Our Journey

Holly Parker – Blogs Team Lead

“When the committee of BDABar started to form, a community of aspiring barristers with disabilities was created. A safe space to share experiences and concerns as a disabled individual. We have come together to destigmatise disabilities and start the conversation, so being a barrister can be more accessible for those with disabilities.

 

I was lucky enough to be elected as blogs team lead, which has enabled me to write and publish three blogs (so far). These blogs have contributed to opening dialogue to disability and the bar and providing support for those trying to enter an extremely competitive field.  ”

Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) aims to open up the legal profession and dismantle the barriers that currently stop disabled individuals from reaching the Bar. The members of the BDABar Committee have first-hand experience of the barriers that exist within the profession. Those barriers vary from lack of accessibility, lack of support and lack of understanding about what disabilities are, how disabilities affect the individual, and what it means to be disabled. Our lived experiences frustrated us but made us more resilient and motivated to achieve our goals! As disabled aspiring barristers, we are determined to work towards reforming and re-shaping the Bar as a profession; we want the Bar to be a profession that understands, supports, accepts and accommodates the needs of all disabled aspiring barristers trying to access the profession. 

The overall objective of BDABar is to open up and make the Bar accessible to all disabled aspiring barristers. In support of this goal, we aim to raise awareness that current practises and standards are inadequate in making the Bar a profession that is accessible and inclusive; whilst attempting to destigmatize how disabilities are perceived within the profession. To do this, we will research, educate, enable a two-way mentoring scheme and also provide exclusive BDABar mini-pupillage schemes for our members. We hope that our research findings and practical experiences will improve accessibility and facilitate the emergence of a fair, equal, and representative Bar. 

We want to work in partnership with barristers, Chambers and Inns of Court. We want to create disability allies. We want BDABar to be an initiative that will play a crucial role in ensuring that the ignorance of disabilities will no longer be accepted as normal. Instead, we want to contribute to the transformation and evolution of a supportive and inclusive environment for disabled aspiring barristers at the Bar.  

Thank you for your faith and support in Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar and we can’t wait for all who wish to join us on our journey to openness, accessibility, inclusivity and beyond all… for an equal profession.