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

Law firms adopt diversity initiatives “because they are fashionable” – Legal Futures

Posted September 25th, 2023 in diversity, law firms, news by tracey

‘Law firms often adopt diversity initiatives “because they are fashionable, not because they work”, an academic and diversity specialist has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 25th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Council announces new contextual recruitment tool to boost social mobility at the Bar – The Bar Council

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

‘The Bar Council is boosting its commitment to social mobility at the Bar with the introduction of a contextual recruitment tool to the Pupillage Gateway system from 2024/25. The announcement was made in a speech on the future of the Bar by Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales, last night (Wednesday 13 September). Contextual recruitment tools look at the context in which students receive their grades, so that recruiters can identify candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds who outperformed their immediate peers and who can demonstrate the qualities needed to succeed at the Bar, but who might otherwise be missed in a recruitment process.’

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The Bar Council, 14th September 2023

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

DPP Speech to the Bar Council, 9 September 2023 – Crown Prosecution Service

‘DPP Speech to the Bar Council, 9 September 2023.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 9th September 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

South Asian Heritage Month 2023: HHJ Usha Karu shares her story – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted August 21st, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, judges, news by tracey

‘Today marks the end of South Asian Heritage Month, an annual celebration which commemorates South Asian cultures, histories and communities. It began in 2020 and runs from 18 July to 17 August each year. We spoke to HHJ Usha Karu about her background and journey into law.’

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Courts and Tribunals Judiciary , 17th August 2023

Source: www.judiciary.uk

What makes a responsible chambers? – Counsel Magazine

Posted August 10th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, environmental protection, equality, news by tracey

‘Know where to start on ESG? Rachel Holmes – CEO of the chambers named “Responsible Business of the Year 2023” – shares its blueprint.’

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Counsel Magazine, August 2023

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

City practice is first law firm to obtain ISO diversity certification – Legal Futures

Posted July 21st, 2023 in diversity, equality, law firms, news by tracey

‘City firm CMS UK has become the first law firm to be awarded the new ISO 30415 diversity and inclusion certification.’

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Legal Futures, 20th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal profession “five years behind the curve” on diversity – Legal Futures

Posted July 18th, 2023 in diversity, legal profession, Legal Services Board, news by tracey

‘The legal profession is “five years behind the curve” on diversity and inclusion and has “only in recent times” appreciated just how unequal access is, the chief executive of the Legal Services Board (LSB) said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 18th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law firms urged to ‘focus on what really works’ to tackle gender inequality – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2023 in diversity, equality, gender, law firms, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by tracey

‘Law firms have been urged to focus on what actually works when it comes to tackling gender inequality, after a survey found most female legal professionals believe measures adopted by their organisations to be ineffective.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 14th July 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Proportion of Black judges remains at 1% – Legal Futures

Posted July 14th, 2023 in diversity, equality, judiciary, news, statistics by sally

‘The proportion of Black judges in the courts and tribunals of England and Wales has remained at 1%, the same as nine years ago, while the proportion of Asian judges doubled in the same period from 3% to 6%, according to the latest judicial diversity report from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).’

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Legal Futures, 14th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Barrister’s experiment finds chambers value academics over experience – Legal Futures

Posted July 4th, 2023 in barristers, diversity, education, examinations, news, pupillage, recruitment by sally

‘The results of a practising barrister’s experiment of applying for pupillage in a different area of law indicates that a lack of academic achievement remains a huge barrier even then.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Josie Welsh: The Power of a (Lord) Chief Justice – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 3rd, 2023 in constitutional law, diversity, judges, judiciary, news, women by tracey

‘From 1 October 2023, England and Wales will have its first female Lord Chief Justice (“LCJ”), with the recent news that His Majesty The King was “pleased to approve” Dame Sue Carr’s appointment to the office. Her appointment follows the announcement of the retirement of current Lord Chief Justice The Rt Hon. Lord Burnett at the end of September. In light of the news of change to England and Wales’ highest judicial office, questions will inevitably be asked about the role and its power within the judiciary and in the constitution as a whole. With this in mind, I want to make some initial observations about the role of the LCJ, noting that we may not necessarily understand the nature of LCJ power simply by reading relevant statutory provisions, since the power of the LCJ is partly a function of the role and partly of the character, personality and skills of the individual holding it. What this suggests is that the change in office-holder may prove to be more significant than it appears at first.’

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UK Constitutional Law Association, 3rd July 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Carr to be first female lord chief justice – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 16th, 2023 in diversity, judges, news, women by tracey

‘Dame Sue Carr has been picked as the next lord chief justice of England and Wales, HM Judiciary announced this afternoon. She will take up the post on 1 October following the retirement of The Rt Hon. the Lord Burnett of Maldon on 30 September. Carr will be the first woman in the post. It is understood that the other short-listed applicant was also a woman, Dame Victoria Sharp.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 15th June 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Why The Magistrates Courts Aren’t Working – Each Other

Posted May 23rd, 2023 in courts, criminal justice, diversity, magistrates, news by sally

‘In 2022, the Criminal Bar Association voted to undertake industrial action, bringing the dire state of much of the criminal justice system into the public eye. Following successive cuts by the government, among the issues were unusable court buildings, including broken toilets, leaking ceilings and malfunctioning heating systems, and the dismal remuneration received by barristers – barristers who are tasked with working on the most serious cases across the Crown Courts.’

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Each Other, 19th May 2023

Source: eachother.org.uk

Profession paying “lip service” to diversity, LSB told – Legal Futures

Posted May 18th, 2023 in diversity, legal profession, Legal Services Board, news, reports by sally

‘The legal profession pays only “lip service” to diversity and “there is a lack of action or appetite to pursue meaningful change”, a report for the Legal Services Board (LSB) has suggested.’

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Legal Futures, 17th May 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Thousands more can apply to become judges under plans to expand diversity – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 12th, 2023 in diversity, judiciary, legal profession, Ministry of Justice, news by tracey

‘New rules will see up to 4,500 more lawyers from diverse backgrounds eligible to become judges under plans announced by the government today (11 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 11th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Employers must review progress on race and ethnicity commitments – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 12th, 2023 in diversity, employment, equality, news by sally

‘Employers across the UK must ensure that the focus on improving racial equality in their workforces does not wane.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Law Commission widens planned discrimination ban in arbitration – Legal Futures

Posted March 30th, 2023 in arbitration, consultations, diversity, Law Commission, news, sex discrimination by sally

‘The Law Commission has suggested widening its proposed ban on discrimination in arbitration from the appointment of arbitrators to the conduct of the arbitration generally.’

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Legal Futures, 30th March 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Review pilot ‘will disproportionately affect black barristers’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 23rd, 2023 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pilot schemes by tracey

‘Black barristers will be disproportionately affected by negative reviews posted on digital comparison platforms, the Bar Standards Board has been told. An event organised by the Black Barristers Network also highlighted the potential limits to what barristers can say publicly in response to negative feedback – a problem that equally applies to law firms and individual solicitors.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 22nd March 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Taking the neurological lead: Professor Jo Delahunty KC – Counsel

Posted March 20th, 2023 in barristers, bullying, diversity, equality, mental health, news by tracey

‘Being neurodivergent is something of which to be unashamedly proud and offers the Bar an extraordinary skill set. Professor Jo Delahunty KC, the silk well known for challenging the status quo, tackles the preconceptions of what it takes to be a barrister in an interview with Charlotte Plowman.’

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Counsel, 13th March 2023

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk