Bar Council Addresses Fair Access to the Bar at Disability Conference

31 October 2012

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, will today host its second Disability Conference, enabling delegates to address issues affecting disabled practitioners, reasonable adjustments to assist them to stay in practice, and how best to manage sensitively colleagues and other individuals with mental health problems, both in chambers and in the courtroom.

As the fifth anniversary of the publication of the Final Report of his Working Party on Entry to the Bar approaches, Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court, will deliver the keynote speech on the importance of attracting, retaining and developing the most talented barristers from the widest possible pool. He will stress the need to remove barriers which may obstruct such equality of access for those with disabilities who aspire to enter the legal profession.

Michael Todd QC, Chairman of the Bar, said:

"We must ensure that talented disabled barristers are making their way at every level of the profession, including taking Silk and sitting as judges. The Bar needs to attract and retain the best practitioners. It is therefore vital that we continue to make adjustments to enable disabled people to enter the Bar and succeed in practice.

"External stress factors are being felt particularly hard within publicly-funded areas of the profession, where many are struggling financially. At the same time, increasing public attention is being focused on ways of eliminating the stigma attached to mental health issues. Whether making reasonable adjustments for colleagues or cross-examining a vulnerable witness, we at the Bar must lead the way in dealing sensitively with individuals with mental health problems."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Further information from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525

2. The Bar Council's second Disability Conference will take place today (Wednesday 31 October), from 17:00 until 20:00 in the Parliament Chambers of Inner Temple. It will include practical workshops on sensory impairments, mental illness, and guidance on implementing the Bar Standards Board's new Code of Conduct rule on chambers' reasonable adjustment policies and dealing with disabled clients and witnesses.

3. Advanced copy of Lord Neuberger's speech will be made available on request from this afternoon, embargoed until 17:45. Please contact Ben Wilson, Head of Communications at the Supreme Court, on Ben.Wilson@SupremeCourt.gsi.gov.uk.

4. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:

• The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
• Fair access to justice for all
• The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
• The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.