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.

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 have launched an annual essay writing competition aimed at people aged 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.

DSC Open Day - November 2021

Interested in a career at the Bar?

Participants at the DSC Open Day will have the opportunity to explore their aspirations to join the Bar with barristers and staff from DSC.

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.

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.