BSB publishes report on improving race equality at the Bar
updated on 20 March 2018
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published a report on how to improve race equality at the Bar. The report was based on an event the BSB held last month, entitled “Heads Above the Parapet: How can we improve Race Equality at the Bar?” (video available here).
The event focused on identifying – and considering how to remove – the barriers for BAME individuals who want to access and progress through a career at the Bar. Delegates at the event, including barristers, other legal practitioners, educators, race equality organisations and diversity experts, put forward several solutions, including:
- greater transparency around recruitment of pupils and barristers;
- greater enforcement, direction and support from the BSB to tackle race inequality (eg, by holding chambers to account if they are not enforcing diversity policies);
- greater visibility of BAME role models at the Bar;
- development of an equality and diversity “kite mark” to recognise good practice; and
- continued collaboration within and beyond the profession and with race equality organisations.
The BSB will look at all suggested proposals as part of its intention to develop recommendations for change.
BSB Director-General Dr Vanessa Davies said: “We are strongly committed at the BSB to working with the profession in these quite difficult and sometimes sensitive areas, and having the courage to say difficult things when they need to be said is what the public and the profession have a right to expect from the regulator.”
