An independent review into the Bar has found that bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct are widespread within the barristers’ profession, revealing a culture in which some individuals are perceived as “untouchable”, and where with junior barristers fear that raising concerns could amount to “career suicide”. Drawing on more than 170 submissions, the review documented accounts ranging from groping and intimidation to explicit sexual propositions and abuses of power, including an offer of training in exchange for sex. Experts responding to the findings stressed that preventing such types of misconduct requires proactive culture-building, credible reporting routes and clear expectations around workplace behaviour, particularly in environments where client entertainment, hierarchy and informal norms can heighten risk.
The review sets out 36 recommendations, including mandatory anti-harassment training, an independent complaints process and a ban on relationships between pupils and their supervisors. It coincided with new guidance from Close the Gap and Rape Crisis Scotland, which urges employers to recognise behavioural signs that may signal assault and to create environments that support disclosure(s). Commentators emphasised that policies alone will not shift entrenched cultures; meaningful progress requires leadership accountability, bystander empowerment, and visible consequences for misconduct. The Bar Council acknowledged the scale of the problem, describing the findings as “uncomfortable reading” for a profession expected to uphold justice.
