Race

We lead, represent and support the Bar in the public interest through working to enhance diversity and inclusion at the Bar. Discover the work we are doing on race at the Bar and how you can help support action in chambers and across the Bar.

On this page you'll find:

How we support racial diversity and inclusivity at the Bar
Our Race at the Bar reports
Our Race equality toolkit for chambers and organisations
Programmes, blogs and events to support racial diversity and inclusivity at the Bar

The Bar Council's Race Panel

A Bar Council Race Working Group was formed in June 2020 to report into our Equality Diversity and Social Mobility (EDSM) Committee, and to help advise on Bar Council activity. In 2023 it became the Race Panel.

The Panel includes representatives from all the ircuits, specialist Bar associations (SBAs) and Inns of Court, as well as networks created to support barristers and Bar students from different minority ethnic communities.

Race at the Bar reports

Our landmark Race at the Bar reports call on individuals, chambers, and organisations at the Bar to step up work on race equality and, in more recent years, keep the momentum going.

Race at the Bar: Three years on

Our 2024 follow up report to the Race at the Bar report in 2021 reveals progress but calls on everyone to step up and keep the momentum going on race equality

Race at the Bar progress report November 2022

This short report includes an update on pupillage and silk appointments by ethnicity for 2022 and a summary of race-based activity across the Bar in the past year.

Race at the Bar Report 2021

The Bar Council’s Race Working Group's 2021 report addressing inequality at the Bar and proposing a series of recommendations for action.

Recommendations from our latest report

Our report published on 4 December 2024 makes a series of recommendations for chambers and organisations, as well as for the Bar Council, including:

Mandatory EDI training and specialist race training for all members and chambers employees
Monitoring work distribution and income by ethnicity and formalising practice reviews
Supporting equality and diversity officers (EDOs) to build an inclusive culture
Enhancing data collection and analysis across the board – by chambers, the Bar Council, Kings Counsel Appointments, and the Judicial Appointments Commission
Supporting networks for Black and minority ethnic barristers

These recommendations are in line with our recent response to the Bar Standards Board consultation on the equality rules.

View our full list of recommendations and key findings in the Race at the Bar: Three years on report

Our Race equality toolkit

This toolkit shows you how to act on race inequality in your chambers or organisation.

Download the toolkit

Our programmes and support

Introduction to race training

Raise awareness of race equality issues in your chambers through a series of practical exercises and real-world scenarios

Equality and diversity ethics guidance

Equality and diversity, compliance and wellbeing courses

Training sessions and bespoke courses on equality, harassment, fair recruitment and more

10,000 Black Interns

The Bar Council is pleased to support the Bar’s Steering Group for the 10,000 Black Interns initiative.

Silk and Judicial Appointments

Supports established barristers seeking judicial appointment or are considering applying for Silk.

Pre-application judicial education programme (PAJE)

Developed by the Judicial Diversity Forum to support groups under-represented in the judiciary

Bar Placement Scheme

Is a career at the Bar for you? The Bar Placement Scheme allows students to spend up to 4 days shadowing their barrister in chambers and in court.

Helplines and enquiry services

Helplines and enquiry services for barristers and chambers

Our blogs

Race at the Bar: time to double down on race equality work

Our new race at the Bar report reveals there has been some progress on access, retention, progression and culture. But there is much more work to do.

4 December 2024
Press release

Race at the Bar: Three years on

Our 2024 follow up report to the Race at the Bar report in 2021 reveals progress but calls on everyone to step up and keep the momentum going on race equality

4 December 2024
Report

The 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) Programme: ‘A unique platform to break through barriers’

The 10,000 Interns Foundation provides paid internships for Black students and graduates through the 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) Programme. The exposure to life at the Bar from an array of perspectives has proven to be invaluable to interns. Here, some of 2023’s interns share their thoughts and reflections on their experiences.

29 November 2023
Blog

Black women leaders at the Bar

Barristers Natasha Shotunde, Elaine Banton and Barbara Mills KC in conversation with the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy Analyst Mariam Diaby for Black History Month.

18 October 2023
Blog

See more blogs

What we've done since the 2021 report

Launched an Introduction to race training course in chambers delivered by a panel of trainers selected for their expertise in anti-racism work and knowledge of the Bar. To date, 89 courses have been delivered to 47 chambers and over 1,189 barristers and their employees have participated
Made public statements and taken action to assist barristers who have reported racism to us
Promoted Bar-based initiatives on race through new resources and blogs
Promoted comprehensive and short positive action guides and a Framework for taking action on race, as well as guidance on programme planning and evaluation
Adopted a revised approach to terminology, referencing different ethnic communities in line with current good practice
Supported the Black Talent Charter
Helped deliver the Bar internship scheme as part of the 10,000 Black Interns initiative
Supported networking and collaboration, for example, donations to networks such as the Black Barristers’ Network and BME Legal to help them get established, as well as promoting their events through our communication channels

Produced an analysis of access to work on government panels by sex and ethnicity in September 2022
Published an interim report on progress since the 2021 report in November 2022
Introduced the Rare contextual recruitment system into the Pupillage Gateway system – beginning with a pilot in 2024/25 – to support fair recruitment

Working with others

The Bar Council recognises that a wide range of race-related initiatives are in development across the Bar. Whilst we are focusing on initiatives that are specifically tailored to the Bar, we’re very keen to hear about other programmes, and to look at how action taken elsewhere might support our work with the Bar.

To get in touch, email [email protected].