Equality Review

Background

Garden Court North Chambers is a progressive set of barristers with a strong commitment to publicly funded work, to offering representation to those disadvantaged by discrimination and inequality or with multiple and complex needs, to challenging the state, to fighting for justice, and to undertaking work pro bono in appropriate cases where funding is unavailable.

We were asked to review the Chamber’s Constitution, Equal Opportunities Manual and Equality Code. All word was done remotely.

Approach

It was clear from the outset that this Chambers was intent on going beyond compliance and embedding positive action to attract greater levels of diversity. This was reflected in the type of work which they specialise in, namely offering representation to those disadvantaged by discrimination and inequality. Much of our advice was based on greater prominence of the Chamber’s intent and commitment.

Process

Initial discussions enabled an understanding of the client’s aim to attract greater levels of diversity and prominence of strategy. We completed a compliance review, and then provided a suite of suggested revisions to enhance prominence and mainstreaming equality. This included a revised approach to collecting and using equality data.