To celebrate Disability History Month in December 2021 the Middle Temple Students’ Association (MTSA) curated an exhibition that highlighted disabled barristers and their work.
As one of our first projects as the new MTSA Committee, we found it extremely important to focus on the disabled community as they are a group that often do not receive the attention they deserve. This exhibition was the first of its kind within the Inns of Court and was aimed towards breaking away from the preconceived notions of what the Bar and its members look like.
Additionally, considering that the exhibition was launched just before we approached the pupillage application period, we hoped that the exhibition also provided timely inspiration for future barristers with disabilities to continue to strive for excellence by proving that their goals are achievable.
The exhibition showcased 10 barristers specialising in a wide range of areas including but not limited to family, animal protection, employment, defamation, professional negligence, human rights, discrimination, and property. These barristers were at very different stages of their legal journeys; ranging from those who are seeking pupillage to those appointed to the House of Lords. We also felt it important to ensure that the barristers showcased had both visible and non-visible disabilities to ensure that the exhibition was as inclusive and representative of the whole community as possible. The barristers on display were:
- John Horan
- Christina Warner
- Baroness Jane Campbell
- Dr Gregory Burke
- Courtney Step-Marsden
- Diego Soto-Miranda
- Faisel Sadiq
- Sarah Phillimore
- Daniel Holt
- Andrew Dakoutros
- Rebecca Hawkes-Reynolds
All barristers showcased were asked previously for their consent to be displayed. They also provided a brief biography highlighting their achievements, areas of work and type of disability if they were comfortable sharing.
This was an online exhibition posted on the MTSA blog and social media platforms. The exhibition opened on Friday 3 December 2021, in honour of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021 and is still accessible online.
As noted by Sarah Phillimore in her biography in the exhibition, we wanted the exhibition to remind the disabled community that ‘it is possible to have a fulfilling and enjoyable career, particularly so now when electronic bundles are the norm and the days of lugging six lever arch files around in wheely bags on the tube are long gone.’ Even beyond that, we wanted it to act as a catalyst for discussions about the work that needs to be done to ensure that the Bar becomes an environment that is equally accessible to all, whether their disabilities are visible or non-visible. Furthermore, we hoped that it would highlight that a key step towards becoming more inclusive is through speaking directly to disabled barristers to uncover exactly what they need, then making the necessary steps to accommodate such. The best way to learn and improve is through communication with each other!
The exhibition received overwhelming support on social media and from the legal community. It was mentioned in articles and used as a point of reference for discussions about how awareness of and insight into the disabled community and their place at the Bar should be carried out.
In recent months, Daniel Holt, the Diversity & Inclusion Officer MTYBA, has been working towards creating a Disability Forum, with the aim of promoting the needs of the disabled community, and making sure that the relevant changes are made. Hence, I am sure that the Disability Forum will bring the hopes of the exhibition to fruition.
Since this exhibition, the MTSA has strived to promote inclusivity at the Bar through events focusing on mental health, neurodiversity and even minority groups, for example, ‘A Night of Bharathanatyam’, which showcased South Asian culture through music, dance, and food. We hope to continue to push these boundaries of normalcy within the bar as the year processes by carrying on this work.
The exhibition can be accessed using the link below:
https://mtsa-diversity-equality.medium.com/mtsa-disability-history-month-exhibition-2021-5294feb43b
Leah Arthur is the Equality, Diversity and Social Mobility Officer for the Middle Temple Students’ Association (MTSA). She is a Benefactors Scholar and Blackstone Entrance Exhibitioner of the Middle Temple and was Called to the Bar in July 2022. She is currently pursuing a Masters in International Human Rights and International Arbitration at the University of Law.
