Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Selborne Chambers is a vibrant and diverse workplace, and is committed to ensuring equal opportunity for everyone.

We encourage and welcome applicants from under-represented groups at the Bar, including women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and LGBT+ people.

We recognise that there is much work to do to promote equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar. At Selborne, this work is led by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which is made up of a broad range of members and staff. The EDI Committee considers and implements measures to prevent inequality, from matters such as recruitment to ways to help members thrive and progress in their careers.

Gender equality

Selborne is committed to the elimination of sex discrimination, and to the promotion and advancement of women at the Bar. Our work in this regard includes:

A recently revised Parental Leave Policy, which we believe is one of the most progressive at the Bar
Regular reviews of the fair allocation of work
Signatory of the Women in Law Pledge, created by the Bar Council and Law Society, which includes targets and commitments to promote gender equality
Signatory to the Chancery Bar Association’s Charter for Fairness, which sets out concrete steps to ensure fairness
An internal women’s network for members to discuss gender issues
Women focused networking events
Setting targets for recruitment and progression, and evaluating progress against those targets
Compulsory EDI and fair allocation of work training for staff

Anti-racism

Selborne has taken and continues to take steps to address racial inequality as manifested at the Bar. These steps have included:

Making an Anti-Racism Statement, which sets out detailed measures designed to achieve meaningful change
Regular reviews of the fair allocation of work
Signatory to the Chancery Bar Association’s Charter for Fairness, which sets out concrete steps to ensure fairness
Setting targets for recruitment and progression, and evaluating progress against those targets
Participating in the 10,000 Black Interns scheme since 2023. This provides paid training and development opportunities for the Black community
Speaking at university events such as Kings College London’s BAME in the City panel event on funding at the Bar
Participating in the Bar Placement Scheme for over 15 years. This initiative aims to improve social mobility
Compulsory EDI and fair allocation of work training for staff

Policies

The initiatives highlighted above are just some of those which Selborne has taken part in to further its EDI objectives. We set out below the policies Selborne has adopted to help ensure equal treatment regardless of age, disability, marital or civil partnership status, political persuasion, pregnancy or maternity, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or gender, identity or expression, sexual orientation or social background.

Selborne Chambers’ premises are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. For any reasonable adjustment you may need when visiting us: please contact our Equality and Diversity Officer, Daniel Webb (daniel.webb@selbornechambers.co.uk).

Diversity Data

In accordance with the requirements of the Bar Standards Board, Selborne Chambers conducts surveys in order to collect and publish equality and diversity data in respect of its workforce (both barristers and non-barristers). These surveys assist Selborne Chambers in monitoring the success of its equality and diversity policies. Selborne Chambers is also required to publish summaries of the data collected, to help provide transparency in recruitment and encourage diversity in the profession. Chambers has a policy for the collection and retention of diversity data. The latest survey was published in January 2024 and a summary of the data is available here.