Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar & Research

• Conduct personal and transparent research to discover (to the best of our ability) true issues concerning disability access at the Bar.

• Research and produce information guides on the range of disabilities and how they can impact an aspiring barrister.

• Lead focus groups to discover the fears and problems that aspiring disabled barristers face and how to best support them.

• Research how we can dismantle the barriers within the Bar that disproportionately affect aspiring barristers from marginalised communities with chronic conditions and disabilities.

• Examine the RARE Recruitment Survey and consider whether it is discriminatory to disabled persons.

• Critically assess the diversity and inclusion policies of the Bar Council and Inns of Court.

• Critically review the pupillage process when considering the difficulties and barriers that aspiring disabled barristers face.

• Reach out to barristers who have already been successful in recommendations of E,D&I at the Bar in lobbying for change.

Mentoring for Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar Members

• Facilitate the creation and organisation of a mentoring scheme with pupil, Junior barristers and Queen Counsels.

• Enhance the employability of Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar members at the Bar.

• Offer CV, mini-pupillage and pupillage application development assistance and insight sessions to prospective mini-pupillage and pupillage seekers.

• Provide a wealth of mentorship talks with prominent barristers and members of the judiciary.

Mentoring for Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar Allies (Chambers, Inns of Court, Judiciary)

• Engage the profession, including the Inns of Court, individual barristers, Chambers, and the BSB, in ’mutual mentoring’; in order that members may benefit from the mentorship of those experienced in the profession, and the profession may benefit from the mentorship of those experienced with disability.

• Promote commitment to the ‘Disability Confident’ scheme and the following of its proper procedure.

• Mentor Chambers and Inns of Court on how best they can provide niche reasonable adjustments for mini-pupillages and for the pupillage procedure.

• Mentor the Bar professionals on the range of disabilities that exist and how they can become disability-allies.

• Engage in partnerships with Chambers, enabling them to access and participate in our mini-pupillage, mentorship and allyship schemes.

• Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar Exclusive schemes

  • Mini-Pupillage

  • Marshalling Scheme

  • Research, Development and Advocacy Schemes