Our Mission Statement

To improve the recruitment, career progression and retention of black practitioners, primarily at the Bar but also within the profession as a whole, through collaborative working with The Forum and other organisations affiliated with the Bar, through the promotion of programmes and initiatives established by our allied networks and through the development and implementation of schemes and events in the East Midlands and surrounding regions.

Our Aims

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the Bar at large however, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic barristers (‘BAME’) are doubly hit, being more likely to practice in publicly funded work, an area that is typically less well remunerated and directly impacted by the underfunding of the justice system. In addition, BAME barristers are also likely to face greater financial pressure, being a group who are more likely to be from a less advantageous social-economic background and thus less likely to have resources to fall back on. These factors serve only to increase the risk of BAME barristers’ premature exodus from the Bar.

This situation is particularly concerning in relation to black practitioners who are already underrepresented at the Bar both at junior and senior levels.

As at June 2020, of the 16,626 practising barristers in England and Wales, only 597 were from a Black/Black British or Mixed Black ethnic group.   Of the 597 barristers, only 12 practiced in the East Midlands.  The number of Black/British barristers declined by the end 2021 to 540.

Of the 1093 Heads of Chambers in England and Wales, only 76 were of Black/Black British or Mixed Black origin.

As at December 2021, only 1.3% of barristers taking silk were from a Black/Black British ethnic group. 89.99% of those taking silk were from a white ethnic group.

These statistics show that in addition to the problem of black barristers being under-represented, there also appears to be an issue with the career progression of black barristers.

The data further indicates that:

  • A disproportionate number of the bar (17%) attended a UK Independent school, an institution less likely to be attended by those from BAME backgrounds.
  • BME* students are roughly half as likely to obtain pupillage as white graduates with similar prior educational attainment.
  • BME students score lower on average than the equivalent white student on the BPTC.
  • BAME barristers are more likely to experience bullying, discrimination and harassment than white barristers: 34% v 19%.
  • Female BAME barristers are the lowest earning group and white male barristers are the highest earning group.

The recent statistics relating to judicial appointments are equally alarming.  Across all legal exercises that closed between April 2018 and March 2021 recommendation rates for eligible Black/British candidates were an estimated 73% lower than for white candidates.

There are therefore problems for black practitioners at every stage of the profession.

It is clear that there is much to be done to achieve a more diverse legal profession.  After all, how can we expect the public to trust a system that is not representative of the people that it serves?

It is for these reasons that our aims are:

  1. To improve the numbers of black people entering and remaining in the legal profession.
  2. To improve the numbers of black practitioners taking silk and joining the bench.
  3. To support and unite all black legal practitioners.
  4. To promote a positive culture of inclusivity within the legal profession.

We will strive to achieve our aims through collaborative working with The Forum and other organisations affiliated with the Bar, through the promotion of programmes and initiatives established by our allied networks and through the development and implementation of schemes and events in the East Midlands and surrounding regions.

For upcoming and ongoing events please visit our Events page.

*‘BME’ is the terminology used in the relevant research paper

The Forum

A network of allied groups and organisations representing the interests of black people within the legal profession whose common objective is to achieve an equal, diverse and culturally inclusive society.

Click here for the Forum

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry and we must understand that all the threads are equal in value no matter what their colour.”

~ Maya Angelou, Poet, 1928-2014 ~

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