Supporting chambers professionals, pupils and barristers
This online event guided chambers professionals and pupil supervisors to make adjustments for neurodivergent pupils' and colleagues' in practice.
Watch a recording of this event below
About the session
This free, online session was designed to help those supervising and supporting neurodivergent pupils and colleagues.
In the 2024 Bar Council Pupil Survey 1 in 5 pupils declared a disability. Disabled pupils were more likely to report that they were unhappy with their pupillage supervision and their pupillage experience, and that they felt unsupported by their chambers. This is reflected in calls to our Bar Council helplines - from both pupils and pupil supervisors, as well as chambers’ managers.
We know chambers want to get it right for their neurodivergent pupils, but we also know they may be struggling to understand how to make adjustments that work in practice.
Watch the recording
Aim of the event
- To help chambers, and those supervising pupils, support neurodivergent pupillage applicants, pupils, practitioners, and employees
Who should attend
- Heads of Pupillage, and members of pupillage
- Equality and Diversity Officers (EDOs)
- Those responsible for the recruitment, and onboarding, of barristers and staff
- Barristers with an interest in disability issues
- Barristers and students who are members of disability networks
Programme
17:30 - 17:35
Welcome and introduction
Mark Henderson, Chair of Disability Panel
17:35 - 18:05
Understanding and supporting neurodivergent candidates, pupils and colleagues
Expert speaker: Helen Eaton
18:05 - 18:25
Panel Q&A
Panel: Helen Eaton, Alice De Coverley, Oliver May
18:25 - 18:30
Thank you and conclusion
Speakers
Alice De Coverley, 3PB and Trustee of Neurodiversity in Law
Alice is an Education, Equality and Public Law Barrister at 3PB in London and Trustee of Neurodiversity in Law. As a barrister with ADHD, she is passionate about advancing the representation of all neurodivergent lawyers so that no mind is left behind at the Bar, the Bench and beyond. Alice recently won the Legal 500 ESG Award for Disability/Neurodiversity: Bar Champion of the Year.
Helen Eaton, Neurodiversity specialist
Helen Eaton is an engaging and enthusiastic Neurodiversity specialist with 20 years’ experience of designing and delivering leadership and communication skills training across IT, defence, retail and public sector organisations.
Helen’s work very much celebrates the strengths of neurodiversity, and the power and creativity of neurodivergent minds. She combines an understanding of neurodiverse teams and organisations with lived experience and relevant real-life stories.
Mark Henderson, Doughty Street Chambers
Mark Henderson is a member of Doughty Street Chambers since 1998, chairs its Disability Working Group, and is the Chair of the Bar Council’s Disability Panel.
He specialises in media, public, and human rights law. Clients have included the Leader of the Opposition and the Labour Party, and bereaved and survivors in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Test cases include winning settlement for thousands of Gurkha veterans. He is a former Legal Aid Barrister of the Year.
He sits on the RCJ Accessibility Steering Group, and was formerly on the BSB Disability Taskforce. Outside the Bar, he is Board Trustee and former Vice Chair of the Spinal Injuries Association.
Oliver May, No5 Chambers
Oliver May is a barrister at No5 Chambers, specialising in clinical negligence, personal injury, and inquests. Oliver was a founding member and former Chair of Neurodiversity in Law, a member of the BSB Race Equality Task Force, and the Bar Council’s Disability Panel.
Resources
Further reading from the Ethics Hub