ABOUT EVENT

This conference promises to engage members of The Bar with legal professionals with a focus on crucial EDI issues while fostering an inclusive dialogue on the Bar profession’s future.

We are delighted to announce that our panel speakers will discuss the review and delve into the insights derived from the thought-provoking recommendations which included:

- Mandatory standards and training: Consistent, profession-wide anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies and training must be introduced and refreshed regularly for all barristers and chambers staff.

- New Commissioner for Conduct: The Bar Council should appoint a Commissioner responsible for tackling bullying and sexual harassment specifically within the Bar.

- Complaints system overhaul: Improvements include time limits for handling cases, enhanced support services for complainants, and mandatory training for dealing with vulnerable witnesses to ensure fairer and more efficient processes.

- Prohibition of sexual relations: Sexual relationships between barristers, clerks, or chambers employees and pupils, mini-pupils or work experience students must be classified as serious misconduct.

- Stronger sanctions: Misconduct related to bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment should carry career-limiting or career-ending consequences.

- Additionally, sanctions following judicial misconduct findings should involve multiple senior decision-makers to reduce perceptions of leniency.

- Judicial bullying addressed: The review advocates for accountability measures in courts, including removing time limits on complaints to the Judicial.

- Conduct Investigations Office and improving transparency through court monitoring and recordings.

- Culture change: Baroness Harman emphasises the need for radical action to end a culture of impunity allowing misconduct to go unpunished, stating this is a moment of reckoning for the Bar.