The Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) latest diversity survey has an eye-catching new 'Jewish Muslim' option in its religion section. According to journalist Joshua Rozenberg, who spotted it, the category is "apparently a 'misprint'".
Category Archives: Diversity
Fighting The ‘Facebook Mentality’: Why Barristers Should Be Proud Of Their Refusal To ‘Share’ Diversity Data
I see barristers' refusal to embrace diversity monitoring has been described as "embarrassing" and "pathetic". What nonsense, writes pupil barrister-to-be OccupyTheInns. There is absolutely nothing embarrassing or pathetic about declining to disclose highly personal data about oneself. In fact, I regard the Bar’s stance on this matter as something of which to be proud.
Unlike so many areas of society, the Bar stands robustly in the face of faddish winds of change, like an English oak in a field of straw. Do most barristers foolishly "share" every scrap of knowledge they have, as new social norms tell us we must through the likes of Facebook? No. Thought in greater measure must occur, before acts a barrister...
‘As Just A Normal Bloke I Couldn’t Imagine Myself Being Able To Make It Into This Exclusive Club’
Ed note: This is the fifth in a series of posts where leading members of the legal profession share their wisdom with the next generation of wannabes. The first four are here. We're featuring one-a-week in the run-up to 'Legal Cheek at the Google Campus' on 5 December.
A career in legal services wasn't my choice. My introduction to law was truly random, writes Jeremy Hopkins.
I finished my education in the 1980s. The concept of careers advice was in its infancy, its benefits being limited to those who had already decided exactly what career they wanted but needed to know the best route there. In reality, very few teenagers really know at that stage what career they want. I certainly wasn't one of them. I had no idea of the existence of a job role entitled "barristers' clerk", never mind any thoughts of becoming one.
Black History Month At The Law Society, Featuring Convicted Expenses Cheat Baron Taylor of Warwick
As the Law Society's Black History Month celebrations got underway on Monday, it was a surprise to see this picture of disgraced barrister-turned-politician Baron Taylor of Warwick among those on display at the body's Chancery Lane headquarters.
Law Society Cancels Conference Organised By Group That Says Being Gay Leads To ‘Disease’
Throughout last week there were murmurings of an embarrassment at the Law Society involving marriage champion Sir Paul Coleridge and a controversial US group called the World Congress of Families (WCF). I got the story nailed down on Friday afternoon, decided to hold it until Monday, and then to my disappointment John Bingham broke it in The Telegraph on Saturday.
It’s a great story – and even better if you include the facts which The Telegraph, with its sympathy towards the agenda of Coleridge and WCF, chose to leave out...
Social Mobility In Law: Linklaters Helps The Poor To Get £15K-a-Year Jobs In Its Print Room
Magic circle firm Linklaters has hit back at critics who claim that City law is elitist by ushering in a ground-breaking initiative to get working-class people £15,000-a-year support service jobs at the firm.
Applicants queue up to be considered for a Linklaters print room role
The programme will see Linklaters team up with the London borough of Islington to find five apprentices for its print room, billing department, IT team, and HR and learning and development functions.
There's no route from these positions into gaining a training contract with the firm, but Linklaters head of diversity Felix Hebblethwaite left no doubt that the lucky five appentices would be treated in the same way as the firm’s lawyers (who start on £37,400-a-year as trainees):
“There's no commitment to a job afterwards but it obviously is some experience for their CV,” he explained.
Bar Social Mobility Scheme Strikes Blow For The 99%
Inner Temple's work experience initiative is infused with the spirit of the Occupy movement, writes OccupyTheInns
Well done to the Inner Temple! I know that this may seem like a strange sentence coming from somebody who advocated a campaign to occupy the Inns of Court just months ago, but I am really rather impressed by the Pegasus Access Scheme Inner launched this week to encourage greater social diversity at the Bar.
With 100 less privileged students expected to do the scheme in September, the atmosphere of the Inns of Court will certainly change for the rowdier that month. In its own way it will be rather similar to the occupation scene that I envisaged in November...