Statement of the Chancery Bar Association in connection with the Harman Report and Bar Council’s Action Plan for implementing its recommendations

In September the Independent review of bullying and harassment at the Bar concluded with the publication of the Harman Report. The Report acknowledged the existence of these behaviours at the Bar and reflected upon the serious damage that the same cause to both the profession and the individuals affected. Baroness Harman KC advanced 36 recommendations for change with the aim of fostering a new culture of zero-tolerance and accountability for misconduct.

The Bar Council welcomed the Report and affirmed its commitment to implementing its recommendations.

The Bar Council has now published its Action Plan for implementing the recommendations of the Harman Report. The plan, referable to 6 workstreams, can be accessed here, together with updates to its progress. The recruitment exercise for a new Commissioner for Conduct is underway, and the Bar Council and BSB have now established a steering group for taking forward the Report’s recommendations.

The ChBA welcomes the publication of Harman Report and the Bar Council’s Action Plan. The Harman Report follows the Voices of Women at the Chancery Bar Report and the Specialist Commercial Bar & Black Inclusion – First Steps Report commissioned by the ChBA, and its findings reveal that many of the experiences reported by members of the Chancery Bar, reflect challenges facing the Bar as a whole. The work undertaken in connection with these seminal reports contributed to the ChBA’s engagement with the Harman review. We repeat our gratitude to all those who contributed to the same.

The work of fostering the new culture envisaged by the Harman Report falls to us all. Whilst some elements of change take time, the ChBA encourages its members, and their chambers to take those immediate steps available to address the concerns identified in the review. A quick guide to such steps can be accessed here.