The Bar Council promotes social mobility barristers

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Social mobility advocates, a new group of barristers from across England and Wales, have joined the Bar Council’s award-winning social mobility campaign – #IAmTheBar.

The advocates have all had non-traditional paths to the Bar, with no prior links to the profession. Most have also faced additional challenges in their journeys to the Bar. The advocates either:

• came from a working-class or low-income household;
• attended state schools and non-Oxbridge universities; or
• worked to fund their training and education.

The social mobility advocates represent the magnitude of experience at the Bar from growing up in the climate of Ghana’s repressive military regime to moonlighting as a cabaret artist. They aim to use this understanding to inspire a new generation of barristers from different walks of life.

Derek Sweeting QC, chair of the Bar, said: “At the Bar Council, we believe that social mobility is an integral part of creating a modern Bar. It is crucial that barristers from all walks of life feel welcome in the profession, regardless of background. Visibility plays a vital role in this – highlighting the diverse stories of our colleagues at the Bar is a powerful way of showing prospective barristers that there is no one way to sound, look or act like a barrister.

That is why I am honoured to announce the launch of our new group of #IAmTheBar advocates. Selected from diverse backgrounds across England and Wales, our social mobility advocates represent the best and brightest of the Bar. Although each of their stories is unique, one thing remains constant: a determination to make their voices heard. I look forward to seeing how they use this drive to inspire and encourage potential barristers in the coming months.”

The diversity campaign, which is now in its fourth year, welcomes the following social mobility advocates for 2021:

•            Tahina Akther;

•            Yaa Dankwa Ampadu-Sackey;     

•            Andrew Carter;

•            Rachel Chan;

•            Lucy Chapman;

•            Emma Cross; 

•            Andrew Dakoutros; 

•            Peter Eguae;

•            Jack Meek;    

•            Ian Smith; and

•            Christina Warner.                

For more on life as a barrister:

• visit LawCareers.Net’s Barrister and Diversity Hubs for more information on the barrister career path;
• read this Oracle to find out how the 2021 pupillage application process works;
• listen to this LawCareers.Net podcast on: ‘How to become a barrister’; and
• watch Danithebarrister’s vlog on ‘Basic pupillage application tips’ and ’15 facts about the BCAT’.