Bar Council, LawSoc staff sent home after power cut

The Bar Council has sent its workers home and the Law Society is running a slimmed down operation today (12 February) after a power cut caused havoc across London.

Around 1,200 workers in the Holborn area have been affected by the cut this morning, which is thought to have been caused by a flood.

The Bar Council sent its workers home after they were told the power cut would last late into the afternoon, severely restricting their computer access.

The Law Society, which has been suffering from a lack of computer use after its server failed, has advised all colleagues who are not yet in to stay at home.

The Royal Courts of Justice are closed for the day due to the power cut, while a number of law firms and barristers' chambers are also thought to have been affected.

A spokesperson for the Law Society said: "The server has been affected so there is no email usage and limited internet access. We are advising colleagues from far away not to come in today."

A spokesman for the Bar Council added: "There was a major power cut in Holborn. The Bar Council was left with no power and [was] told it wouldn't be coming back until late afternoon, so most of the staff were sent home. Urgent ethical enquiries can still be referred via the Bar Press Office."