Keating Chambers

Keating Chambers is committed to (1) promoting and advancing equality and diversity in all its dealings, particularly in the provision of its services to its clients, the recruitment and retention of all Members, pupils and staff and fair access to work; and (2) providing a work environment in which all individuals, clients and the public are treated with dignity and respect.

Chambers’ Equality Action Plan includes (1) the regular review and updating of its policies; (2) the requirement and provision of training in fair recruitment, equality and diversity issues; (3) bi-annual monitoring of all recruitment by sex, ethnicity and disability (4) the undertaking of an annual earnings review and (5) an annual access audit to review making chambers accessible for disabled persons.

We aim to be at the forefront of gender diversity. We have a high percentage of females in Chambers, across barristers and staff, including a high proportion of female silks. We are strong supporters of the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge, which seeks to increase, on an equal opportunity basis, the number of women appointed as arbitrators to achieve a fair representation as soon as practically possible, with the goal of full parity.

In Summer 2022 we collaborated with Lamb Building to host a Summer School. This enabled us to reach a wide range of students who might not have otherwise considered coming to the Commercial Bar. The event was run virtually to ensure maximum accessibility. As well as learning what it is like to practice in these areas, sessions covered pupillage applications, interview skills, advocacy and life as a pupil.

We recognise the importance of the “TECBAR BAME Network” and its efforts to enhance inclusion, participation and progression at the Technology and Construction Bar. We have supported this by hosting CV workshops in Chambers to provide support and encouragement to ethnic minorities considering a career at the Bar, and two Keating barristers were involved in authoring The Specialist Commercial Bar & Black Inclusion – First Steps Report.

We are a founding partner of Bridging the Bar (BTB), a charity committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity within the Bar. BTB aims to support students from all underrepresented groups including those from a low socio-economic background, minority ethnic background, those who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, students who have a disability or long-term health condition and other communities who are “statistically underrepresented in the profession”.

We were one of the first five sets to sign up to the 10,000 Black Interns programme. This initiative aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the United Kingdom by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries. The aim is to provide training and development opportunities and to create a sustainable cycle of mentorship and sponsorship for the Black community.

We have also adopted a contextual recruitment system for our pupillages, mini-pupillages and senior staff recruitment, which will improve our approach to secure people in Chambers from diverse backgrounds who might be disadvantaged by the traditional means of recruitment.