Aspiring barristers from underrepresented groups supported by Bridging the Bar 2024 Outreach Programme – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted December 16th, 2024 in barristers, courts, diversity, equality, news by tracey

‘In November 2024, 17 aspiring barristers from underrepresented groups participated in a five-day paid internship at the High Court and Court of Appeal.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 12th December 2024

Source: www.judiciary.uk

Employment law silks clash over impact of BSB equality duty – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news, standards by tracey

‘Two leading employment law silks have clashed over the new, proactive equality duty proposed by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Council refused permission for appeal of tribunal order requiring it to publish redacted report – Local Government Lawyer

‘Havering Council has been refused permission to appeal a First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber) order that it publish a historic self-assessment peer review submitted as part of the Local Government Association’s Race Equality, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion (READI) review.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 28th October 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

“Disruptive action” may be needed to improve diversity, LSB warns – Legal Futures

‘Bullying and harassment is not limited to the Bar and “disruptive action” may be needed to create a “fair, healthy, diverse and inclusive legal profession”, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 15th October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Gap between EDI policy and practice at law firms and in-house – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2024 in diversity, equality, law firms, news, reports by tracey

‘There remains a gap between policy and practice when it comes to diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) at both law firms and in-house legal departments, according to new research.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd October 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New equality duty will not impact cab-rank rule, says BSB chief – Legal Futures

Posted September 27th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) controversial proposal for new equality rules will not affect the cab-rank rule and will not lead to quotas, its director general said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 27th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Former justice minister urges opposition to planned BSB equality duty – Legal Futures

Posted September 26th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘Former justice minister Lord Wolfson KC has joined the voices opposing the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) plan to impose a new positive duty on barristers to act in a way that “advances” equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).’

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Legal Futures, 26th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Met Police officer committed ‘gross misconduct’ when holding Taser to Black boy’s neck – The Independent

‘A Metropolitan Police officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct after holding a Taser against a 16-year-old Black boy’s neck, the police watchdog has said.’

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The Independent, 23rd September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

New BSB duty “would require barristers to become social engineers” – Legal Futures

Posted September 11th, 2024 in barristers, consultations, diversity, equality, freedom of expression, news by tracey

‘More high-profile figures have expressed their concern at the Bar Standards Board’s plan to impose a new positive duty on barristers to act in a way that “advances” equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).’

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Legal Futures, 11th September 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Grenfell families criticise report for ignoring impact on diverse communities – The Guardian

‘Grenfell families have criticised the final inquiry report on the disaster for failing to fully address the disproportionate impact the tragedy had on diverse and marginalised communities.’

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The Guardian, 5th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Standards Board consults on revised proposals to promote equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 4th, 2024 in barristers, codes of practice, consultations, diversity, equality, news by tracey

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today launched a public consultation on new rules to promote equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar. Despite improvements in diversity in recent years, there remain significant challenges for the Bar in promoting access to the profession, in retaining qualified practitioners and in addressing bullying, discrimination and harassment. The regulator is therefore asking for a further step change in the profession’s approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.’

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Bar Standards Board, 3rd September 2024

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

EDI initiatives not “shifting the law’s systemic inequalities” – Legal Futures

Posted August 22nd, 2024 in diversity, equality, legal profession, news, reports by sally

‘There are multiple factors behind the failure of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives to “shift the systemic inequalities that are entrenched” across the legal profession, a report for the Legal Services Board (LSB) has found.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barristers should have duty to “actively promote anti-discrimination” – Legal Futures

Posted August 19th, 2024 in barristers, bullying, diversity, equality, harassment, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘Barristers should be under a professional duty to actively promote anti-discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, it has been suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 19th August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Being a solicitor or ethnic minority halves odds of becoming a judge – Legal Futures

‘Being a solicitor or from an ethnic minority more than halves the odds of successfully applying for the bench compared to white barristers, the latest figures on judicial diversity have revealed.’

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Legal Futures, 12th July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Analysing class at the Bar – Counsel

Posted June 27th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by sally

‘If we can understand class at the Bar more accurately, we will be more effective when analysing – and combatting – classism, says Alex Benn.’

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Counsel, June 2024

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Inequity and distrust: imagining the anti-racist law school – The Law Teacher

Posted June 27th, 2024 in diversity, equality, legal education, news, universities by sally

‘Research on the experience of Black law students is hampered by a lack of trust in the legal academy by people of colour. Staff and students of colour have put emotional energy into responding to universities’ requests for feedback only for their views to be misrepresented or ignored; leading to an intergenerational distrust and therefore disengagement. This makes it difficult for law teachers to gain insight into how to decolonise the experiences of their students, leading to clumsy attempts that fail to recognise the vulnerability we demand of students. We give our law students assessments that require them to open themselves up to being judged, often including reflective exercises that reward students who expose their authentic (White) selves. We expect students to trust our assessment practices, despite there still being a considerable Black awarding gap. Black students are the least likely group to submit work – the response of law schools is to encourage Black students to submit, without addressing the underlying lack of trust. This deficit approach is inappropriate. It is our responsibility as legal educators to build trust and maintain it. This paper concludes by imagining an anti-racist law school, that deserves the trust of its Black students.’

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The Law Teacher, 10th June 2024

Source: www.tandfonline.com

AI drafting in job ads: human oversight essential to ensure social mobility inclusion – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 25th, 2024 in advertising, artificial intelligence, diversity, drafting, news, recruitment by tracey

‘Human resources professionals, recruiters and business leaders should be aware of the crucial role language in job advertisements can play in attracting a diverse pool of applicants, and that while artificial intelligence (AI) can expedite the drafting process, human oversight remains essential.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th June 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Let us lead on equality, Bar Council chair tells BSB – Legal Futures

Posted June 25th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news by tracey

‘The chairman of the Bar Council has urged the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to let it lead work on improving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the profession.’

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Legal Futures, 25th June 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Carr urges KCs to give juniors oral advocacy opportunities – Legal Futures

Posted June 10th, 2024 in advocacy, barristers, diversity, judges, judiciary, news, professional conduct by tracey

‘The Lady Chief Justice has urged senior barristers to give their junior counsel chances to speak in court, both for their own development and the future diversity of the judiciary.’

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Legal Futures, 10th June 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ethnicity attainment gap evidence should be ‘wake up call’ for the sector – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 4th, 2024 in diversity, legal education, minorities, news, racism, reports, solicitors by tracey

‘Students from minority groups have often experienced racism and teachers’ low expectations of their capabilities. They do not see themselves reflected in the staff teaching at law schools and universities. Their learning is affected by microaggressions and bias in the classroom. With their confidence and self-belief knocked, they find it harder than white students to get legal work or paid training – not helped by recruitment processes that focus on exam results without looking at the story behind the grades.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 4th June 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk