Bar Council launches 6th and largest Social Mobility Foundation Bar Placement Week

8 July 2013

The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, today launches the sixth, and largest, Social Mobility Foundation Bar Placement Week in London, and is set to launch the first ever regional Placement Week in Birmingham on Monday 15 July, in partnership with Aim Higher West Midlands.

This year, 74 students from state schools in London, and 12 from state schools in Birmingham, will visit local barristers' chambers where they will shadow a practising barrister in their work, as well as accompany them to court.  

The Bar Placement Week offers academically gifted students from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to experience a career in law.

Maura McGowan QC, Chairman of the Bar, said:

"The Bar Placement Week is a fantastic opportunity for the selected students to experience life at the Bar and to understand the working day of a barrister. It should be a challenging week, and will hopefully encourage the students to continue pushing hard for academic success, regardless of whether or not they choose a career in law.

"The Bar Council is dedicated to improving social mobility within the profession, and the growth of the Bar Placement Week is testament to the value that it represents.

"I am delighted that we have now set up a Placement Week in Birmingham, and hope that we will be able to launch further regional programmes in years to come."

David Johnston, CEO, Social Mobility Foundation, said:

"The Bar Placement Week continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted to work with the Bar Council on this important initiative which has a significant impact on both the university and career aspirations of the participants." 

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525.

2. The Bar Council has been running the  Social Mobility Foundation Bar Placement Week for six years. Please visit our  website for more information.

3. The  Birmingham Bar Placement Week will run for the first time this year, and was set up by the Bar Council, in partnership with  Aim Higher West Midlands, who helped to identify suitable students in the region.

4. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes: 

• The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services

• Fair access to justice for all

• The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and

• The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad. 

The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.