*/
Two years after publication of Lord Neuberger’s Entry to the Bar Working Party Report, the Bar Council launched “No bar to the Bar: barristers promoting social mobility”, a brochure setting out the work done by the Bar in this area and the initiatives developed since the Neuberger Report, writes Bhavna Patel.
At an event held to mark the occasion on 2 December 2009 at Inner Temple, David Lammy MP, Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, commended the Bar for the huge strides it has made in this area.
Vivian Robinson QC, Treasurer of Inner Temple, and Desmond Browne QC, then Chairman of the Bar Council, stressed that the Bar Council, the Inns, the Circuits and the Specialist Bar Associations have worked together to make the various initiatives successful and that the Bar was not now resting on its laurels. Much work still needed to be done, as well as developing current initiatives such as the Bar Council’s chambers placement scheme (run with the Social Mobility Foundation and supported by the Inns of Court), Inner Temple’s schools project (run in collaboration with the National Education Trust) as well as the Bar Mock Trial Competition and the “Speak Up for Others – a Career as a Barrister” scheme.
Duncan Matthews QC, Chairman of the Neuberger Monitoring and Implementation Group, said that the Bar has long recognised that recruitment on merit alone is the right approach and this is for two key reasons:
He added that Neuberger was not the first attempt by the Bar to grapple with the problem of ensuring that merit was the key feature in recruitment but the previous attempts tended to focus directly on entry and searched for one solution. The Neuberger Report was ground-breaking because it recognised that there was not one simple solution and the focus had to be much wider than simply the point of entry.
David Johnston, CEO of the Social Mobility Foundation, emphasised the important role played by the Bar in its internship programme and how it has helped to bring other professions on board.
Two students who took part in Inner Temple’s schools project spoke enthusiastically about how a new world of opportunities had been opened to them which they would not otherwise have encountered and which gave them a new sense of self-belief.
David Lammy MP ended the session by praising the initiatives that the Bar has put in place and emphasising the importance of continuing this work.
A copy of “No bar to the Bar: barristers promoting social mobility” is available from the Bar Council (e-mail: mbooker@barcouncil.org.uk) or visit: www.barcouncil.org.uk/assets/documents/No%20bar%20to%20the%20Bar%20final.
Bhavna Patel is the Bar Council Professional Practice and Training Manager
Vivian Robinson QC, Treasurer of Inner Temple, and Desmond Browne QC, then Chairman of the Bar Council, stressed that the Bar Council, the Inns, the Circuits and the Specialist Bar Associations have worked together to make the various initiatives successful and that the Bar was not now resting on its laurels. Much work still needed to be done, as well as developing current initiatives such as the Bar Council’s chambers placement scheme (run with the Social Mobility Foundation and supported by the Inns of Court), Inner Temple’s schools project (run in collaboration with the National Education Trust) as well as the Bar Mock Trial Competition and the “Speak Up for Others – a Career as a Barrister” scheme.
Duncan Matthews QC, Chairman of the Neuberger Monitoring and Implementation Group, said that the Bar has long recognised that recruitment on merit alone is the right approach and this is for two key reasons:
He added that Neuberger was not the first attempt by the Bar to grapple with the problem of ensuring that merit was the key feature in recruitment but the previous attempts tended to focus directly on entry and searched for one solution. The Neuberger Report was ground-breaking because it recognised that there was not one simple solution and the focus had to be much wider than simply the point of entry.
David Johnston, CEO of the Social Mobility Foundation, emphasised the important role played by the Bar in its internship programme and how it has helped to bring other professions on board.
Two students who took part in Inner Temple’s schools project spoke enthusiastically about how a new world of opportunities had been opened to them which they would not otherwise have encountered and which gave them a new sense of self-belief.
David Lammy MP ended the session by praising the initiatives that the Bar has put in place and emphasising the importance of continuing this work.
A copy of “No bar to the Bar: barristers promoting social mobility” is available from the Bar Council (e-mail: mbooker@barcouncil.org.uk) or visit: www.barcouncil.org.uk/assets/documents/No%20bar%20to%20the%20Bar%20final.
Bhavna Patel is the Bar Council Professional Practice and Training Manager
Two years after publication of Lord Neuberger’s Entry to the Bar Working Party Report, the Bar Council launched “No bar to the Bar: barristers promoting social mobility”, a brochure setting out the work done by the Bar in this area and the initiatives developed since the Neuberger Report, writes Bhavna Patel.
At an event held to mark the occasion on 2 December 2009 at Inner Temple, David Lammy MP, Minister of State for Higher Education and Intellectual Property, commended the Bar for the huge strides it has made in this area.
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
Giovanni D’Avola explores the issue of over-citation of unreported cases and the ‘added value’ elements of a law report
Louise Crush explores the key points and opportunities for tax efficiency
Westgate Wealth Management Ltd is a Partner Practice of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place – one of the top UK Wealth Management firms. We offer a holistic service of distinct quality, integrity, and excellence with the aim to build a professional and valuable relationship with our clients, helping to provide them with security now, prosperity in the future and the highest standard of service in all of our dealings.
Is now the time to review your financial position, having reached a career milestone? asks Louise Crush
If you were to host a dinner party with 10 guests, and you asked them to explain what financial planning is and how it differs to financial advice, you’d receive 10 different answers. The variety of answers highlights the ongoing need to clarify and promote the value of financial planning.
Most of us like to think we would risk our career in order to meet our ethical obligations, so why have so many lawyers failed to hold the line? asks Flora Page
If your current practice environment is bringing you down, seek a new one. However daunting the change, it will be worth it, says Anon Barrister
Creating advocacy opportunities for juniors is now the expectation but not always easy to put into effect. Tom Mitcheson KC distils developing best practice from the Patents Court initiative already bearing fruit
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
The long-running fee-paid judicial pensions saga continues. The current cut-off date for giving notice of election to join FPJPS is 31 March 2024, and that date now gives rise to a serious problem, warns HH John Platt
