Head of Equality & Diversity
The Bar Council represents and supports 18,000 barristers across England and Wales, advocating for justice and ensuring the profession upholds the rule of law. They lead initiatives that foster a strong, independent, and inclusive legal community.
Sam Mercer, the Head of Equality & Diversity at the Bar Council, plays a key role in improving workplace culture within the profession. To help address sensitive issues like bullying and harassment, Sam’s team turned to Spot. Spot’s customizable, anonymous incident reporting platform has become an essential tool in the Bar Council’s mission to support barristers and improve the legal profession.
Before Spot, the Bar Council used a helpline for barristers to report any issues they were facing at work. Because of fear of repercussions, there was concern some barristers might fear using this helpline. So they set out to find a tool that would encourage reporting. As they openly state, “No one should be made to feel uncomfortable at work because of inappropriate behavior and the Bar Council is committed to tackling this problem.” They needed a safe, anonymous way for barristers to report incidents and, in 2018, they found Spot.
Spot’s customizable features have empowered the Bar Council to adapt the platform to fit the unique needs of barristers. They leveraged this flexibility to create dedicated channels, such as one for health and safety concerns during COVID-19, and more recently to encourage anonymous submissions to an ongoing independent review into bullying & harassment. They also tailored the platform’s language and structure to their specific legal environment.
Sam and her team are committed to a supportive and inclusive culture for barristers. They’re not afraid to speak up and work tirelessly to shape a more inclusive future for the profession. Spot has played a crucial role in this mission, providing a steady flow of insights that inform strategic interventions:
Thanks to Spot, Sam can design specialized training programs to tackle issues such as harassment or inadequate communications, and provide barristers with the resources they need. This ensures a progressive and resilient environment.
The Bar Council is a representative body. Most reports they receive via Spot are used to gain insights into the workplace environment and address day-to-day concerns. Occasionally, reports require further investigation and intervention, including transfer to the regulator—with the permission of the reporter—which can investigate and sanction barristers. For Sam Mercer and her team, Spot has proven critical in documenting these more serious cases, providing a reliable framework for handling problematic behavior when necessary.
Spot's detailed records play a critical role in these escalated cases. From the start, the intake process guides reporters to document issues with precision, resulting in thorough initial reports that can be used later to support timely, comprehensive investigations by others. As Sam explains:
The ability to keep a comprehensive, cumulative record supports the Bar Council and others in effectively addressing serious incidents, while safeguarding both individuals and the profession.
Spot has proven to be a game-changer in tackling workplace challenges and improving the well-being of barristers.
By providing a secure, anonymous space for reporting, Spot has made it easier for barristers to speak up. The platform's flexibility enables the Bar Council to adapt it to the profession’s unique needs, from customizing interview flows to supporting serious cases with confidence.
With Spot, the Bar Council continues to build a more inclusive legal community, reinforcing its commitment to justice and integrity.
