At Middle Temple, we are acutely aware that some people experience inappropriate behaviour, language, and harassment at the Bar. Of particular concern to any responsible institution are instances which indicate institutional, ingrained, improper attitudes and abuses of power. These require sustained action to address. There may also be singular instances of inappropriate behaviour or remarks, be they deliberate or inadvertent, that can be more easily resolved. Both, however, are important to address and must be taken seriously.
In our position as one of the four Inns of Court, the welfare of our students, members, and Benchers is of the utmost importance. We are responsible for setting a standard and ensuring it is upheld. Further details about the Inn’s stance on harassment can be found below.
Support Provided by the Inn
At Middle Temple, we are committed to tackling incidences of bullying and harassment of any kind. If you have experienced harassment, we encourage you to raise this with a member of Inn staff. You are welcome to speak to any member of Inn staff who can signpost you towards available support, or simply listen to you.
We have designated members of Inn staff who are trained to respond to these instances. You can contact the following:
- Fiona Healey-Hutchinson (Associate Director of Development and Communications) - f.healeyhutchinson@middletemple.org.uk
- Laura Hacon (Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator) – l.hacon@middletemple.org.uk
- Richard Frost (Outreach Officer) – r.frost@middletemple.org.uk
Whichever member of staff you choose to speak to, your concerns will be listened to, and appropriate action will be taken with your consent.
Available Resources
There are various other services available to you, including:
Talk to Spot is a secure online tool to support anyone working at and around the Bar to confidentially raise concerns about inappropriate and abusive behaviour.
The Wellbeing at the Bar hub has a range of resources and advice covering many topics including bullying and harassment.
The Bar Council offers a range of services which provide support on issues including bullying and harassment.
The Inns of Court Anti-Harassment Policy
The Inns have agreed a joint approach on how to deal with harassment – click here to see the Inns of Court Anti-Harassment Policy.
All members of Middle Temple are expected to behave in line with our Statement of Values.
We will not tolerate bullying and harassment. Unfortunately, we are aware that people do experience inappropriate behaviour and harassment of all forms, and we encourage members to seek support from the Inn.
Any feedback on the Inn’s approach to bullying and harassment is welcome and should be sent to our Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator, Laura Hacon via l.hacon@middletemple.org.uk.