Outreach

OUTREACH INITIATIVES

At DSC we are committed to promoting careers in the law to those from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds. We want to stifle the myth that there is an acceptable way to look, talk or act to be a member of the Bar. Through our outreach work, we aim to inspire, and provide access and resources, to those who may have not been able to previously consider a career at the Bar, or indeed clerking and other roles within Chambers.

We encourage candidates to give us a full picture of any mitigating circumstances, including neurodiversity and late diagnosis neurodivergence if applicable.

Our current outreach initiatives are listed below.

The DSC essay-writing competition

DSC hold an annual essay writing competition aimed at young people, inside or outside of formal education, aged between 16-18. The topics selected are 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 2021-22 competition is now closed. The 2022-23 competition will be launched in the Autumn of 2022.

The winners of the Doughty Street 2022 Essay competition were announced at a prize giving ceremony with all those shortlisted in chambers on the 8th July 2022. Our winning essays can be accessed here:

1st joint place: Hannah Malik and Nuha Ahmed

2nd place runner-up: Sai Sarvagna Thota

Congratulations to our worthy winners, and all those shortlisted! Select ‘click here’ below for further information.

Essay Competition Winners

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 were thrilled to have partnered with #10000BlackInterns in its inaugural year, hosting three interns in July 2022. Hear about their experiences 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.

Doughty Street Chambers barristers work with Women in Criminal Law who provide a variety of mentoring schemes, including mentoring groups with judges, to empower women in the profession to achieve their potential.

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.