At Serjeants’ Inn, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, recognising the dual responsibility of the legal profession to ensure both equitable access to justice and fairness within the profession. We are resolute in our efforts to align with the Bar Council’s vision of a profession that is representative of all and serves the interests of all.

We are an anti-racist organisation, maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to racism and all forms of discrimination. Please refer to our dedicated anti-racism statement for more details.

Our Equality and Diversity Officers, Neil Davy KC, Briony Ballard, and Rachael Gourley lead our EDI initiatives. Our Equality and Diversity Policy is available here. Furthermore, we offer transparency through summaries of our diversity questionnaires completed by barristers and staff in January 2019, available for reference here. You may also explore the Equality and Diversity tables published by Legal Cheek for additional information.

Serjeants’ Inn Chambers actively participates in initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility to the legal profession, particularly for those from underprivileged backgrounds. We extend financial assistance and expense reimbursements to mini-pupils when such support is pivotal in facilitating their acceptance of offers. Additionally, we are participants in the Bar Council’s social mobility scheme.

Many of our individual barristers play a pivotal role by providing mentorship and guidance to Bar students through programmes initiated by the Inns of Court and engage in events like the Bar Mock Trial Competition held by the Citizenship Foundation.

We support flexible working arrangements for our members and pupils, especially those with childcare responsibilities. We also support the return to work for individuals who have taken extended leave due to parental leave, illness, or bereavement. Our Parental Leave and Flexible Working Policy is available here.

Serjeants’ Inn Chambers also champions pro bono work, offering both financial and practical support to organisations like Friends in Law and First 100 Years. We are committed to collaborating with FreeBar, an organisation dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusivity among LGBT+ members and staff within the legal profession.

Please see below for an interview with Nageena Khalique KC on her experience of equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar.