This panel explores how everyday professional behaviour by barristers — in court, around court, and towards each other — shapes culture at the Bar. Drawing on the Kindness at the Bar report, the discussion focuses on positive standards, judicial expectations, and practical guidance, rather than misconduct alone.
Event details
Location: In-person
Date and registration time: Monday 16 February, 5.30pm, Benchers’ Entrance
Who can attend: Bar Course Students and TQLS
Dress Code: Casual
Cost:
- Students (Gray’s Inn student members only) and barristers within 3 years of Call: £8
How to book
Book online via the Gray’s Inn Online System (GIOS).
Qualifying Session
Qualifying Session (QS): 1 QS
Theme: Ethics, Standards and Value
Learning aims:
1. Understand the key findings of the Bar Council’s research into behaviour at the Bar, including the prevalence, forms, and impact of unkind, disrespectful, or inappropriate conduct across different practice areas and career stages.
2. Recognise how culture, power dynamics, and working practices within the profession can contribute to poor standards of behaviour, including where conduct falls short of expected professional values without necessarily crossing formal regulatory thresholds.
3. Reflect critically on the relationship between kindness, respect, and professional standards, and why these are not “soft” concepts but integral to ethical practice, effective advocacy, and public confidence in the profession.
4. Identify practical steps that individuals, chambers, and institutions can take to promote a more respectful professional culture, including how to challenge unacceptable behaviour, support those affected, and model positive standards in everyday practice.
This QS relates to the following elements of the Professional Statement for Barristers:
1.1, 1.3, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10, 1.16, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1
Preparation required: Yes
To be awarded the QS for this event you are required to join the event on time and stay for the full duration of the event. Please enter your full name when joining the event so that we can record attendance and update the QS records accordingly. This can take up to two weeks.
Please see Qualifying Sessions for further information.