Is sexual harassment common for female barristers- any barristers able to advise?

[QueenSophia]

I'm currently studying law with a view to becoming a criminal barrister. I'm aware of news stories about sexual harassment at the Bar, and recently looked up the organisation Behind The Gown set up to tackle them, which had some rather worrying articles.

https://www.behindthegown.uk/blog/dujyebf2qqy1u83zx9jypzw6krf3a2

Are there any barristers here who could offer opinions on how bad the issue is? I'm not deterred, I definitely want to do this, but I also want to know what I might need to be prepared for.

The report on the Bar Council website was also concerning

https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/resource/independent-review-bullying-harassment-sexual-harassment-report.html?dm_i=4CGD,1RRRW,18389W,8C570,1

It’s the same as any other profession really. Some idiots who think they can do what they want and mainly decent men who’d be horrified. The issue, as with other sought after careers, is that the idiots often have a lot of power over newer entrants. They rely on their victims being too worried to complain.

Law, and particularly the bar, also has possibly more of the entitled male types.

It will only change when people speak up, and continue to speak up.

If you’re keen on crime, look at the CPS training program. The advantage is that you get experience, get to know people, and have the backing of a civil service HR department. You also get decent pay during training. You can always go private afterwards.

Female solicitor here. I’ve worked in a couple of different professions and I’m not sure that being a barrister is any worse than any other public facing role.

Have I been sexually harassed while undertaking my job? Yes. But it isn’t due to my job, it’s more to do with the people (men) who have access to me. I often work with people in certain professions (I.e. construction) who definitely have a lower opinion of women and I have also worked against men who have convictions for sexual offences. But, I’ve also worked with other professionals who you would expect to be able to behave themselves and have shown themselves to be cretins.

I was sexually harassed when I was working in retail, when I worked behind a bar and when I was working as a teacher. I would not say that the instances of harassment that I have received have increased or decreased since qualifying.

As blunt as this may sound, sexual harassment should not put you off becoming a barrister. The ability to stand up for yourself and push back against it, even when it’s your own client, will hold you in good stead.

@QueenSophiaMy DD is a London barrister and has not had any issues at all with sexual harassment. Although occasionally a bit of one upmanship in court from older barristers . DD is not criminal though, and unless you want to pay them for the privilege of working, criminal is not great financially.

There are very many female barristers and great camaraderie if you want it. I think the vast majority of men who don’t respect women are older and less prevalent than before. There definitely is still reported difficulty experienced by pupils and young barristers, but it’s not always men who are to blame! Neither is it necessarily an issue just faced by women.

The main issue for grads/diploma grads is getting pupilage. You might only get one offer and you will have done well to get that. You won’t be able to choose your pupil supervisors either. You might not end up being best fit for your set and let go. In general though, do as much as you can with bar school friends, network like mad at your Inn and don’t be outspoken as a pupil or junior. Leave the campaigning to others. Also if you want decent earnings, rethink criminal, but pupilage might well be easier to get in criminal.