Outreach

The DSC essay-writing competition

DSC have launched an annual essay writing competition aimed at young people, inside or outside of formal education, aged between 16-18. The topics selected will be done so in the spirit of DSC’s ethos and commitment to human rights and civil liberties, challenge conventional thinking related to a career at the Bar and drive aspiration.

The deadline for submissions has now passed.

We endeavour to announce the winners in June.

In October 2020, DSC launched an essay writing competition aimed at people aged 16-18 which received outstanding submissions, diversity of entrant and thought. Submissions from last year are available below.

This year's essay topic is climate change and social justice and the question is as follows:

‘International law recognises that global warming will most affect those least responsible for it. Individually, nationally and globally how can global warming be effectively tackled in a way that recognises this injustice?’

The essay must be written in English and the word limit is 1,500.

Deadline for submissions has now passed.

The final ten essays will be put forward to a prestigious judging panel and shortlisted students will be invited to Chambers (all travel fees to be covered) with parents if necessary, where the winner and runners up to be announced and awarded a cash prize and ongoing access to mentoring service for the next 12-24 months.

We endeavour to announce the winners in June.

See why our judges are supporting this competition below.

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2020-2021 Submissions

The competition required applicants to share an essay up to 1,500 words on the following question:

How do people’s experiences of authority differ, depending on their identity or their socio-economic or racial background? Should the law, institutions or people in positions of authority or power, change in order to address these differences and, if so, how?

Judges: David Lammy MP, Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Wayne Jordash QC, Geoffrey Robertson QC, Rt Hon Lord Stephen Irwin, and Nani Jansen Reventlow.

1. Toyin wrote about racism in the Criminal Justice System. Read her full submission here.

2. Luna wrote about race focussed on authoritarianism and populism. Read her full submission here.

2. Prakruti wrote about education and the prison system. Read her full submission here.

DSC Open Day - November 2021

DSC hosted its inaugural Open Day on Saturday 13th November 2021, led by our barristers and staff from Chambers for those wanting to explore their aspirations of joining the Bar.

A playlist of the highlights from the day is below.

Mini-pupillage at Chambers - Bridging the Bar

Doughty Street are a partner of the flagship @bridgethebar mini-pupillage scheme. #BridgingTheBar is a charity committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity at the Bar, at all professional levels.  DSC are looking forward to welcoming Mini Pupils via the Bridging the Bar initiative in 2021. The scheme’s purpose is to take positive action by offering work experience to students who are from under-represented or disadvantaged groups and/or who have low incomes. An under-represented group is a group which is under-represented at the Bar in particular those from Black, Asian and other minority groups and those with disabilities.

In November 2021, we were joined by mini-pupils via the Bridging the Bar initiative: Gabrielle Dunn, Syeda Batool and Modibbo Az-Zubair experienced various aspects of life in Chambers. Hear their experience below.

Mini-pupillage at Chambers - PASS

Doughty Street Chambers supports the Inner Temple Pegasus Access and Support Scheme (PASS), each year offering three placements of one week each. PASS is open to university students from second year onwards. It is also open to GDL students but not to BPTC students.

Rare's Contextual Recruitment

We are proud to be using Rare's Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) which allows us to consider applicants' achievements in the context in which they were gained. We understand that not every candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, from every background.

Mentoring

Doughty Street Chambers barristers are working with Urban Synergy, an award-winning early intervention mentoring charity that helps hundreds of young people reach their full potential through outcome focused mentoring programmes, inspirational seminars and work experience.

Doughty Street Chambers barristers are also working with THEMIS, the Intersectional Women Barristers’ Alliance, was born out of a desire to promote an activist, progressive and intersectional agenda aimed at representing the interests of all self-identifying women at the Bar. THEMIS was created to fill what was perceived to be a gap. One of the key pillars on which Themis was built is the understanding that gender equality can only be seriously advanced if we all work collectively and with women from all backgrounds, identities and age groups, as well as with other underrepresented groups.

Work experience at Chambers – Sutton Trust’s Pathways to Law

Doughty Street Chambers are working with the Sutton Trust and its Pathways to Law programme, to provide two-three students a year the opportunity to experience life in Chambers, with a focus on demystifying the clerking profession in particular. The Sutton Trust seeks to improve social mobility for young people in the UK so they are given the chance to fulfil their potential, regardless of their circumstances, their school or where they live.

In August 2021, we were joined by two work experience students via the Sutton Trust and its Pathways to Law programme: Hemani Sandal and Aya Haidar. Hemani and Aya experienced various aspects of life in Chambers, and clerking in particular. Hear their experience below.

10,000 Black Interns scheme

Doughty Street Chambers is proud to support the 10,000 Black Interns scheme

The 10,000 Black Interns Programme aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries, as well as world-class training and development.

We are excited to be partnering with #10000BlackInterns to offer internships in 2022! More news coming soon.