Chambers “expected” to commit to race audits and ‘positive action’ – Legal Futures

‘Chambers should conduct race equality audits and, if necessary, introduce “positive action” to address the problems identified, as well as publish anti-racist statements, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) is set to say.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 27th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB publishes anti-racist statement – Bar Standards Board

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) last night agreed an anti-racist statement which aims to reduce race inequality at the Bar of England and Wales.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 27th November 2020

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Racism and Football – What are the possible solutions? – Church Court Chambers

Posted November 25th, 2020 in chambers articles, diversity, employment, equality, news, race discrimination, racism, sport by sally

‘This two-part series of articles written by Yasin Patel (barrister and director of SLAM) looks at the question of “racism in football”. The first article outlined the arguments as to why discrimination and racism is “alive and kicking” in the game and the many forms in which it is prevalent throughout the whole structure of the game.’

Full Story

Church Court Chambers, November 2020

Source: churchcourtchambers.co.uk

Legal Services Act a decade on: Much to celebrate but much to do – Legal Futures

Posted November 25th, 2020 in criminal justice, diversity, legal aid, legal services, Legal Services Board, news by sally

‘There is “much to celebrate” from the first decade of the Legal Services Act but the basic legal needs of many citizens are still not being met, the Legal Services Board (LSB) said today.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 25th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Report questions equality initiatives that “set women apart” – Legal Futures

Posted November 24th, 2020 in diversity, equality, law firms, news, reports, women by sally

‘Some of the measures used by law firms to tackle a lack of gender diversity in senior roles could be “ineffective or even counter-productive”, a report has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 24th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal justice system is ‘on its knees’, says top English lawyer – The Guardian

‘Crown court cases are being delayed until 2023, the innocent penalised more than the guilty, and the under-funded, criminal justice system brought “on its knees”, according to the chair of the Criminal Bar Association in England and Wales.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 19th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Barristers aim to end “shocking” lack of diversity on Western Circuit – Legal Futures

Posted November 20th, 2020 in barristers, Crown Court, diversity, equality, judiciary, news, statistics by sally

‘A group of barristers has launched a bid to end what they describe as a “shocking” lack of diversity on the Western Circuit, where none of the full-time circuit judges are from Black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 20th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

We need to talk about race: a mid-term report – Counsel

Posted November 19th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, minorities, news, race discrimination, racism by sally

‘Microaggressions in court and everyday racism: what white colleagues don’t have to put up with and a 10-step plan for improving diversity and inclusion. By Professor Leslie Thomas QC.’

Full Story

Counsel, November 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Met police told 40% of recruits must be from BAME backgrounds – The Guardian

‘Britain’s biggest police force must hire 40% of new recruits from ethnic minority backgrounds, while officers will have to justify stop and search to community panels under new plans designed to quell the race crisis engulfing Scotland Yard.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 13th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

UK supreme court could be left with only one female justice – The Guardian

Posted November 9th, 2020 in diversity, equality, gender, judiciary, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

‘Progress towards gender diversity on the UK’s highest court is in danger of being thrown into reverse, following the announcement that another female justice will retire shortly.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th November 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research lays bare Bar’s gender and ethnicity pay gap – Legal Futures

‘Female barristers and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are likely to earn less than male and White counterparts by every measure, new research has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 6th November 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2020 – 2025 launched – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary

Posted November 5th, 2020 in diversity, judiciary, press releases by tracey

‘The Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy has been published today (Thursday 5 November). It sets out the ambition, aim and objectives for the judiciary over the next five years.’

Full press release

Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, 5th November 2020

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Be yourselves, Black female QCs advise young barristers – Legal Futures

Posted October 28th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, race discrimination, racism, women by sally

‘Young barristers from ethnic minorities should not be afraid to be who they are – including maintaining their hair in its natural look – as they look to progress, pioneering QCs have advised.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 28th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Windrush report author attacks Home Office’s response – The Guardian

Posted October 15th, 2020 in citizenship, colonies, compensation, diversity, government departments, news, reports by tracey

‘The Home Office has failed to make adequate progress in reviewing its hostile environment policies and must swiftly prove that it is not merely paying “lip service” to the idea of reform, the author of a damning report into the Windrush scandal has told MPs.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

David Greene: Condemning lawyers for doing their jobs is inherently dangerous – The Guardian

‘The new president of the Law Society on why it’s crucial to defend the rule of law in these febrile times.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 14th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Bar Council: Positive action like ‘preferential briefing’ can aid diversity – Legal Futures

Posted October 7th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, pupillage, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘Positive action – such as giving female barristers preferential access to briefs after returning to chambers from career breaks – can bring about real change in addressing under-representation at the Bar, the Bar Council has said.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 7th October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court President Lord Reed wants more diversity in Supreme Court – BBC News

‘The new Supreme Court president says he hopes a justice from an ethnic minority background will be appointed before his retirement in six years’ time. Lord Reed said the lack of diversity among the 12 Supreme Court justices was a situation “which cannot be allowed to become shameful if it persists”.’

Full Story

BBC News, 5th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK barrister mistaken for defendant calls for compulsory anti-racism training – The Guardian

‘The barrister who was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day at court has called for compulsory anti-racism training at every level of the UK legal system.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dozens of Asian lawyers say they have been mistaken for defendants – The Guardian

‘More than 20 Asian lawyers have come forward to say they have been mistaken for defendants in court, in the same week that the black barrister Alexandra Wilson said the same had happened to her three times in a day.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 25th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Investigation launched after black barrister mistaken for defendant – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 24th, 2020 in barristers, courts, diversity, HM Courts Service, minorities, news by sally

‘The chief executive of HM Courts & Tribunals Service has begun an urgent investigation into how a black barrister was repeatedly mistaken for a defendant in court yesterday.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 24th September 2020

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk