Diversity
3 Hare Court is committed to the promotion of equality and diversity in Chambers and to providing equality of opportunity and a fair working environment so that members and staff can flourish regardless of their socio-economic background.
Chambers has a dedicated and proactive Equality and Diversity Committee, including members who have completed the Bar Standards Board’s Advanced Equality and Diversity Awareness training. The Committee oversees our Equality Action Plan and continually considers equality, diversity and inclusivity issues in the context of fair allocation of work, social mobility initiatives, mentoring, wellbeing, marketing, and diversity monitoring (including in recruitment).
Current policies
3 Hare Court has in place the following policies, whose drafting and implementation the Equality and Diversity Committee regularly reviews:
- Equality and Diversity Policy
- Flexible Working Policy
- Anti-harassment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments Policy
- Equal Access to and Fair Allocation of Work Policy
Other initiatives and commitments
3 Hare Court and its individual members and staff are proactively involved in various initiatives and charities that promote the furtherance of equality and diversity as well as access to the legal profession and to the Bar. Some examples include:
- Women in Law pledge: 3 Hare Court is a proud signatory to the Women in Law Pledge created by the Bar Council of England and Wales, The Law Society, and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). We are committed to the progress of equality and elimination of sex discrimination and pledge to make positive change for the legal profession. To view our Women in Law Pledge Action Plan please click here
- Anti-Racist Statement: Chambers is committed to being an anti-racist organisation and to continually review how we can do things better to embed an anti-racist culture and bring positive change. To view our Anti-Racist Statement please click here
- IntoUniversity: Chambers works with IntoUniversity, mentoring students and providing work experience days to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to consider a career as a barrister
- Bridging the Bar: Chambers is a Sponsor and Partner of Bridging the Bar, a charity working to promote diversity and equal opportunities at the Bar
- BLAGG and LGBT+ Network for Barristers, which provides a support network for LGBTQ+ persons at the Ba
- Education and Employers and Inspiring the Future, a charity which connects volunteers from various professions with schools in order to inspire and improve the career opportunities of young people
- Greener Litigation Pledge: 3 Hare Court is pleased to announce that it is a founding signatory to the Greener Litigation Pledge, a commitment by solicitors’ firms, barristers’ chambers and other disputes professionals to take action to reduce the environmental impact of dispute resolution. More information on the Greener Litigation Pledge can be found at www.greenerlitigation.org.
Recruitment
Chambers strives to achieve diversity among its members, pupils, mini-pupils and staff. Recognising those that are typically underrepresented at the Bar, we encourage and welcome applications from women, individuals with Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and those who are LGBTQ+, as well as those from other groups that tend to be underrepresented in the legal profession.
Applicants will always be assessed using objective and fair criteria, and without discrimination based on their socio-economic background.
In relation to pupillage applications:
- Candidates’ applications are assessed and scored strictly by reference to defined objective and fair criteria.
- Applications are blind marked at the sifting stage, with only the candidate’s number (each candidate is allocated a number) being visible to the assessor. The assessor does not know any of the candidate’s personal information that would identify sex, gender identity, age, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics, save insofar as such information is disclosed by the candidate in their answers to any questions.
- At the interview stage, candidates’ performances are again assessed and scored strictly by reference to defined objective and fair criteria.
- Members involved in the selection process are trained in fair recruitment and selection processes.
- Chambers collects and reviews anonymised diversity data for pupillage applications through to offers and such data informs Chambers’ ongoing efforts to attract and encourage applicants from groups that are underrepresented at the Bar.
Diversity data
In accordance with the Bar Standards Board’s equality and diversity rules, 3 Hare Court has conducted a survey of its members, staff and pupils in order to collect and publish equality and diversity data. The survey was conducted anonymously and in accordance with the BSB rules. Participation was voluntary. To view 3 Hare Court’s diversity data results for 2024, please click here.