Albion Chambers operates an equal opportunities and non-discrimination diversity policy.
We are committed to ensuring that individuals or groups are not treated more or less favourably on the grounds of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political persuasion, age or disability whether they be existing or potential clients, employees, members, pupils or providers of services to chambers.
We abide by the guidelines of the Bar Standards Board’s Equality and Diversity Code for the Bar.
We are proud to participate and be a member of the following schemes;
- 10,000 Black Interns Scheme
- Bristol Equality Charter
- Criminal Bar Association Bursary Fund
- Bar None
For further information regarding our Equality Diversity and Inclusion policies please contact Emily Heggadon, our Equality and Diversity Officer on 0117 927 2144.
Bar None
Albion Chambers is proud to be an active member of the Western Circuit’s Bar None scheme. Bar None was established to advance the ideal that the Bar should be inclusive and represent the society it serves, with particular focus on supporting those from state school and BAME backgrounds.
Edward Hetherington of Albion Chambers is a founder-member of Bar None’s Steering Group and Chambers is proud to support all steps taken to promote inclusivity and diversity across the Circuit and the profession generally.
For more information on Bar None please visit https://westerncircuit.co.uk/bar-none/
Anti-Racism Statement
Albion Chambers is committed to being an anti-racist organisation. This means we will refrain from acting in a racially discriminatory way. Key to achieving this commitment is creating a work environment in which members, pupils, staff and clients from all backgrounds can live and work free from discrimination and prejudice.
Albion Chambers has appointed members to a dedicated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The committee will ensure that we are doing all that we can to make Chambers a diverse and inclusive workplace. While we have already taken various steps, the Equality and Diversity Committee is developing an action plan of positive steps to address Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Such steps are aimed at making the Bar more accessible to candidates who are from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the profession today.
More specifically, Albion Chambers has focused on:
- Being an active member of the 10,000 Black Interns Scheme
- Being an active member of the Bristol Equality Charter
- Supporting the Criminal Bar Association Bursary Fund
- Actively supporting the Bar None Scheme. One of our members, Edward Hetherington is a founding member of the scheme’s steering group
Albion Chambers is committed to seeing real and sustainable change, within our own Chambers and across the Bar. We will therefore continue to review the steps we are taking and the results that we hope will follow. We will continue to engage with opportunities for training and learning best practice, so that our actions remain relevant, progressive and effective over time.
Albion Chambers Diversity Data
Under the terms of the Bar Standards Board’s Equality and Diversity Provisions of the Code of Conduct, each set of barristers’ Chambers is required to collect diversity data from barristers and Chambers’ staff, and publish a summary of that data.
The data set out in the link below is a reflection of the responses received, and relates to the make-up of Albion Chambers at November 2024.
Contributions to the survey were entirely voluntary, and not all members and staff took part in the exercise.
In accordance with BSB Guidelines, we conducted internal surveys of all barristers and our administration team encompassing the following areas:
- Role
- Responsibility for supervision or management of pupils and/or administration team
- Age
- Gender
- Disability
- Ethnicity
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
- Education
- Caring responsibilities
Not all members and staff consented to the use of their diversity data being published where the questions related to protected characteristics, and where there were fewer than 10 responses in each of those categories.