Workplace
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Chambers is committed to the active promotion of equal opportunities and to ensuring an absence of direct or indirect discrimination. Guided by its Equality, Diversity and Wellbeing Committee and EDW Officer, members of chambers and staff engage in a variety of training and initiatives that support a culture of diversity, and promote the advancement of a diverse Bar.
Wellbeing
Chambers is proud of the proactive approach it has taken and continues to take, in respect of Wellbeing. Supported by a Wellbeing Officer and a bank of policies, there is a culture of respect from the most senior to the most junior members of chambers and staff. There are good communication channels between barristers and staff resulting in a positive working environment for all.
In May 2023, after an assessment process, Chambers was again awarded the Bar Council Certificate of Recognition for its work on Wellbeing. Sam Mercer, Head of Equality at the Bar Council, said: “We are delighted to award the new Wellbeing Certificate in recognition for outstanding work to improve wellbeing at the Bar.”
IP Inclusive
We are members of IP Inclusive, which is a collection of individuals and organisations in the IP sector, who have come together to make our community more inclusive, diverse, open and fair. The initiative is run by the sector, for the sector, on a voluntary basis. It brings together IP professionals of all types, at all levels of seniority, from all kinds of working environments and in all parts of the UK. Its objectives are to promote and improve equality, diversity and inclusions through the UK’s IP professions.
Flexible working
We support applications for flexible working patterns for both Barristers and staff. Some of the benefits of flexible working include a better work-life balance and reduced levels of absence/stress.
London Living Wage
As part of our ethical approach to business, we are an accredited London Living Wage employer. This means that all employees and all contracted cleaning staff are paid the London Living Wage or more.
The customer/supplier relationship is important to us and we pay our invoices in a timely manner.
Community
10,000 Black Interns Programme
Since its inception, Chambers has hosted an intern on a shared basis with other contributing Chambers and Government Departments as part of the Bar’s collective participation in the 10,000 Black Interns Programme. The Programme aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries, as well as world-class training and development. More information and how to apply can be found here.
Bridging the Bar
We are proud to be a sponsor and partner of Bridging the Bar, a charity committed to the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities at the Bar. Bridging the Bar is committed to increasing the equality of access to opportunities in the legal profession across all underrepresented groups.
Its three main objectives are:
- equal access to opportunity – through its Mini-Pupillage scheme;
- mentorship – aiming to make the Bar a more accessible and better understood profession by connecting a diverse pool of students with dedicated mentors; and
- transparency – using its directories to highlight the chambers and organisations that are leading the way towards equal access to opportunity.
To find out more about Bridging the Bar and its Mini-Pupillage scheme, please click here.
Richard Huish Sixth Form College, Somerset
Chambers supports this Sixth Form College in Somerset that is in an area which has a low rate of participation in higher education. A member of Chambers supports them with talks and mentoring and Chambers will support them as they attempt to enter the Bar Mock Trial Competition.
Pro Bono Work
We are a Bronze Pro Bono Patron of Advocate, which is a charity that finds free legal advice help from barristers. Some of our barristers are members of CLIPS (Chancery Bar Litigants in Person Support Scheme). This scheme operates by having Barrister volunteers making themselves available on each applications day during term time. We are also a member of IP Pro Bono which is an initiative that provides intellectual property advice and legal support for Claimants and Defendants in IP disputes.
Oxford University International IP Moot
We are proud to support Oxford University every year with its moot trial. Mooting enables students to engage with and think deeply about interesting and topical legal issues, enhance their advocacy, legal research and writing skills and work closely with and learn from their peers.
The Bar & Mooting Society of King’s College London
We sponsor the annual IP Moot of The Bar and Mooting Society of King’s College London. In February 2023, Isabel Jamal, Head of Pupillage & Recruitment at 8 New Square, acted as one of the judges.
UCL Institute of Brand & Innovation Law
We are proud to sponsor The Institute of Brand and Innovation Law (IBIL) at UCL Law. The Institute provides a unique forum for academics, the judiciary, policy-makers, the professions and users of the IP system to come together and exchange ideas on cutting-edge IP issues. IBIL’s team of IP academics is led by Professor Sir Robin Jacob, inaugural holder of the Sir Hugh Laddie Chair in Intellectual Property Law.
Inns of Court Student Mentoring Scheme
Various members of Chambers are mentors on the Inns of Court Student Mentoring Scheme. This scheme matches people seeking pupillage with a Barrister practising in their area of law.
Mentor Bar Mock Trial Competition
The Bar Mock Trial competition runs annually and is designed to help children aged 15-18 years gain an insight into how the legal justice system works. Members of Chambers assist a team from a local state school with preparation for the competition.
ChBA Wellbeing and CSR Committee
A member of Chambers sits on the Chancery Bar Association Wellbeing & CSR Committee which is involved in a variety of outreach work.
BAILII
We are happy to support BAILII, which is the British and Irish Legal Information Institute, a charity whose supporters are largely in or connected to the legal profession. BAILII is an essential part of our rule of law fabric.
BAILII provides free internet access to the most comprehensive set of British and Irish primary legal materials that are available. In August 2019, BAILII included 102 databases covering 10 jurisdictions. The system contains around 169 gigabytes of legal materials and around 1,001,463 searchable documents.
BAILII makes its website available on a subscription-free basis for the benefit of the public, including pro bono organisations, neighbourhood law centres, students and users in developing countries. BAILII incurs substantial running costs in maintaining its database and website, and is dependent on a continuing flow of donations in order to remain in operation.
London Legal Walk
Each year, a team of walkers from 8 New Square participate in the annual 10K London Legal Walk, which is sponsored by The Law Society and LexisNexis. The team joins 15,000 people walking to help raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust. The Trust works to support law centres and legal advice agencies in London and the South East. These institutions provide access to justice for the most vulnerable by giving free legal advice.
Environment
Water
Our British bottled water is produced by Belu, comes in lightweight ethical glass using recycled content and is 100% recyclable. Belu invest 100% of its net profits into WaterAid, the international development charity determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. Elsewhere in Chambers we have environmentally friendly mains-fed water coolers. These help to reduce bottle production, with fewer deliveries and collections of bottles, and minimise transport emissions and pollution.
Book recycling
We have donated Weekly Law Reports, Fleet Street Reports and Reports on Patent Cases to Guyana, with the help of bookstore Wildy & Sons and AGX Logisitcs UK. We have also donated legal books to the WhiteAdder Trust, which utilises these books primarily for export for re-use by law students or solicitors and barristers studying or setting up practice in Africa, the Caribbean and the Far East, where British Law is still followed.
Cycle to Work Scheme
We are members of the Cycle to Work Scheme, which is part of the UK Government’s Green Plan Initiative, introduced to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduce environmental pollution.
Other initiatives
We are continuously looking for ways to reduce our negative impact on the environment. Some examples of this are:
- using 100% degradable and recyclable photocopier/printer paper and double-sided printing as standard
- think before we print
- comprehensive recycling policy for paper, cardboard, plastic and glass
- rechargeable batteries and battery recycling
- energy saving lightbulbs and motion sensors in common areas, bathrooms and kitchens
- switching off lighting at the end of each day
- sleep mode for all computers after a period of inactivity
- commitment to reduce single-use plastics