Browse the following links to discover how the University of Oxford, the University’s Faculty of Law, legal institutions, the Inns of Court and law societies are marking Black History Month this year. Explore the range of events (many online) listed by the University, Black History Month and Blacknet, several of which celebrate Black excellence in the legal profession. You will also find links to articles and reports addressing equality and diversity in the legal profession and the Bar, as well as societies and groups for Black lawyers.
Contents:
1. University of Oxford
2. Legal Institutions
3. Inns of Court
4. Events related to law within wider organisations
5. Societies/Groups for Black lawyers
1. University of Oxford:
- University of Oxford Black History Month Lecture: Diversity Activism: to do or not to do? Delivered by Margaret Casely-Hayford, CBE (Thursday 22 October, 5:30 pm-7 pm).
- University of Oxford Faculty of Law, Black History Month 2020
- Find out more about the voices and experiences of some of our staff and students.
- Other Events highlighted by the Faculty of Law:
- Reflections on Lessons Learned from Windrush: Rethinking How Educational Institutions Should Respond to the Racial Legacy of Empire in the 21st Century. Wendy Williams; Dr Shreya Atrey. (16 October, 5:30 pm-6:45 pm, online). Although this event has passed, you can watch it for free here.
- Decolonising land title in Malawi. Mary Jiyani. (28 October, 12:45 pm-2:00 pm, online).
- Committing to change – what does meaningful action look like? – webinar (Wednesday, 28th October 2020, 17:00 – 18:00)
- The Black Past, a nine-part webinar series organised by the Boukman Academy (online).
2. Legal Institutions
- The Law Society:
- Black History Month: a collaborative perspective – “We asked members of the profession to tell us what Black History Month means to them and what it represents.”
- Ethnic Minority Lawyers – “We provide an opportunity for solicitors from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and their allies to have their voice for heard, allowing us to represent you effectively”.
- Ethnic Minority Lawyers Division – “The Ethnic Minority Lawyers Division (EMLD) supports and promotes solicitors and their allies through the provision of career-enhancing events, information and networking opportunities.”
- Women in the Law UK:
- Sally Penni, founder of Women in the Law UK, hosts the podcast ‘Talking Law’ – speaking to leading lawyers about their experiences.
3. The Inns of Court
- The Inner Temple:
- Black History Month 2020: The Inner Temple asked members and students how the Inn can “do better” in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and as a result are taking actions to develop their inclusivity. “For Black History Month this year, we will be running a social media campaign to highlight black members of the Inn, past and present, who have shaped our justice system and blazed a trail for barristers of the future. Our Library are running a social media campaign to highlight the appalling incidence of deaths in custody of black people in this country.”
- Middle Temple online events:
- In Black and White (Wednesday 11th of November 2020 18:00).
- Gray’s Inn:
- Trans-Atlantic Online Debate will address three current issues including “What Can the Inns of Court do About the Peril of Racial Injustice to the Rule of Law” (22 October 2020, 17:30-19:00).
- Webinar What say barristers about ‘Black Lives Matter’ and what if anything can Gray’s Inn do to help? (online, video available to view until 1st of November 2020).
- Lincoln’s Inn:
- Video of this year’s third EDI Forum: Racial Equality-Recruitment and the Path Ahead.
- Referenced Resources :
- Sutton Trust Social Mobility in the Workplace Employers Guide
- Law Society Fair Recruitment Toolkit
- BSB Race Equality Taskforce
- Diversity at the Bar 2019
- BPTC Key Stats 2019
- Differential Attainment Research
- Latest report on diversity in the judiciary published on 17.09.20
- Framework for Taking Action on Race document
- Positive Action: comprehensive/long guide
- Positive Action: short guide – to be read with comprehensive (long) guide
- The Sir Mota Singh Memorial Lecture: Racial Equality and the Law- Lord Justice Singh (PDF text of this lecture can be downloaded).
- Video of this year’s third EDI Forum: Racial Equality-Recruitment and the Path Ahead.
4. Events related to law within wider organisations:
- Black History Month 2020:
- Black History Month 2020 Listings (nationwide events).
- Legal Careers page for advice on career progression, including How do you become a barrister.
- Great Black Britons features Dr John Anthony Roberts QC (“The first person of African ancestry to be made a QC in England and Wales”).
- Blacknet (nationwide events listings)
- Law related event: The 16th Annual national Black pre-Law Conference and Law fair 2020 Virtual (13 November @10:00 am – 14 November @ 6:00 pm, organised by National pre-Law Diversity Initiatives, Inc., online event).
5. Societies and groups for Black lawyers 1:
- Black Solicitors Network :
- “The Black Solicitors Network (BSN) was formed in 1995 to promote the interests of black solicitors, provide professional support and share information, inform and influence D&I best practice and participate in consultations initiated by The Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Government and other regulatory bodies in relation to matters which affect black and minority ethnic solicitors.
- A not-for-profit company, the Black Solicitors Network aims to be the primary voice of black solicitors in England and Wales.”
- Black Women in Law
- “This group is to connect black women in the legal profession: barristers, judges, solicitors, paralegals and law students. This is an opportunity for us to support black women in their legal careers and to provide guidance to those who are looking to begin a legal career.”
- Urban Lawyers
- “Urban Lawyers is a charity founded by Tunde Okewale MBE, Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. The charity is managed by a team of dedicated volunteers, some of who are practising Barristers and Solicitors.”
- Urban Lawyers host promotional legal careers events for students, deliver a variety of workshops including career development, research young people’s attitudes to the criminal justice system, and offer a ‘law in action’ curriculum available to be taught in universities as well as schools.
- African Women Lawyers’ Association
- “The African Women Lawyers’ Association (AWLA) exists to help women of African and Caribbean descent who want to enter the legal profession and who want to progress their careers. We aim to provide support, advice, mentoring, training and networking opportunities for all of our members.
- Our mission is to transform the careers and lives of African women lawyers around the world. We also seek to leave our members feeling refreshed, empowered and optimistic about their lives, their futures and their legal careers.”
- Bridging the Bar
- Our Mission: “At Bridging the Bar we believe that for any organisation to reach its full potential, it must reflect the diverse society that we live in. Whilst we recognise that a lot of good work has been done to create greater opportunities at the Bar, there is still a need to incentivise – and support – the organisations, and individuals doing this important work in isolation and the students from non-traditional backgrounds aspiring to a career at the Bar.”
- BME at the Bar
- “In 2018, a group of Black barristers practicing in the East Midlands met to seek to increase the number of Black practitioners within our profession.”
Footnotes:
1. Some of these groups were found through the article Black Lawyers on Working in the UK’s Criminal Justice System.
