Trans Inclusion Statement

The Bar Council is committed to promoting and respecting equality, diversity and inclusivity at the Bar. It is important to recognise that some people are transgender and that not everyone feels that their gender can be defined within the margins of gender binary.  

The Bar Council supports:

• Trans, non-binary, and gender fluid barristers
• Trans, non-binary, and gender fluid students who aspire to join the Bar
• Chambers and employers that seek to support, promote and protect trans, non-binary, and gender fluid pupils, tenants and employees. 

Both the Equality Act 2010 and the Bar Code of Conduct protect individuals from being harassed or victimised because of gender reassignment, sexual orientation and sex, amongst other protected characteristics.  

The Bar Council encourages all chambers to:

• Ensure that they consider the treatment of trans, non-binary, or gender fluid barristers and employees in their:
  • policies relating to equality, diversity and inclusion;
  • policies relating to bullying, harassment and victimisation; and
  • training on such issues.
• Have confidential and supportive ways of reporting any experiences of discrimination, bullying, harassment or victimisation of trans, non-binary or gender fluid barristers and employees. The Bar Council also offers resources to help with reporting and addressing these issues, including an anonymous hotline and reporting bullying tool, Talk to Spot.
• Seek to ensure that trans, non-binary, and gender fluid issues affecting chambers are addressed with respect.
• Ensure discussions about trans rights and gender critical rights within chambers are carried out in a respectful manner at all times. 

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.