A women's rights barrister has criticised the Bar Standards Board for failing to take action against colleagues who subjected her to foul-mouthed abuse on social media. Dr Charlotte Proudman, a family law specialist focusing on violence against women, reported more than 50 barristers—mostly men—to the regulator over a series of public messages she says are attempts to silence her.
The tweets, seen by The Independent, included terms such as 'c***t', 'w*****', 'narcissist', and 'dreadful', as well as accusations of idiocy and mental illness. Dr Proudman, 35, said the abuse has had a 'profound effect' on her emotional wellbeing, making her fearful of attending networking events, court, or social situations where she might encounter the perpetrators.
In a letter to Dr Proudman, the Bar Standards Board acknowledged the tweets were 'unpleasant and inflammatory' but concluded they did not meet the threshold for regulatory action. Dr Proudman said she felt 'deeply let down' and accused the board of being 'complicit in the abuse' by giving barristers a 'carte blanche licence to carry on'.
She added that the inaction sends a signal that misogyny, sexism, and bullying against women are not taken seriously at the bar. A spokesperson for the Bar Standards Board declined to comment.
