Book launch row leads to barrister’s call for greater diversity efforts

A barrister has called for the Inns of Court to do more to promote social mobility after Lincoln’s Inn quoted £3,000 for hosting an event about diversity in the legal profession.

Barrister at No5 Barristers Hashi Mohamed spoke to Lincoln’s Inn in November 2019 about hosting the launch of his book People Like Us, which outlines his experience of arriving in Britain from Kenya as a child refugee and how he shaped his career as a barrister in the UK. He was quoted £1,500 for room hire and an additional £1,500 for drinks and canapes for 100 guests – Lincoln’s Inn refused to lower the price following objections.

Hashi, who is a member of Lincoln’s Inn, hosted the event at City firm Baker McKenzie in the end – free of charge.

Speaking to the Law Gazette he said: “For me, it is one thing saying: ‘We want more access, black lives matter, we want more people coming to the bar.’ But the proof is in the pudding, and when this sort of thing comes along they don’t even do the most basic thing which is to offer their space in order to discuss why people are not coming.” 

Hashi wanted the book launch to be an educational event for students, barristers and heads of recruitment: “It was an opportunity to use me as a member to showcase the potential of so many young people.”

Discussing diversity within the legal profession, Hashi explained that City firms “are capable of doing more and are doing more’ than barristers’ chambers because they have ‘more money, more resources, and more numbers.

“Some [City firms] recruit over 100 people a year; they have the capacity to take on risk, recruiting a lot of people without knowing if they are the finished product … Chambers take on about two people a year. You have to believe those people will be fruitful members of chambers who will earn well.”

Meanwhile, a Lincoln’s Inn spokesperson said: “We get a lot of enquiries from members to hold book launches and other events at the Inn and we do charge for private bookings. We offered Mr Mohamed event space at the discounted rate of £1,500 rather than free of charge, and refreshments would have been at additional cost.

“In hindsight, we might have discussed with him the extent to which we could have worked together on an event which shared his experience in coming to the bar as part of our diversity and inclusion programme. We don’t always get it right and we’re keen to learn and improve.”