the justice system. She pointed out that children in custody often have care experience or neurodiversity issues and argued that the justice system should focus more on rehabilitation than punishment.
Beyond these core issues, Brimelow’s priorities also extend to improving conditions for barristers, addressing the earnings gap, and tackling bullying and harassment within the profession. Her focus on social mobility and disability at the Bar aims to level the playing field for aspiring barristers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In her speech, she also spoke of the Bar Council’s commitment to supporting commercial and international arbitration, as well as promoting the legal profession’s contribution to the UK’s economy. She expressed her desire to enhance the Bar’s role in conflict resolution and rebuilding justice systems in post-conflict countries.
Kirsty Brimelow KC’s leadership marks a bold new direction for the Bar Council as she tackles these pressing issues head-on. Her vision for 2026 is one of reform and advocacy, aimed at securing a fairer and more accessible justice system for all. As she leads the Bar into the future, her focus on the protection of jury trials, increased legal aid funding, and the rights of vulnerable children promises to shape the future of the UK’s legal landscape.