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The Association of Women Barristers President: Cox J Spring 2010 Where are we now? An examination of the state of equality in 2010 Karon Monaghan QC The past month has been a busy one for those of us concerned about equality in the legal professions. Dr Bijlani, an Asian woman barrister of 4 New Square Chambers, lost her case of race and disability discrimination against those Chambers in the employment tribunal. Our twelfth Supreme Court justice was appointed – another man, as it happens. Those who ‘expressed an interest’ in becoming Deputy High Court judges have learnt whether they are to be so appointed. And the Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity 2010 published their first report. 1 What does all of this tell us, if anything? The widely reported case of Dr Bijlani against successive heads of her Chambers, 4 New Square Chambers, promulgated an image of the Bar which was decidedly grim . Dr Bijlani was not successful, in the event, in any of her claims of ra...

1. In 2008 C issued an ET claim [2203561/2008] against R at 4NS, which is currently under appeal [A2/0082]. 2. C raised issues arising out of the ET claim / judgment, but on 17.01.13 was expelled for allegedly making "unfounded" allegations, and refusing to sign Chambers cross-indemnity to indemnify Sue Carr (SC) / Head of Chambers for future claims like C's ET claim. All Members of Chambers are plainly guilty of victimisation etc.   3. Whether the allegations C made were "unfounded" or not, they arose out of the ET claim of 2008; likewise the reasons for C' refusal to sign the cross-indemnity such as a further unlawful act / discrimination / breach of the Code of Conduct by any Head of Chambers. In any event it was premature to allege "unfounded" etc. 4. C appealed the expulsion, all Members refused to mediate, and there were / are outstanding related complaints to the Bar Standards Board (BSB), police, Attorney-General, and Office of Judici...

Annex M - The Role of a Chambers Equal Opportunities Officer Click here to download Annex M as a Word document Click here to download Annex M as a PDF document The Bar Council Code of Conduct requires all sets of chambers to appoint a member of chambers to have responsibility for equal opportunities issues within chambers. Large sets of chambers may choose to appoint more than one member of chambers and share the various responsibilities, whereas small members of chambers may only be able to appoint one member. In making the appointment, chambers should seek to appoint a member with sufficient seniority to ensure that equal opportunities issues are given a high priority. The chambers equal opportunities officer (EOO) may have responsibility for the whole range of diversity issues (race, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, religious belief), or these may be shared between a number of members of chambers. The EOOs role will involve the following:- · development and imple...