Race and the Legal Profession: Where Are We Today and When Did the Journey Begin?
The Inner Temple are hosting the first of an annual round table series examining race equality within the legal profession. It seeks to examine the current issues and debates facing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) lawyers, as well as launch of a new project to rediscover the lives of the first BAME lawyers.
Wednesday 2 December
Panel 1: 10 am – 12 noon
The first part of the day will focus on the importance of diversity at the Bar which cannot be overstated. It ensures we have access to the widest pool of talent and gives the public faith that they are well served by the justice system.
Speakers: Sibghatullah Kadri QC, Professor Leslie Thomas QC (Garden Court Chambers), Bibi Badejo (4 Brick Court) and Professor Iyiola Solanke (University of Leeds).
Panel 2: 1 pm – 3 pm
The Second part of the day will focus on Recovering the Past: First and Early Black and Ethnic Minority Lawyers and will launch a project Recovering Lost Lives from the Archives. Legal history can help improve racial equality at the Bar. It can challenge damaging racial stereotypes and provide a record of the true progress of black and ethnic minority lawyers, rather than rely on myths and legends.
Speakers: Avis Whyte (University of Westminster), Judith Bourne (St. Mary’s University), Caroline Derry (OU), Alex May (ODNB), Eduardo Reyes (Editor, Law Society Gazette), Carrie de Silva, (Harper Adams University) and Dominic Carrington (University of Northampton).
For more details and to book please see the Inner Temple website.