Bar Council and Bar Standards Board set up a steering group to implement the Harman review changes
A new steering group has been established by the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to implement the recommendations made in Harriet Harman’s independent review of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment at the Bar. The joint group will develop a protocol for reporting bullying and harassment, particularly once the commissioner for conduct, a Bar Council officer, is appointed.
Harman’s review, published in September 2025, contained 36 recommendations aimed at addressing misconduct within the legal profession. Among the key suggestions were the appointment of a commissioner to oversee conduct, the introduction of mandatory anti-bullying and anti-harassment standards, and discussions with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) regarding an ‘explicitly clear’ code of conduct addressing these issues. The review highlighted the need for systemic changes to combat bullying and harassment at all levels of the Bar.
The steering group, which includes Barbara Mills, chair of the Bar Council, Chris Bones, chair of the BSB, as well as senior barristers and staff from both organisations, will focus on developing the necessary frameworks and systems for implementing the recommendations. Mills expressed her satisfaction with the positive response to Harman’s report, stating, “We have been delighted at the widespread agreement and understanding that action must be taken to address bullying and harassment at the Bar. Implementing Baroness Harman’s recommendations requires everyone to work together, across the Bar and judiciary.”
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Bones added that the BSB is committed to working collaboratively with the Bar Council and other stakeholders to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations. “While we must make independent regulatory decisions, it is important for us to understand different perspectives, viewpoints, and opportunities. This collaboration is something we commit to,” he said.
The review also addressed concerns about judicial bullying, with Harman noting that she had received “abundant, disturbing and compelling accounts” of inappropriate behaviour within the judiciary. Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, the lady chief justice, discussed the issue before the Commons justice committee this week. She stated that she was working with the Bar Council to explore how the judiciary could gain access to complaints made through Talk to Spot, the Bar Council’s online tool for reporting abusive behaviour.
Baroness Carr acknowledged that the judiciary had long been aware of bullying issues but emphasised the importance of improving informal complaint routes. “I think we want to look hard at informal routes of complaints because I think they can be very effective,” she said, noting that resources to implement such a tool for the judiciary were lacking but would be considered if available.
As the steering group moves forward with its work, it will aim to ensure that the recommendations of the Harman review are implemented effectively and that all areas of the legal profession are held accountable for maintaining a respectful and professional environment.