Executive Assistant to the CEO (12-Month Fixed Term Contract)

The Vacancy

The Bar Council represents the nearly 16,000 barristers in England and Wales. It promotes the Bar’s 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 seeking a proactive, highly organised and personable executive assistant to support our new Chief Executive in their first year at the Bar Council. Working with our executive office and governance team, the successful candidate will be responsible for planning and delivering a comprehensive induction programme for the new CEO, to include arranging and facilitating meetings and briefings with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, as well as providing ongoing high-level administrative and organisational support to the CEO.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide support at the highest level of the organisation and encompasses diary management, stakeholder liaison, producing briefing documents and papers, minute-taking at meetings, arranging complex travel and itineraries and expense monitoring. From time to time, the postholder may be required to assist other members of the Senior Management Team and the wider executive office.

Ideally, we are looking for a EA with experience providing comprehensive support to a high-level executive, who can “hit the ground running”, manage a busy diary and prioritise complex and conflicting demands whilst planning ahead with a strategic mindset. The successful executive assistant will need to evidence a collaborative and solutions-focussed approach to work. A willingness or desire to learn about the legal sector would be beneficial.

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

• 27 days annual leave
• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution 
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay 
• Life cover, and more 

For full details of the role, please refer to the job description.

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: Monday 5 January, 2026 at 23:59

Proposed Interview Date: Week commencing 12 January 2026