*/
There must be zero tolerance on sexual harassment at the Bar, writes Andrew Langdon QC
Sexual harassment must not be tolerated at the Bar, or in any other walk of life.
At the risk of stating the obvious, an allegation of sexual harassment is a serious matter. It is incumbent on chambers, as a matter of fairness and to uphold the integrity of the profession, to treat the complainant and alleged perpetrator justly.
Allegations of sexual harassment should be handled promptly and sensitively. Unsurprisingly, sexual harassment constitutes serious misconduct, which bring reporting requirements as set out in the Bar Standards Board Handbook.
Given recent coverage of sexual harassment in parliament and elsewhere, alongside the Twitter #MeToo campaign, it is worth reminding those affected by sexual harassment – victims, witnesses and chambers – of the support available to them. This support is not new, but it is probably sensible to raise awareness of its availability.
So I have written to all Heads of Chambers and all Equality & Diversity Officers to provide them with the Bar Council’s guidance and support structure. I have suggested that chambers check their policies and procedures on sexual harassment and reminded them of the Bar Council’s Sexual Harassment policy guide. I’ve also urged them to ensure everyone in chambers is aware of the zero-tolerance approach and reminded them of the availability of Bar Council’s Equality & Diversity training and other means of raising awareness and delivering training on this specific issue in chambers.
The help available for victims and witnesses includes a confidential helpline and advice on who they can turn to when reporting sexual harassment. We have collated all this support into one place on our website, which includes details of the confidential helpline, as well as instructions on how to report sexual harassment to the BSB.
It is important that every barrister knows about the available help. Beyond that, the Bar Council tries to ensure that every chambers develops its commitment to put measures in place, as outlined in the linked material, to protect their members, pupils and staff from sexual harassment.
I would like to add that I hope that barristers and chambers’ staff who are victims of sexual harassment will always speak up. If the recent coverage encourages them to do so, so much the better.
Contributor Andrew Langdon QC, Chair of the Bar for 2017, writing on the Bar Council’s Bar Blog
Andrew was Chair of the Bar for 2017. He was Called to the Bar in 1986 and took Silk in 2006. He has sat as a Recorder since 2002, and became a Bencher of Middle Temple in 2014. From October 2013 until the end of 2015 he was Leader of the Western Circuit.
At the risk of stating the obvious, an allegation of sexual harassment is a serious matter. It is incumbent on chambers, as a matter of fairness and to uphold the integrity of the profession, to treat the complainant and alleged perpetrator justly.
Allegations of sexual harassment should be handled promptly and sensitively. Unsurprisingly, sexual harassment constitutes serious misconduct, which bring reporting requirements as set out in the Bar Standards Board Handbook.
Given recent coverage of sexual harassment in parliament and elsewhere, alongside the Twitter #MeToo campaign, it is worth reminding those affected by sexual harassment – victims, witnesses and chambers – of the support available to them. This support is not new, but it is probably sensible to raise awareness of its availability.
So I have written to all Heads of Chambers and all Equality & Diversity Officers to provide them with the Bar Council’s guidance and support structure. I have suggested that chambers check their policies and procedures on sexual harassment and reminded them of the Bar Council’s Sexual Harassment policy guide. I’ve also urged them to ensure everyone in chambers is aware of the zero-tolerance approach and reminded them of the availability of Bar Council’s Equality & Diversity training and other means of raising awareness and delivering training on this specific issue in chambers.
The help available for victims and witnesses includes a confidential helpline and advice on who they can turn to when reporting sexual harassment. We have collated all this support into one place on our website, which includes details of the confidential helpline, as well as instructions on how to report sexual harassment to the BSB.
It is important that every barrister knows about the available help. Beyond that, the Bar Council tries to ensure that every chambers develops its commitment to put measures in place, as outlined in the linked material, to protect their members, pupils and staff from sexual harassment.
I would like to add that I hope that barristers and chambers’ staff who are victims of sexual harassment will always speak up. If the recent coverage encourages them to do so, so much the better.
Contributor Andrew Langdon QC, Chair of the Bar for 2017, writing on the Bar Council’s Bar Blog
There must be zero tolerance on sexual harassment at the Bar, writes Andrew Langdon QC
Sexual harassment must not be tolerated at the Bar, or in any other walk of life.
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
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
For one night only at Middle Temple Hall (Sunday 26 July 2026) – Abigail Bright introduces the famed annual fundraising theatrical event. This year, Martin Shaw and Jason Watkins perform John Mortimer’s The Dock Brief, a mixture of farce and pathos and all in support of the work of the Kalisher Trust in its 30th year
