Former long-serving MP and minister Harriet Harman KC has urged practitioners to come forward with submissions to her independent review of bullying and harassment at the bar which she describes as a ‘moment of change’ for the sector.
The review was commissioned by the Bar Council following its report finding that 44% of respondents had experienced or witnessed bullying, harassment or discrimination in the previous two years - an increase on previous survey results.
Harman, a former practising solicitor who retired from the House of Commons this year after 42 years as a Labour MP, is chairing the review which will provide proposals to clamp down further on bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.
Speaking to the Gazette, Harman said a theme emerging from submissions so far is that, while attitudes in wider society have changed, there is a ‘fatalism’ among barristers about the problem and ‘low expectations’ about the chance of change.
Harman said she is ‘determined this should be a moment for change, not just further evidencing of the problem’. Though ‘a lot of changes’ had been made over the past decade, ‘there needs to be a really substantial change to make a real difference’.
She added: ‘I can see their fatalism and I hear what they say about their low expectations, but all should have confidence that there is a determination in myself and the Bar Council that this is not going to be just another report.’
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As well as taking submissions from barristers, Harman will be travelling across the country to visit chambers and meet members as part of her information-gathering. The review will report on the reasons for bullying, harassment and sexual harassment, the impact of those behaviours, reporting mechanisms, sanctions, and proposals for reforms.
Harman said: ‘Transparency and openness of the system is very important to giving confidence to those who might be wanting to complain about something they have experienced or have seen. It is hard for people to have confidence in a system if they cannot see it actually in operation. The question of how we do that in such a way to be open, but [not undermining] the rights of those being complained against is something I will definitely be looking at. The question of transparency is important.’
The deadline for submissions is 27 September, Harman said, with the report expected to be published in summer 2025.
‘There are going to be proposals for change and their ideas are really important,’ she added. ‘The most important part of my review is to bring forward solutions that work and make a difference. More explanation of the problem is not going to cut it.’
