In recent years, global events including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, the cost-of-living crisis, and the rollback of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) measures in the United States have reshaped the EDI landscape. These events have influenced both the priorities and the practice of EDI work.
Within the legal sector specifically, there have been significant publications, notably the Bar Council’s Race at the Bar: Three Years On report (2024) and the Independent Review of Bullying and Harassment at the Bar (2025).
In response, addressing bullying and harassment at the Bar has become a key focus for the Inn in 2026. In June 2024, the Bar Council commissioned an independent review chaired by Baroness Harriet Harman KC into the extent of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the Bar. In September 2025, the Bar Council published Baroness Harman’s report. It made 36 recommendations and identified the organisations responsible for taking them forward, including the Inns of Court. The Inns have been working together to respond and begin taking forward the recommendations. A working group was established between the Inns, the Bar Council and the Council of the Inns of Court (COIC) to engage with this. Early outcomes include drafting a joint Code of Conduct and updating the Inns’ joint Anti-Harassment Policy.
Following the publication of the Baroness Harman report, the Inns of Court Alliance for Women (ICAW) held a panel event at Middle Temple to discuss ‘Bullying at the Bar – A Diminishing or Endemic Problem?’, coinciding with Women’s History Month 2026.
The Inn’s Forums are continuing their work in other areas of the EDI sphere too. The Disability Forum held two events in 2025, including one on pride in practice and another on applying for pupillage. The Disability Forum are hosting two further events in 2026, including one with a focus on neurodiversity. The LGBTQ+ Forum held two events in 2025, including a welcome event for new students and their Annual Dinner, which will take place on Tuesday 3 November 2026.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Survive & Thrive programme. The programme offers practical guidance on building a sustainable career at the Bar. Recent sessions have covered topics such as generative AI, procrastination, financial literacy, and publishing.
The Talent Retention Working Group has also continued their work supporting Middle Temple barristers who are either returning from time out of practice or switching practice areas. Recent sessions have covered topics such as ‘modern barristers’ and having an agile career at the Bar.
Other work in the EDI sphere includes the continued rollout of unconscious and implicit bias training for student-facing members at the Inn, namely scholarship interviewers. The uptake and response to the training have been positive.
To further the Inn’s efforts to ensure its facilities, services, and resources are accessible to all, the Inn implemented an accessibility tool on the website at the end of 2025 to improve the website’s accessibility. The tool includes features such as voice navigation, talk & type, a screen reader, a reading mask, light/dark contrast capability, font size adjustment, line height adjustment, letter spacing, and reading guides.
The Inn recognises that there has been significant progress to date, but also that there is more work to be done and welcomes any comments or feedback relating to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion by contacting the Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator.
Laura Hacon was appointed Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator at Middle Temple in August 2023. She previously worked as a Social Impact Executive, specialising in the ‘S’ of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and before that, as an Initial Response Officer for a charity dedicated to supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents.
