Justice Committee Chair comment: Independent review of
bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment at the Bar
Commenting on the Independent Review, Chair of the
Justice Committee and Labour MP said: “Today's
publication of the Independent Review led by Chair Baroness
KC sets out a series of
strong, clear-sighted findings and recommendations which must act
as a watershed moment. This thorough and wide-ranging review
exposes a serious and worrying degree of misbehaviour and
malpractice.
“Baroness Harman has been fearless in her investigation, and it
is right that the Bar Council has welcomed the outcome and
pledged to act on the recommendations. Both professional
standards and integrity are high across the Bar, but any areas of
malpractice are a cause for concern. It is not only in the
Bar's interest, but the wider interest of justice that the types
of misconduct revealed are acted upon and eliminated.”
The Law Society
of England and Wales
Law Society vice president Mark Evans said: “We welcome the
publication of the Bar Council's independent review, and commend
the leadership of the Rt Hon. the Baroness KC and the review team for
their thorough and thoughtful work.
“While this review focuses on the experiences of barristers, its
terms of reference cover the whole ecosystem around the bar.
Bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct are unacceptable in
any workplace, and we reaffirm our commitment to a zero-tolerance
approach within the solicitors' profession.
“LawCare's Life in the Law 2020/21 report found that
one in five legal professionals - including members of the
judiciary, solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives,
trainees, paralegals, legal secretaries and business support
staff - experienced bullying, harassment or discrimination
in the workplace, underscoring the urgent need to create
inclusive, respectful and psychologically safe working
environments.
“We support the review's findings and urge all parts of the legal
profession to reflect on them and take meaningful action.
Tackling these issues requires a sector-wide effort, and we are
committed to working collaboratively to drive real change.
“The Solicitors Regulation Authority has issued guidance for the
solicitors' profession urging organisations to prioritise staff
wellbeing and take proactive steps to tackle toxic
workplace cultures, warning that failure to do so may breach
regulatory and legal obligations. We recommend the solicitors'
profession heed this guidance.
“The Law Society continues to provide practical resources to help
the wider solicitors' profession to foster safer workplaces,
including guidance, case studies and further support on issues
that extend across both the barristers' and solicitors'
professions, through the Women in Law Pledge. We
encourage anyone affected by these issues to contact our free, confidential helpline
or reach out to LawCare for support.
“Together, we can build a legal profession where everyone is
treated with dignity and respect.”
