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I applaud Mary Aspinall-Miles for lifting this veil of silence. Like her I have always welcomed and learned from constructive criticism.
However, early in my career representing a claimant in the Employment Tribunal I had the misfortune of coming across a particularly unpleasant part-time judge. I later learned from an EAT judgment that he has an aversion towards young female solicitors who he believes shouldn't be advocates. From the start he belittled and undermined me to such an extent that there were audible gasps from members of the public, the panel wing members had to intervene and, my opposing barrister privately expressed his concern and dismay. I wanted to file a complaint but my firm forbid me from doing so and my opposing barrister made it clear he would not support me publicly. There was a happy ending for my client as the wing members outvoted the judge and upheld her claim. However I was left feeling uneasy about allowing a bully to go unchallenged when I support my clients in confronting such unacceptable behaviour at work.