Action plan for implementing the Harman report

Following publication of the report of the independent review of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar, we’ve set out our plans to implement Baroness Harman’s 36 recommendations.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity for the Bar to change its culture – and for all of us that change starts now.”
– Barbara Mills KC, Bar Council Chair 2025

Read a summary of the recommendations

Our action plan is set out under 6 workstreams:

1. Appointment of a new Commissioner for Conduct and establishing the Commissioner’s Office at the Bar Council

  • The recruitment exercise for the new Commissioner will take place in autumn 2025 with the aim of appointing to the post by February 2026. Update: the recruitment exercise for the Commissioner for Conduct is now open. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 21 November
  • The new role will require a change to the Bar Council’s constitution, which will need to be approved by members of the Bar Council by the end of 2025
  • We’ll also put additional resources into the team that will support the Commissioner in early 2026

2. Working with the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Services (BTAS)

  • We’ll establish a joint steering group between the Bar Council and BSB to liaise over the implementation of the recommendations. The steering group will include the Chairs of the Bar Council and the BSB and will meet for the first time in October 2025
  • The working group will draw up an agreed protocol in relation to the new Commissioner and the duty to report

3. Working with the judiciary and the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO)

  • In her response to the publication of the Harman report, the Lady Chief Justice outlined the steps the judiciary had already taken and said they were reviewing the routes to raise concerns. The LCJ committed to working with us on solutions
  • We’ll establish a protocol for the new Commissioner for Conduct to engage with the judiciary

4. Working with the Inns and the Council of the Inns of Court (COIC)

  • We’ll establish a joint working group in autumn 2025 to liaise over implementation of the recommendations that impact the Inns
  • We’ll also establish a protocol for data sharing for safeguarding purposes by the end of 2025

5. Supporting barristers and chambers with guides, resources and training

  • Initially, as chambers seek to take immediate action, we’ll produce a simple summary of actions for chambers in September 2025, signposting to existing resources. Complete: we published ‘A quick guide for chambers’ in September 2025  
  • We’ll update our training in line with the report’s recommendations. Complete: in September 2025 we updated our general anti-harassment and bullying training course content
  • We’ll introduce new training on handling complaints relating to bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. Complete: we held training on managing complaints on 8 October 2025, which received very positive feedback. Another session will be held on 19 November and future sessions will be added to our training and events calendar
  • By April 2026 we’ll update existing guidance or produce new guidance on:
    • Sexual harassment guide for chambers. Complete, September 2025
    • Dealing with complaints
    • Making complaints
    • Sanctions to be included in chambers constitutions
    • Protection of students and mini pupils
  • We’ll be upgrading our Talk to Spot tool for confidential reporting in early 2026

6. Communications: updating the Bar and stakeholders on progress

  • We held a webinar with Baroness Harman and Chair of the Bar Barbara Mills KC to introduce the report to the Bar when it was launched in September. You can watch the recording online. We’ll also publish a summary of the webinar Q&A in October
  • It’s essential that we continue to provide regular updates to the Bar and organisations across the legal sector on our progress. We’ll use this webpage to keep track of progress and share links to new resources and information as they are produced

If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please contact us via [email protected]