LGBTQ+ Society: Pride in Practice

In celebration of Pride Month, The Inner Temple was proud to host an event in June on behalf of the four Inns, the Bar Council and The Law Society, honouring the contributions and presence of LGBTQ+ members across the legal profession. It was a powerful moment of reflection, solidarity and shared commitment to ensuring the Bar is a place where all individuals can belong, thrive and be respected. As Chair of the Inn’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Sub-Committee, Master of our LGBTQ+ Society and as President of the Association of UK LGBTQ+ Judges (and as Recorder of Sheffield in my ‘day job’), I was delighted to welcome a full Hall of guests to this important inaugural event on behalf of the Treasurer, who could not be present.

I reflected on how very different times were when I was called to the Bar almost 45 years ago to the day. Then, it would have been unimaginable for an event of this kind to take place. Times have changed for the better, and we are fortunate to live in a country where such celebrations are possible, though we remain mindful that many in other parts of the world do not enjoy the same freedoms. This made the evening not only a joyful and vibrant occasion – indeed, I remarked that the Inn had not looked so colourful in years – but also a moment of pride and significance.

I had the pleasure of introducing Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar Council of England and Wales, followed by Ian Jeffery, Chief Executive of the Law Society, and His Honour Judge Edward Connell, a member of the Judicial Diversity Committee and a committee member in the LGBTQ+ Judges Association, to deliver addresses. As both a leader of the profession and a Bencher of the Inn, Master Mills brought warmth, clarity and purpose to her remarks, which reaffirmed the Bar’s collective responsibility to uphold justice, not just in our courts, but within our professional culture. At a time when the principles of equality and inclusion are facing renewed scrutiny and challenge, Master Mills’ remarks stand as a timely and necessary reminder of what it means for the Bar to be not only open to all but committed to the wellbeing and dignity of all its members.

His Honour Judge Jeremy Richardson KC
The Recorder of Sheffield
Chair of the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Sub-Committee
Master of the LGBTQ+ Society

PRIDE IN PRACTICE

Speech by Master Barbara Mills, Chair of the Bar, at the Pride in Practice Cross-Profession LGBTQ+ reception held on 26 June 2025, organised in collaboration with the Bar Council, Law Society and the Inns of Court.

I am so delighted to be here tonight, at my own Inn, celebrating Pride and the LGBTQ+ community in the legal profession.

We’re proud to be working with the Law Society, The Inner Temple, the other Inns and LGBTQ+ networks across the legal sector.

This is a very special event to mark Pride Month, and it is an opportunity to come together, to make friends and to reinforce our sense of community and support for each other. I’m also very much looking forward to the entertainment…

But I cannot miss this opportunity to share some thoughts on where we are today, on the importance of inclusion in the legal profession, and to restate that, as a profession committed to justice, we must ensure that our workplaces, courtrooms and institutions remain inclusive and respectful for everyone.

Across the globe, we are witnessing a period of significant challenge to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

At the Bar, we recognise that EDI is central to the integrity and effectiveness of our justice system. A diverse and inclusive legal profession is better equipped to serve the public, uphold the rights of all individuals and reflect the society it represents.

We are proud of the work being done by barristers, chambers and our institutions to promote inclusion, tackle discrimination and support underrepresented groups.

Efforts made by the judiciary, Law Society and Bar to widen access mean the diversity of those coming into the legal professions is better than ever. It is a source of great joy to me that young people now coming into chambers – and at the Employed Bar – can be open about their identities.

But we must also acknowledge that progress is uneven and that complacency is not an option.

Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Review

Successive results from our Barristers’ Working Lives surveys tell us that bullying and harassment have become an intractable problem for our profession. In our 2023 survey, 38 per cent of LGBTQ+ barristers had experienced bullying or harassment, compared with 28 per cent of straight barristers.

Bullying and harassment directly impact our collective work on equality, diversity and inclusion. I have said repeatedly that it’s not enough to attract and encourage people to the Bar from underrepresented groups; we must have the conditions in place so that those people can not only stay but truly thrive in our profession. Experiencing or witnessing bullying, harassment or discrimination is intrinsically linked to personal wellbeing, how we each feel about our role and our worth at the Bar.

The Harman review has just been published, which reports on bullying and harassment at the Bar. The review presents a great opportunity for us to finally shift the dial on unacceptable behaviours. How we collectively and individually respond to Harriet’s recommendations when they are published will set our course in tackling these issues for the next generation.

UK Supreme Court

I recognise it is important that I acknowledge the Supreme Court’s recent decision and recognise – as I do – that such judgments can have profound social implications.

I want to acknowledge genuine concerns raised by members of the profession and the wider public. It is essential that we engage with these issues thoughtfully, respectfully and with a commitment to the rule of law and human dignity.

I was in Brussels on Monday of this week at a reception to celebrate the Council of Europe’s Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

The Convention was adopted on 12 March 2025 and is the first international treaty creating specific obligations relating to the protection of lawyers and Bar associations. It opened for signature on 13 May 2025 and has had 17 signatures, including the United Kingdom. We were told that the Ministry of Justice is working at pace to ensure that it is ratified within a year.

The Convention’s stated purpose is “to strengthen the protection of the profession of lawyer and the right to practise this profession with independence and without discrimination, improper hindrance or interference, or being subjected to attacks, threats, harassment or intimidation.”

It covers a broad range of matters including:

• setting out the critical rights that lawyers must be able to exercise in their professional duties, including confidentiality and the right to meet with clients (including detained persons);
• demanding independent and objective standards for admission to the profession and disciplinary matters (Art 5, Art 8);
• requiring states to ensure that lawyers can do their work “without being the target of any form of physical attack, threat, harassment or intimidation; or any improper hindrance or interference” (Art 9).

At a time when many are rowing back from EDI, the Convention is a timely reminder of the reason the Bar Council remains as committed as it has ever been to promote equality and inclusion.

What is significant for the purposes of today is the fact that the role of Bar associations is expressly recognised in the Convention, which states that one of their responsibilities is “to promote the welfare of lawyers”. The explanatory notes elaborate on this:

“The role of promoting the welfare of lawyers falls within the competence of the professional associations, with Parties not hindering their action. This concerns the promotion of a better work-family balance and acting against sexual harassment and other disrespectful conduct on the part of lawyers themselves…”

At a time when many are rowing back from EDI, the Convention is a timely reminder of the reason the Bar Council remains as committed as it has ever been to promote equality and inclusion.

We will continue to support our LGBTQ+ colleagues and clients – as we will continue to support all those at the Bar – including those who have experienced vulnerabilities in terms of sex and race, to name just two of our protected characteristics.

The legal profession must be a place where difficult conversations can happen with integrity, compassion and a shared commitment to justice. It must be a place where everyone can thrive, be respected and contribute fully.

As the African proverb says: “Home is not where we live. Home is where we belong.”

The Bar Council will continue its focused attention and work to ensure that the Bar remains open to all and provides a safe and secure professional home to all who get here. We all belong here. Enjoy your evening.

Barbara Mills KC
Chair of the Bar