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.

Stay up to date with our outreach initiatives by following us on our social media here:

The DSC essay-writing competition

In October 2020, DSC launched an essay writing competition aimed at people aged 16-18 and since its launch we have received outstanding submissions, diversity of entrant and thought.

The 2023-2024 competition is now closed!

This year's essay question is as follows:

Should the right to protest have any limits?

Essay competition flyer 2024

Select ‘click here’ below for further information.

In October 2020, DSC launched an essay writing competition aimed at people aged 16-18 and since its launch we have received outstanding submissions, diversity of entrant and thought.

Applications for the 2023-2024 Competition are now closed.

This year's essay question is as follows:

Should the right to protest have any limits? (max 1,500 words)

Application requirements: All applicants must be aged between 16-21 years old at of the time of the essay-writing window (up to 31 March 2024)

The winner will receive a £500 voucher and ongoing access to mentoring from a member of Doughty Street Chambers for the next 12-24 months. The two runners up will receive a £100 voucher each.

Those shortlisted will be invited to Chambers in spring 2024 for a ceremony where the winners and runners up will be announced.

Our prestigious judging panel includes: Associate John Wadham, Rebecca Dooley, Legal Advocacy Officer at StopWatch UK, Yvonne Kramo, Adam Wagner, Chris Packham, a broadcaster, and an environmental and animal welfare activist, Kirsty Brimelow KC, Raj Chada of Hodge Jones & Allen, Temi Mwale, Founder of The 4Front Project, and Katy Watts of Liberty.

Essay competition flyer 2024

2022-2023 Submissions

This year's essay question was as follows:

The use of AI can disproportionately negatively affect marginalised groups in our society. Is there any benefit to using AI in our legal system?

This year the judges were: Nani Jansen Raventlow, Allan John McCay, Kay Firth-Butterfield, Susie Alegre, Sarah Chander, and Minesh Tanna. See what they have to say below.

The winners of the Doughty Street 2023 Essay competition were announced at a prize giving ceremony with all those shortlisted in chambers on the 17th July 2023. Our winners are as follows:

1st place: Monelle Garber.

2nd joint place runners-up: Syan Upile and Amelia Twining.

Read Monelle's submission here.

Read Syan's submission here.

Read Amelia's submission here.

Congratulations to our worthy winners, and all those shortlisted!

2021-2022 Submissions

This year's essay topic was climate change and social justice and the question was 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?’

Judges: David Lammy MP, Krishnendu Mukherjee, Jennifer Robinson, Nani Jansen Reventlow, I. Stephanie Boyce, Sue Willman, and Somini Sengupta. Click here to read why our judges are in support of the essay competition.

1. Hannah's submission is available here.

1. Nuha's submission is available here.

2. Sai's submission is available here.

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!

The photo album from the prize giving ceremony can be accessed here.

Pictured from left to right: Maya Sikand QC, Nuha Ahmed, Hannah Malik, Sai Sarvagna Thota, Edward Fitzgerald QC

Picture credit: Jennifer Moyes

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.

Mini-pupillage at Chambers - Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar

In 2023, Doughty Street Chambers partnered with Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar (BDABar) mini-pupillage scheme, offering three placements of one week each. The mini-pupillage aims to provide disabled aspiring barristers with an insight into life at the Bar and provide guidance in the pursuit of a career at the Bar. You can learn more about our mini pupil’s: Anuya, Aidan and Phoebe’s 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 were thrilled to have partnered with #10000BlackInterns in its inaugural year, hosting three interns in July 2022. Hear about their experiences below.

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 December 2022, we were joined by mini-pupils via the Bridging the Bar initiative: Muhammad Aftab, Jordhi Nullatamby and Hannah Phelvin experienced various aspects of life in Chambers. Read their feedback here.

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.

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.