The call from the Lord Chancellor Elizabeth Truss MP this week at the Conservative Party Conference for more to be done to boost diversity in the legal profession and judiciary has been backed by Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC, Chairman of the Bar.
Doerries, the head of the Bar Council, is one of three women currently leading the barristers' profession alongside Louisa Nye, who leads the Young Barristers' Committee, and Lorinda Long, Treasurer of the Bar Council.
Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC said: "The Lord
Chancellor's decision to put diversity high on the agenda reflects
the Bar Council's priorities. We all want to see
greater career progression for women and BAME
lawyers and judges. The Bar and the judiciary need
to reflect society at large.
"At the Bar we have a number of initiatives already underway,
including several mentoring schemes. One of these is aimed at
supporting women and ethnic minority barristers seeking to become
QCs and members of the judiciary. We also recently
launched a maternity mentoring scheme, open to fathers and mothers
with children to help balance parenting with a flourishing career
at Bar."
Other initiatives run by the Bar Council include:
Best practice guides for chambers and barristers on issues such as fair recruitment, workforce monitoring, family career breaks, flexible working and more
A dedicated Equality & Diversity team at the Bar Council.
Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC added: "The Bar is making great efforts to promote diversity and retain talent across the Bar. Transformation will take time but we must respond to legitimate concern. I am encouraged by the fact that there are already a number of outstanding women who are making their contribution to the future of the profession including the leadership of several Bar Council committees and specialist bar associations. We look forward to working with the Lord Chancellor to help her achieve her ambition to promote greater diversity in the profession."
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Notes to Editors
Further information is available from the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 and [email protected].
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