The Bar Council encourages chambers to incorporate trans inclusivity into diversity and bullying policies

A statement posted on the Bar Council’s website highlights its support of trans, non-binary and gender-fluid individuals, and urges chambers to recognise that “some people are transgender and not everyone feels that their gender can be defined within the margins of gender binary.”

The Bar Council is committed to “promoting and respecting equality, diversity and inclusivity at the Bar” and has called on chambers to consider the treatment of trans, non-binary and gender-fluid barristers and employees in their equality, diversity and inclusion policies, bullying, harassment and victimisation policies, and training.

Chambers are also being urged to introduce “confidential and supportive ways of reporting any experiences of discrimination, bullying, harassment of trans, non-binary or gender-fluid barristers and employees” and ensure that such issues are “addressed with respect.”

An anonymous hotline and bullying reporting tool can be accessed via the Bar Council’s website.

The regulatory body concluded its statement with the following: “We are a Bar of all, for all, and the Bar Council urges chambers, employers, and individual members of the Bar to promote this ethos across the profession.”

A ‘transition and change to gender expression template’ was also released by The Law Society, which provides an overview of areas that employees should “consider when a staff member wishes to transition or change their gender expression at work.” It also said in a statement published last year that it “is committed to building a profession that is modern, diverse and inclusive for all.”