Doughty Street Chambers is first chambers to be recognised as Disability Confident Leader

We are delighted to announce that Doughty Street Chambers has been validated as a ‘Disability Confident Leader’. This is the highest level of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We are proud to be the first barristers chambers to achieve this status.

This recognition follows an independent and rigorous assessment process by one of the Disability Confident validators, Disability Rights UK. It is the product of years of work by chambers, led by our Disability Working Group and People Team. It affirms our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, accessible, and supportive environment for disabled colleagues and all members of our community.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we are proud to be at the forefront of best practice, having demonstrated leadership through robust policies, data-driven action, and promoting disability inclusion in the Bar and beyond. Our journey has included strengthening accessible recruitment and progression, providing comprehensive disability awareness training, and implementing proactive support systems that remove barriers for everyone.

A Disability Confident Leader is expected to go beyond its own operations to act as a champion for disability inclusion in its sector and in the community. We will wholeheartedly fulfil this ongoing commitment by advocating for disability equality throughout the legal profession and justice system while championing best practice at the Bar. We are grateful to all our partners, including The Bar Council and Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar. We are committed to sharing our learning and encourage other chambers to contact us for support on their Disability Confident journeys.

We extend our gratitude to everyone within Chambers who has contributed to achieving this recognition. We also thank Disability Rights UK for the thoroughness of their validation and their constructive guidance at every stage. We are particularly pleased to have been validated by the leading national Disabled People's Organisation, fully led by disabled people and working to promote equal participation, rights, and opportunities. We remain committed to transparency and continuous improvement, and we look forward to sharing our progress and supporting others in their inclusion journeys.