A more socially mobile Bar?

The legal press was alive yesterday with news of the launch of a social mobility initiative designed to encourage into the profession those who might not have considered a career in the law by offering advice and a practical helping hand. So, why is this scheme different from the plethora that already exist, including PRIME and Nick Clegg's Business Compact? Well, this one has been launched by Inner Temple and is aimed at future barristers. Cue gasps of surprise!

The facts of the scheme are this: 42 sets of chambers have signed up to the Pegasus Access Scheme, which intends to place high-achieving students from under-represented backgrounds on mini-pupillages at the participating chambers. Each placement will last between two and five days, and reasonable travel and meal expenses will be provided. In the first round, there are expected to be around 70 places on offer.

Chambers which have already signed up include One Crown Office Row, Three New Square, Fountain Court, Blackstone Chambers, Ten Old Square, Francis Taylor Building and Wilberforce Chambers. Priority will be given to students who have already taken part in diversity programmes such as Pathways to Law and the Social Mobility Foundation. Deadline for applications is 13 April.

It's hardly controversial to suggest that the Bar has a certain reputation for being change averse. Still, as James Dingemans QC, chair of the Inner Temple Outreach Committee and head of 3 Hare Court points out, change has to start somewhere: "No one institution can address all of the issues surrounding social mobility and access to the professions, but everyone has a responsibility to do what can be done to break down any potential barriers to entry. Inner Temple is working with, and on behalf of, the profession to address some of these barriers. The aim is to ensure that talented students from any background can reach their full potential at the Bar of England and Wales."

Some cynics may claim that this is no more than an attempt to keep up with the solicitors' strand of the profession, which has been seeking to address social mobility and diversity issues for some time (again, see initiatives such as PRIME). Other critics have commented that the London-centric nature of the scheme will mean that it is prohibitive for those who cannot afford accommodation in the capital, thus rather undermining the most fundamental premise of the scheme.

Nevertheless, with this and other initiatives (No bar to the Bar for example), the Bar is, at the very least, making public a desire to open its doors a little wider and change the perception about the old boys' network. The press release from Inner Temple overtly states as much: "This [scheme] will also help to further dispel outdated and inaccurate stereotypes about barristers."

Only time will tell whether the good intentions are matched by a practical change in recruitment practices and attitudes, but it is certainly a welcome demonstration of a willingness to confront the problem.