Disability

The Disability Panel

Our Disability Panel includes barristers with a range of disabilities and expertise in disability issues. It reports into our Equality Diversity and Social Mobility (EDSM) Committee, which informs our work across the organisation. The Panel provides support to barristers and pupils with disabilities. 

Find out more about the policy work we're doing on disability.

Disability guides and resources

We've developed a range of guides for barristers and chambers which can be found on our Ethics & Practice Hub:

• Accessibility audit tool for chambers 
• Reasonable adjustments guide for chambers
• Guidance on Department for Work and Pension's Access to Work programme
• Guidance for supporting colleagues, pupils and students with dyslexia
• Guidance for barristers in effective communication with deaf/hard of hearing people
• Guidance for supporting colleagues, pupils and students with dyspraxia

Bar students with disabilities are encouraged to liaise with their educational institution for support, more information:

• Support for students with disabilities - Ethics & Practice Hub
• Help if you're a student with a learning difficulty, health problem or disability: Disabled Students' Allowance - GOV.UK

Mental health and wellbeing resources are available on the Wellbeing at the Bar website.

Disability access programme

In 2024 the BSB consulted on potential new disability related regulations. Specifically, these were:

1. Chambers undertaking disability access audits
2. Chambers being fully accessible within 5 years

We argued against regulation in respect to (2), and for voluntary action in our Bar Council’s response to the BSB's consultation on proposed amendments to the equality rules.

Over the summer 2025, we will be contacting chambers to establish the extent to which they are accessible for mobility impaired pupils and barristers.  

The aim of this work is to generate baseline data – where chambers are now, as well as to encourage chambers to prioritise physical access improvements.

View the survey

Disability policy work

The Disability Panel are currently working on the following:

1. Disability access programme
2. HMCTS access work and working with the judiciary
3. Policy guides (relating to disability)
4. Supporting disability Bar-based networks
5. Maximising benefits from our membership of the Business Disability Forum membership
6. Delivering an annual disability event and Pupillage Fair workshop
7. Embedding disability in Bar Council thinking/consultation responses
8. Developing and promoting disability role models

If you have any enquiries about our disability work programme, please email us.

In 2021 Bar Council joined the Disability Business Forum. Our membership enables us to access advice on a very wide range of disabilities. If you or chambers need advice on a specific disability, please contact [email protected].

Disability events

Watch recordings of our previous Disability inclusion webinars:

• Past events

Past events

Disability inclusion: Neurodiversity at the Bar (recording)

An online event designed to guide chambers professionals and pupil supervisors to make adjustments for neurodiverse pupils' and colleagues' practice.

Disability Inclusion: Making reasonable adjustments in recruitment and onboarding

Setting out good practice in making reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities.

Disability Inclusion: Quick Wins and Easy Steps

Watch the recording of this practical session sharing useful ideas, tools and resources to help chambers and barristers acquire greater competence in supporting people with disabilities and understand accreditation requirements.

 

Blogs