We believe that the ‘bridge’ between today’s Bar and the diverse Bar our society needs can be built by achieving three objectives:

1. Equal access to opportunity

An integral part of equal access to opportunity is enabling students from non-traditional backgrounds to gain practical work experience with barristers in all forms of employment. Through our structured mini pupillage programme, students from all corners of our society have the exposure and insight needed to understand what life at the Bar entails, and what career options are possible for them.

2. Mentorship

At an individual level, mentorship is often a key factor for students in gaining insight and understanding how best to navigate the challenges they may face in their pursuit of a career at the Bar. By connecting a diverse pool of students with dedicated mentors at our events and through our wide network, we aim to make the Bar a more accessible and better understood profession for those from underrepresented societal groups.

3 Transparency

It is important for students to understand what the various organisations at the Bar are doing to recognise the current inequality of opportunity. Without this, we cannot be certain of what change is taking place, and where. Our BTB directories are a point of reference which serves to highlight those chambers and organisations which are leading the way towards equal access to opportunity. We are committed to increasing the equality of access to opportunities in the legal profession across all underrepresented groups. We help students who, owing to their disability, ethnic background, socio-economic background, education or sexuality, belong to groups which are statistically underrepresented in the profession.