*/
Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) is an organisation led by and for disabled aspiring barristers. This group aims to increase access, diversity, and inclusion at the Bar and to raise awareness about disabilities. In July 2022, BDABar launched its Two-Way Mentorship Scheme in a hybrid event hosted at the Inner Temple, which recorded 110 registered attendees.
The Two-Way Mentorship Scheme has two main objectives. First and foremost, this programme improves access to practising barristers for aspiring disabled barristers in order to facilitate insight into the profession as well as guidance in their pursuit of a career at the Bar. Secondly, BDABar will give the opportunity for barristers, and their Chambers or employers, to gain insight into the numerous challenges that disabled individuals may face in the course of joining the Bar. While the mentees have discretion on whether to share their lived experience with their mentors, BDABar hopes that engagement with the scheme will improve the profession’s knowledge of disabilities through training.
Mentees are between their first year of their undergraduate degree up through pupillage and they must identify as disabled. Each mentor is paired with up to two mentees. The scheme is in operation from 1 August 2022 and will end on 1 June 2023, when BDABar will open applications for the next intake of participants.
Through this programme, BDABar hopes to build a dialogue about disabilities, accessibility, and reasonable adjustments as well as an evaluation of the support currently available at the Bar for disabled individuals. Where support is lacking, mentors and their chambers or employers may learn how to better engage with not only disabled aspiring barristers but the disabled community more generally. Together, we can break down barriers in the journey towards the Bar.
Konstantina Nouka is Chair and Founder of Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar.
Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) is an organisation led by and for disabled aspiring barristers. This group aims to increase access, diversity, and inclusion at the Bar and to raise awareness about disabilities. In July 2022, BDABar launched its Two-Way Mentorship Scheme in a hybrid event hosted at the Inner Temple, which recorded 110 registered attendees.
The Two-Way Mentorship Scheme has two main objectives. First and foremost, this programme improves access to practising barristers for aspiring disabled barristers in order to facilitate insight into the profession as well as guidance in their pursuit of a career at the Bar. Secondly, BDABar will give the opportunity for barristers, and their Chambers or employers, to gain insight into the numerous challenges that disabled individuals may face in the course of joining the Bar. While the mentees have discretion on whether to share their lived experience with their mentors, BDABar hopes that engagement with the scheme will improve the profession’s knowledge of disabilities through training.
Mentees are between their first year of their undergraduate degree up through pupillage and they must identify as disabled. Each mentor is paired with up to two mentees. The scheme is in operation from 1 August 2022 and will end on 1 June 2023, when BDABar will open applications for the next intake of participants.
Through this programme, BDABar hopes to build a dialogue about disabilities, accessibility, and reasonable adjustments as well as an evaluation of the support currently available at the Bar for disabled individuals. Where support is lacking, mentors and their chambers or employers may learn how to better engage with not only disabled aspiring barristers but the disabled community more generally. Together, we can break down barriers in the journey towards the Bar.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
AlphaBiolabs has been awarded the contract to provide drug, alcohol, and DNA testing services for Hull City Council, following a rigorous competitive tender process
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
At least not that way, says Richard Paige
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
