Lady Hale: courts and judiciary should reflect diversity of UK – The Guardian

Posted February 16th, 2018 in diversity, judiciary, news by sally

‘The courts and judiciary should as far as possible reflect the full diversity of the UK population, the country’s most senior judge, Brenda Hale, has told the Guardian.’

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The Guardian, 15th February 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘I began my career as a single mum’: female QCs changing the face of law – The Guadian

Posted January 22nd, 2018 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘Just 32 women are among this year’s 119 new QCs, but they hope their success will inspire others.’

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The Guardian, 19th January 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Missed opportunities over Lammy Review: Bar Council responds on judicial diversity – The Bar Council

Posted December 20th, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, minorities, press releases, reports by tracey

‘Whilst encouraged by the Government’s response to many of the recommendations in the Lammy Review, the Bar Council today expressed disappointment that key opportunities to address diversity in the judiciary have been missed.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 19th December 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lammy review: MoJ rejects judicial diversity targets, cautious on choice of duty solicitor – Legal Futures

Posted December 20th, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, legal representation, minorities, news, solicitors by sally

‘The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has rejected the idea of diversity targets for the judiciary and magistracy in its response to the Lammy review of the treatment of black and minority ethnic (BAME) people in the criminal justice system.’

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Legal Futures, 19th December 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Three judges sue Ministry of Justice for race discrimination – The Guardian

‘Three judges from black and Asian backgrounds are suing the Ministry of Justice for race discrimination and victimisation, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘Race bias’ in justice system: Government to unveil action – BBC News

Posted December 19th, 2017 in criminal justice, diversity, equality, judiciary, news, racism, reports by sally

‘The justice secretary has pledged to implement a “key principle” of “change or explain” when racial discrimination is found in the justice system.’

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BBC News, 19th December 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme court vacancies lead to hopes for greater diversity – The Guardian

Posted December 14th, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The supreme court has advertised for several more justices in a recruitment process that could boost diversity on the UK’s highest court.’

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The Guardian, 14th December 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

New research published to help inform Future Bar Training decisions – Bar Standards Board

Posted December 11th, 2017 in barristers, diversity, legal education, news, pupillage, race discrimination, reports by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published two new pieces of research that are intended to provide a qualitative and quantitative evidence base to inform its current decision-making about the future training of barristers.’

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Bar Standards Board, 11th December 2017

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Grenfell Tower fire: Inquiry ‘needs a diverse panel’ – BBC News

Posted December 1st, 2017 in diversity, fire, health & safety, inquiries, news by tracey

‘The Grenfell Tower fire inquiry could become a whitewash unless there is a diverse panel to oversee proceedings, survivors and bereaved families say. They say chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick should sit with people from a range of backgrounds who understand the issues facing those affected by the blaze, in which 71 people died on 14 June.’

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BBC News, 1st December 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Law firm diversity “blocked by unconscious bias” – Legal Futures

Posted November 22nd, 2017 in bias, diversity, law firms, news, reports by sally

‘Unconscious bias in legal businesses is hampering their success, inhibiting a diverse and inclusive sector, and damaging the experience of women and minorities in the workplace, according to a report.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd November 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

The Bar has confounded critics and doomsayers for decades – The Bar Council

Posted November 6th, 2017 in barristers, diversity, legal profession, news, queen's counsel, speeches by tracey

‘The Bar has confounded decades of critics and doomsayers through fearlessness and competition for excellence, Chair of the Bar Andrew Langdon QC told the 32nd Annual Bar and Young Bar Conference today.’

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The Bar Council, 4th November 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Peers warn of low morale in judiciary and call for greater diversity – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, pensions, remuneration, select committees by tracey

‘The dilapidated state of some courts, a shortage of support staff and heavy administrative burdens are depressing the judiciary’s morale, a parliamentary report has warned.’

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

SRA: Men six times more likely to be partners than BAME women – Legal Futures

Posted November 1st, 2017 in diversity, minorities, news, partnerships, solicitors, statistics, women by sally

‘White male solicitors are almost six times more likely to become a partner than women from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background, research commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has concluded.’

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Legal Futures, 31st October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

HMCTS launches new consultation on flexible court hours pilots after heeding objections – Legal Futures

Posted October 30th, 2017 in consultations, courts, diversity, HM Courts Service, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has launched a new consultation on flexible operating hours pilots which accepts the possibility that extending the hours of courts, although desirable, might have to be abandoned altogether.’

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Legal Futures, 26th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Junior barristers “bearing the brunt” of pressure in criminal courts – Legal Futures

Posted October 17th, 2017 in barristers, case management, courts, criminal justice, diversity, news by tracey

‘ “Concerned words” about diversity and social mobility need to be turned into action through changes to the way the criminal courts operate if junior barristers are to be retained, the Criminal Bar Association has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 17th October 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar to consult on scrapping LGBT reporting restrictions – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Bar Standards Board is considering dropping a rule that allows one barrister to prevent an entire set from revealing the sexual orientation and religious beliefs of its members.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 6th October 2017

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Brenda Hale sworn in as first female president of UK’s supreme court – The Guardian

Posted October 3rd, 2017 in diversity, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Brenda Hale, the first female president of the supreme court, and Sir Ian Burnett, the youngest lord chief justice for 50 years, have been sworn in at the opening of the legal year.’

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The Guardian, 2nd October 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inns of Court accused of not doing enough to combat homophobia as research uncovers discrimination – Legal Futures

‘Many LGBT+ barristers believe the Inns of Court are not doing enough to combat homophobia at the Bar, according to a ground-breaking study which suggested that “homophobia is stronger at the Bar than in the general population”.’

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Legal Futures, 26th September 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lawyers seek judicial review against PM over Grenfell inquiry panel – The Guardian

Posted September 12th, 2017 in diversity, fire, inquiries, news by tracey

‘Emergency legal proceedings have been lodged against the prime minister in the high court over the lack of ethnic and religious diversity on the panel of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry, which begins on Thursday.’

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The Guardian, 12th September 2017

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council responds to Lammy Review – The Bar Council

Posted September 11th, 2017 in criminal justice, diversity, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, press releases, reports by tracey

‘Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity and Social Mobility Committee, said today’s publication of the Lammy Review was a major contribution to the important and urgent task of securing a fair and equal criminal justice system.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 8th September 2017

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk