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Tackling bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
| Purpose: | To assist barristers and chambers in addressing bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar |
|---|---|
| Scope of application: | All barristers and chambers |
| Issued by: | The Bar Council |
| First reviewed: | 05/11/2025 |
| Status and effect: | Please see the notice at end of this page. This is not "guidance" for the purposes of the BSB Handbook I6.4. |
This page provides guidance and practical resources to help chambers and barristers prevent and respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and discrimination. It includes tools to support compliance with legal and regulatory duties, promote a safe working culture and implement the recommendations from Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s independent review.
Taking action post Harman
Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s independent review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar contained 36 recommendations for change.
The Bar Council team have identified seven immediate actions that all chambers can take.
Sexual harassment: information for chambers
What you should do when an allegation of sexual harassment has been made against a member of chambers, a member of chambers’ staff or against any other person whose conduct chambers may have some responsibility for or influence over (including instructing solicitors). Includes comprehensive template policy.
This guidance has been updated following the publication of Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar.
Sexual Harassment Risk Assessment: Template for chambers
Download : Sexual Harassment Risk Assessment : Template for chambers
This template and guidance for chambers is intended to help you create a sexual harassment risk assessment for chambers. This supports compliance with the new Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment and create a safe working environment introduced in October 2024.
We provide both a pdf and word version so that you can edit the word version easily when developing your own risk assessment.
Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying and Inappropriate Behaviours
This guide provides a legal definition for discrimination, including harassment, and lists the types of inappropriate behaviours that cause concern.
Important Notice
This document has been prepared by the Bar Council to assist barristers on matters of professional conduct and ethics. It is not “guidance” for the purposes of the BSB Handbook I6.4, and neither the BSB nor a disciplinary tribunal nor the Legal Ombudsman is bound by any views or advice expressed in it. It does not comprise – and cannot be relied on as giving – legal advice. It has been prepared in good faith, but neither the Bar Council nor any of the individuals responsible for or involved in its preparation accept any responsibility or liability for anything done in reliance on it. For fuller information as to the status and effect of this document, please see here.