5 Essex Chambers

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

At 5 Essex Chambers, equality, diversity and inclusion are integral to our ethos. We are committed to providing a fair, inclusive and supportive working environment that promotes wellbeing and equal access to opportunities and enables the continuous professional and personal development of our barristers, pupils and staff. We believe that a fair and inclusive workplace drives success and that all individuals coming into contact with Chambers should feel valued, included and able to be themselves. We believe that everybody should be treated with dignity and respect.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination on the grounds of a protected characteristic, and to bullying, harassment and victimisation.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation. We will not tolerate racism in any form and have clear processes for dealing with any instances of racial discrimination, harassment or victimisation arising in Chambers. We recognise, however, that being truly anti-racist goes beyond not tolerating racism. It requires us to acknowledge the effects of existing and systemic racism in all its forms and to take proactive steps to address race inequality in our profession and in the wider community.

We are committed to achieving the Bar Council’s stated vision of “a profession representative of all and for all” by identifying and seeking to address barriers and assumptions that inhibit the progression of those with a protected characteristic or those from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds into and within the profession.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments in order to remove (or reduce as far as we can) substantial disadvantage for disabled people working within Chambers or using our services.

Chambers is a frontrunner in providing support to those taking parental or carer leave. This support includes a rent-free period following return to work, a parental and carer leave mentoring scheme and provision for flexible working for members of staff, members of Chambers and pupils with caring commitments.

We attach great importance to mental health and wellbeing. Chambers aspires both to be a good employer and to create a safe environment for work and practice. We aim to encourage and facilitate working practices and services that support the health and well-being of all staff, pupils and barristers.

We recognise that some people are transgender and that not everyone feels that their gender can be defined within the margins of gender binary. We have an inclusive approach to engaging with people and recognise that we are all different. We treat everybody with dignity and respect.

We are proud of the fact that 5 Essex Chambers is number one in the ‘Most Female QCs’ category of the Legal Cheek’s ‘Chambers Most Lists 2022’, with 60% of our QCs being female. We are joint eighth in the ‘Most Female Juniors’ category, with 40% of our juniors being female.