Below we have listed a number of Internal Bar Associations. Further information on each association will be added to the website in due course. If you require more information, please contact the Bar Library directly.
BIPA (Bar Immigration Practitioner's Association)
The Bar Immigration Practitioner's Association (BIPA) was set up in 2004 to meet the needs of a growing number of immigration practitioners at the Bar of Northern Ireland. The purpose of BIPA is to provide support for individual practitioners, liaise with the Bar Council of Northern Ireland and to make representations on behalf of members principally in relation to funding of publicly funded cases before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) and the High Court in Northern Ireland. BIPA also seeks to make submissions in respect of proposed legislative changes to the asylum and immigration framework to ensure a fair system and a high standard of representation.
Criminal Bar Association
The Criminal Bar Association represents the views and interests of practising members of the Criminal Bar in Northern Ireland. Membership of the Association is also open to non-practising members of the Bar who have an interest in the administration of criminal justice in Northern Ireland. The Association has played an active role in engaging in consultation on a range of issues affecting criminal practice, including the public funding of legal services in the criminal sphere and proposed legislation on criminal law, evidence and procedure. The Association reports on a regular basis to the Bar Council on matters within its field of competence.The Association contributes strongly to the Bar’s continuing professional development programme through regular lectures and seminars on various aspects of criminal practice and new legislative initiatives. The Association hosts its annual conference each May in conjunction with SLS Legal Publications at Queen’s University Belfast.
Family Bar Association
The Family Bar Association is the specialist Bar Association for all barristers who practice in the area of family law. Family practitioners provide specialist advocacy services to clients involved in all manner of family related disputes including separation, divorce, child custody and contact, financial provision and adoption.
The Association has a large and proactive membership of over 150 barristers and aims to address the practical and specialist problems that arise in the working lives of family practitioners as well as promoting the interests of all our members.
The Association is committed to the provision of specialist continuing professional development for family practitioners and organises conferences, seminars and presentations to keep members informed about important developments in the law. Three times a year the Association produces a newsletter to keep members up to date with recent changes in practice and procedure.
The Association plays an important consultative role within the Bar and provides informed comment on all aspects of family law reform and practice to the Bar Council. Committee members regularly liaise with other practitioners, court services and outside bodies to promote the interests of all our members.
Music and Drama Society
The Bar Music and Drama Society is a society where all members of the Bar can mix to enjoy music and drama. It is very special because of the way in which it brings together members from all areas and levels of practice. There are two aspects of the involvement.
The first is in participation of music and drama through plays, poetry and musical performances. Perhaps the most familiar is the four piece choir of over forty members who sing under the guidance of our eminent conductor Dr Brendan O’Hare BL. The choir usually performs a Christmas concert and on occasions performs at other Bar functions notably the Young European Lawyers reception.
The second function is to share in the enjoyment of Music and Drama events such as Opera events of note where we can block book for popular functions and have an opportunity to meet not just as colleagues but as partners and friends as well.
As with most societies at the Bar, the greatest difficulty is co-ordinating the meeting of members who all have such very busy schedules. All members are welcome, particularly those willing to undertake the difficult task of co-ordinating the practice or rehearsal of our own performances.
Personal Injuries Bar Association
The Personal Injuries Bar Association of Northern ireland was formed on 4 April 2006 and has as its members many members of the Bar of Northern Ireland having a particular interest in personal injury case work involving the provision of advices and advocacy services in all courts and tribunals having jurisdiction to determine claims arising out of circumstances and events in which personal injury has been sustained.
The Association aims, inter alia, to advance the professional development of its members in the field of personal injury law, practice and procedure, to promote the interests of its members and of those persons and bodies having need of its members' services and to develop and promote, as and when appropriate, views on issues of civil justice reform, legal aid and alternative dispute resolution.
Planning Law Association
The Association aims to provide a forum for the exchange of views and expertise on planning issues as well as representing the Planning Bar to outside agencies.
The Planning Bar Association is open to all members of the Bar with an interest in town and country planning. The Association counts among its members those barristers who are active in planning law both as advisers and advocates.
Young Bar Association
The Young Bar Association presents itself as the voice of the Junior Bar. It is an elected body voted for by those within 7 years of call. The Association is a vehicle for concerns and preoccupations of members of the young bar and is a channel for communication between the Bar Council and other structures within the Bar.
Chief amongst the functions of the YBA is the organisation of a lecture series every year. The lectures involved are Continual Professional Development accredited and cover a wide range of areas of legal practice.
Speakers include practicing barristers, members of the judiciary and academics.
The Association is keen to guard against management speak creeping insidiously into legal regulation and promotes public access to legal services, competition, consumer protection, the availability of a transparent complaints process, adequate redress in the event of poor service and the maintenance of the effective delivery of justice. The YBA Committee welcomes input of any nature and is always willing to deal with queries regarding any aspect of legal practice.