About Us

Who we are

The Property Bar Association is the professional body for Barristers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and advocates in Scotland who are able to certify in writing that not less than half of the matters that they deal with concern property or property-related work.

Our history and status

The PBA had its inaugural meeting on Thursday 23 November 2000. We have a full constitution and an annually elected committee. At present we have over 450 members.

What we do

The PBA offers a programme of educational lectures and seminars for established practitioners throughout the legal year.

We also have a regular training series aimed specifically at young practitioners (pupils and newly qualified barristers).

Our flagship event is our annual mini-conference and reception, held in November. The conference typically comprises:

  • A keynote lecture, often given by a senior member of the judiciary.
  • A series of interactive workshops on diverse topical issues of interest led by experienced specialists from a variety of backgrounds associated with property law (including barristers, solicitors, surveyors, academics, representatives from the Law Commission and Her Majesty's Land Registry).
  • A final lecture, again presented by a leading figure.
  • Our AGM.
  • The PBA enjoys good working relations with other associated professional bodies, in particular the Property Litigation Association (with whom we jointly stage events) and the Chancery Bar Association.

Recognised as one of the Specialist Bar Associations by the Bar Council, the PBA has a voice on the Bar Council and is represented at frequent Bar Council meetings and we also take part in Law Reform Consultations with the object of promoting and defending the interests of our members.

In addition to our educational activities, we acknowledge that social interaction between fellow professionals involved and interested in property law is great fun and ought to be facilitated. To this end we stage an annual summer garden party and also put on a black-tie dinner every December, to which events all members are most warmly invited.

Membership

Full membership of the Property Bar Association is open to any Barrister who is a practising member of the Bar of England, Wales or Northern Ireland or advocate in Scotland and, who is able to certify in writing that not less than 50 per cent of his or her practice in the year immediately preceding their application was in property or property related work.

Full membership is also available to full time mediators who are also, or were formerly, in practice as a barrister or advocate in those jurisdictions for at least 5 years and otherwise meets the same criteria as to their practice.

Associate membership is open to any Barrister who is a practising member of the Bar of England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or advocate in Scotland, who has been in practice for less than five continuous years, and is able to certify in writing an intention to develop a specialist practice in Property or Property Related Work.

Full membership is £120 + VAT per year and Associate membership £40 + VAT per year.  The full criteria for membership can be found on the ‘join us’ page where it says ‘application type’.

The future

Details of the PBA's forthcoming events can be found on the Events page of this website.

The past

Papers and publications from past events can be found in the Library (which is fully searchable).

And finally... CPD (yes it all counts)

Under the new CPD regime you are now responsible for your own CPD record, however you can use our seminars and conferences to collect your CPD points.

The PBA is also accredited for similar purposes by the Law Society and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

So you can come to our events and collect those all-important points!

And remember: most events are free to members;therefore (if you haven't already) do join us.