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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
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
