Students think they need connections to progress legal career – Legal Futures

Posted February 28th, 2024 in diversity, equality, law firms, mental health, news, solicitors, statistics, universities by sally

‘A significant number of students think nepotism and connections are important to progress in the law, according to research which found that this did indeed help some get jobs.’

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Legal Futures, 28th February 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

News focus: How well are neurodiverse people supported in the profession? – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 27th, 2024 in autism, disabled persons, diversity, legal profession, news by tracey

‘As volunteer group Neurodiversikey launches a survey to find out how much support neurodiverse people in the law receive, three legal figures recount the anxiety of training and trying to fit in.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 27th February 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Pupillage offers hit new record, exceeding pre-pandemic levels – The Bar Council

Posted February 26th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, news, pupillage, statistics by tracey

‘The number of pupillages offered has hit a new record — exceeding pre-pandemic levels, the Bar Council’s new Pupillage Gateway report published today has shown.’

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The Bar Council, 22nd February 2024

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Black women at the Bar: challenges faced and a fairer future – Counsel

‘Bibi Badejo reports from a packed Inns of Court Women’s Alliance event examining the experiences of Black women barristers and imparting crucial advice for Black women navigating the legal profession.’

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Counsel, 19th February 2024

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Women now make up 40% of Bar as diversity trends continue – Legal Futures

Posted January 29th, 2024 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, statistics, women by sally

‘Long-term trends of improving diversity at the Bar continued last year, with women now making up just over 40% of barristers, Bar Standards Board (BSB) figures have shown.’

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Legal Futures, 29th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Deferring point of call will damage diversity and inns, says top KC – Legal Futures

Posted January 23rd, 2024 in barristers, diversity, inns of court, news, pupillage by tracey

‘Delaying the point at which barristers are called to the Bar until after obtaining pupillage risks reducing the diversity and strength of the profession, a former Bar Council chair has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 23rd January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

UK tribunal decision ‘offers comfort’ to employers addressing underrepresentation – OUT-LAW.com

Posted January 16th, 2024 in diversity, employment, employment tribunals, news by tracey

‘A recent employment tribunal decision offers reassurance to employers that are taking steps to improve diversity, provided that care is taken in how they go about it, an employment law expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th January 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

SRA issues first fixed penalty fine for compliance officer rule breach – Legal Futures

‘A law firm in the North-East has become the first to receive a fixed penalty fine for not updating the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on information about a compliance officer.’

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Legal Futures, 12th January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

SRA issues first fixed penalty fine for diversity data failure – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has handed out the first fixed penalty fine for a law firm’s failure to submit its workforce diversity data within the deadline.’

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Legal Futures, 3rd January 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anti-bullying training “should be compulsory for barristers” – Legal Futures

‘Training to prevent bullying and harassment should be compulsory for barristers, the leader of gender equality group Behind the Gown has said.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Deferring point of call for barristers “could improve social mobility” – Legal Futures

Posted December 15th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pupillage by tracey

‘Delaying the point at which barristers are called to the Bar until after obtaining pupillage could improve social mobility if it cuts the number of overseas students and “less able domestic students” in the system, the chair of the Bar Council has said.’

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Legal Futures, 15th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rastafarian soldier wins racism case against Army – BBC News

‘One of the British Army’s first Rastafarian guardsmen has won a claim of race discrimination and harassment against the Ministry of Defence.’

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BBC News, 13th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

SRA admits it has “a long way to go” on diversity – Legal Futures

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) still has “a long way to go” on diversity, its chief executive has said – although its gender and ethnicity pay gaps are shrinking.’

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Legal Futures, 13th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lincoln’s Inn looks to tackle “unacceptable” bullying and harassment – Legal Futures

Posted December 8th, 2023 in barristers, bullying, diversity, equality, harassment, inns of court, news, statistics by michael

‘The historic body has put in place an interim action plan to address the issue, including diversity and inclusion training and an anonymised reporting mechanism.’

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Legal Futures, 7th December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Nearly half of Bar students now from ethnic minority backgrounds – Legal Futures

Posted December 1st, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal education, news, pupillage, statistics by tracey

‘Nearly half of UK students on the Bar training course are now from ethnic minority backgrounds, compared to a quarter a decade ago, according to new figures.’

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Legal Futures, 1st December 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘True equality alongside excellence’: Jason Pitter KC – Counsel

Posted November 20th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, race discrimination, racism by tracey

‘The North Eastern Circuit Leader on his trailblazing career, turbulent early years of practice and his mission to equip all barristers, regardless of their characteristics, with the opportunity to thrive. Interview by Glenn Parsons.’

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Counsel, 13th November 2023

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Men start earning more than women at the Bar from day one – Legal Futures

Posted November 2nd, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, remuneration, sex discrimination, statistics, women by sally

‘Earnings diverge between male and female barristers in every practice area from the start of their careers – when the differential is 17% – and peak at 11-15 years’ call, new research has found.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd November 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Dame Sue Carr becomes Lady Chief Justice – The Independent

Posted October 2nd, 2023 in diversity, judges, judiciary, news, women by sally

‘Dame Sue Carr has become the Lady Chief Justice, the first woman to hold the title of the most senior judge in England and Wales.’

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The Independent, 2nd October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

UK regulators’ diversity plans for finance industry – OUT-LAW.com

‘Plans by the UK’s two financial regulators to consider non-financial misconduct such as sexual harassment as grounds for regulatory action could pose difficult questions for firms, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 28th September 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Speech by Rupika Madhura BSB Director of Standards (Interim) at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum on 20 September 2023 – Bar Standards Board

Posted September 28th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, speeches by tracey

‘Topic: The role of regulation in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal sector – regulatory requirements and priorities, initiatives and next steps, sector responsibilities, and future areas of focus.’

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Bar Standards Board, 26th September 2023

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk