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Students from ethnic minority backgrounds were around half as likely to obtain pupillage as white graduates, according to a report published by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
While 73% of white students who obtained an ‘outstanding’ grade on the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) got a pupillage last year, only 59% of their ethnic minority counterparts did. For those who passed with a ‘very competent grade’, 39% of white students got pupillage compared to 22% of those from an ethnic minority background.
Looking at university results, 59% of white students who achieved a first class degree got pupillage, compared to 41.5% of ethnic minority students. The gap widened for those with a 2:1 – 39% of white students with an upper second class degree got a pupillage, compared with 18% of those from an ethnic minority background.
The report, Heads above the parapet: How can we improve race equality at the Bar? found that while 12% of barristers come from ethnic minority backgrounds – roughly the same as in the general population – the senior Bar is less diverse, with only 7% of ethnic minority QCs.
It also found that ethnic minority barristers are over-represented in certain areas of practice. They are more likely to be employed or to be sole practitioners and less likely to be in chambers.
Leslie Thomas QC, joint head of Garden Court Chambers, said that although things had changed since he was Called to the Bar in 1988, he still experienced discrimination and was often not perceived as being his client’s lawyer at court.
He said chambers should do more than ‘paying lip service’ to promoting diversity, and called for a kite mark to demonstrate best practice with chambers held to account for non-compliance.
Students from ethnic minority backgrounds were around half as likely to obtain pupillage as white graduates, according to a report published by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
While 73% of white students who obtained an ‘outstanding’ grade on the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) got a pupillage last year, only 59% of their ethnic minority counterparts did. For those who passed with a ‘very competent grade’, 39% of white students got pupillage compared to 22% of those from an ethnic minority background.
Looking at university results, 59% of white students who achieved a first class degree got pupillage, compared to 41.5% of ethnic minority students. The gap widened for those with a 2:1 – 39% of white students with an upper second class degree got a pupillage, compared with 18% of those from an ethnic minority background.
The report, Heads above the parapet: How can we improve race equality at the Bar? found that while 12% of barristers come from ethnic minority backgrounds – roughly the same as in the general population – the senior Bar is less diverse, with only 7% of ethnic minority QCs.
It also found that ethnic minority barristers are over-represented in certain areas of practice. They are more likely to be employed or to be sole practitioners and less likely to be in chambers.
Leslie Thomas QC, joint head of Garden Court Chambers, said that although things had changed since he was Called to the Bar in 1988, he still experienced discrimination and was often not perceived as being his client’s lawyer at court.
He said chambers should do more than ‘paying lip service’ to promoting diversity, and called for a kite mark to demonstrate best practice with chambers held to account for non-compliance.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
