Barristers w Lived Experience of Mental Illness

We are a group of current and aspiring barristers, all of whom are practising or will practise with lived experience of mental illness. Our names and brief descriptions of our practices are below.

We have seen and welcome the beginning of discussions about wellbeing at the bar, but are clear that current and aspiring barristers with lived experience of mental illness still face real barriers even to discussing their experiences.

As such, we are setting up a network – BLEMI – ‘Barristers with Lived Experience of Mental Illness’. This will begin as a chance to meet others with lived experience, in a confidential setting. We will decide together on next steps, which could include awareness raising, events for members, or outward facing events for the bar and wider society.

We are fundraising for basic start-up costs to get the network off the ground. Please do support us if you can and, regardless, spread the word about the new network.

If you are interested in joining us, feel free to email any of our current members on a confidential basis.

Current members:

• Steve Broach, a public law barrister at 39 Essex Chambers with a particular interest in disability and children’s rights issues.
• Rebecca Griffiths, a crime and regulatory law barrister at Apex Chambers in Cardiff.
• Alice Irving, a housing and public law barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, with a particular interest in disability rights issues.
• Tommy Seagull, an incoming pupil barrister at Garden Court Chambers.