Social Mobility Sub-Committee

The Bar Representation Committee (BRC) recognised that there was an opportunity to improve social mobility at the Inn. As a result, the Social Mobility Sub-Committee was created in early 2017.

The Sub-Committee identify ways in which the Inn can make a greater contribution to social mobility at the Bar and consider the Inn’s existing and proposed activities and provision within this area. The group work closely with the Member Engagement team, Equality Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee, Scholarships Committee and Outreach Coordinator to see how the Inn can assist and encourage social mobility.

The group have agreed to keep up some of the work directed at students through the Social Mobility Foundation and IntoUniversity however agreed there should also be some new focus directed to the social mobility within “the forgotten middle” of the profession (i.e. those between 2 and 10 years’ call), particularly in light of the difficulties in retention at the publicly funded Bar, and the propensity of those from a more diverse background to enter this branch of the profession.

The Sub-Committee meet around 3 or 4 times a year. Meetings are usually held hybrid, both in-person at the Inn and via Zoom.

Membership

Bryn Adams

Self-employed barrister at Exchange Chambers. Bryn specialises in property and public law.

Bryn is a member of the Social Mobility Sub-committee.

His Honour Judge Afzal CBE

Judge Afzal is a Circuit judge in the Midland Circuit, based at Derby Combined Court Centre. He was formerly a self-employed Barrister at No 5 Chambers.

Judge Afzal is a member of the Social Mobility Sub-committee.

Edmund Burge KC

Self-employed barrister at Five St Andrew’s Hill.

BRC member since 2022 (elected 2022-2025).

Edmund is a member of the Social Mobility sub-committee.

Chris Loweth

Commercial, Rights & Business Affairs Director at BBC News.

BRC member since 2021 (elected 2021-2024).

Chris is chair of the Social Mobility sub-committee.

Chris also represents Hall on the Advisory (Benchers) Committee and the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.

Dr Tariq Mahmood

Self-employed barrister at 33 Bedford Row.

Tariq has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice covering a wide range of contractual, property and public law disputes. BRC member since 2021 (elected 2021 – 2024).

Tariq represents Hall on the Advisory (Benchers) Committee. He is also a member of the Social Mobility Sub-committee.

Eleanor Marsh

Self-employed family barrister at 3PB (3 Paper Buildings).

Co-opted BRC member since 2024 and the Representative for the Midland Circuit.

Eleanor represents Hall on the Post-Call Education Committee and is also a member of the Social Mobility sub-committee.

Susanna McGibbon

Treasury Solicitor and Permanent Secretary of the Government Legal Department.

Susanna is a member of the Social Mobility Sub-Committee.

Jack Meek

Employed barrister at the Government Legal Department.

BRC member since 2023 (elected 2023-2026).

Bar Council Social Mobility Advocate since 2021, Jack also sits on the Inn’s Social Mobility Sub-Committee.

Jack represents Hall on the Scholarships Committee.

Rifat Rahman

Senior Associate at Mahbub & Company, Bangladesh, specialising in corporate and commercial litigation, white collar crime, arbitration, M&A, FinReg, and corporate restructuring.

BRC member since 2021 (elected 2021-2024).

Rifat represents Hall on the Pre-Call Education Committee. He is also a member of the Junior Members’ Committee and Social Mobility sub-committee.