At 12KBW we believe in contributing to society. Either as a collective or individually, 12KBW members, pupil barristers and staff support a number of charitable organisations; through volunteering their time, fundraising or simply making a donation.
Chambers itself has as part of its core values a commitment to contributing to its community.
Areas which have drawn particularly strong support from chambers have been the promotion of social mobility in the legal profession and pro bono work.
Social Mobility
In addition, 12KBW is a proud supporter of and participant in the Bar Council’s Bar Placement Scheme in conjunction with the Social Mobility Foundation.
Bar Council: “For a decade, the Bar Placement Scheme has been placing talented sixth form students from non-traditional backgrounds with barristers for a period of work experience”.
The scheme allows participating students to spend a week experiencing life at the Bar which includes 3.5 days with a nominated barrister.
Chambers’ objective is to encourage those children to consider higher education as an achievable and attractive aim.
12KBW’s barristers regularly give legal careers talks and practical advocacy exercises for secondary school students.
Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit)
Members of Chambers regularly undertake pro bono work, including via the Free Representation Unit (FRU) and Employment Lawyers Appeals Advice Scheme (ELAAS)
Advocate is a charity which helps to find pro bono (free) legal assistance from volunteer barristers. The assistance can cover advice and/or representation at mediation or hearings. Pro bono assistance is only available to those who cannot afford to pay and who cannot obtain public funding.
Chambers members and staff are regular participants in and supporters of the London Legal Walk.
Highlights:
In July 2018 12KBW hosted 11 Tottenham primary school children in connection with the Bar Council’s recent I am the Bar campaign, raising the profile of social mobility and supporting fair access to the Bar.
Martina Murphy of 12KBW, also took the children to visit the Hon. Mr Justice Choudhury, President of the EAT, who took the time to speak to the children about a career in law and show them around the court he was sitting in at the time.
https://12kbw.co.uk/12-kings-bench-walk-supporting-the-bar-councils-social-mobility-initiative/
Search #IAmTheBar on Twitter to find more stories of inspiring, non-traditional journeys to the Bar.
In July 2019 12KBW has been very pleased to host a student, Soraya Arif, as part of the Bar Council’s Bar Placement Scheme supported by the Social Mobility Foundation. The Scheme is aimed at widening participation in mini-pupillage and access to the Bar.
London Living Wage
Chambers is a London Living Wage employer. This means that all employees and contracted staff will be paid at or above a minimum hourly rate which is set annually by the Living Wage foundation and calculated by the Greater London Authority.
If you would like to read more about 12KBW’s Equality and Diversity Code, please contact chambers@12kbw.co.uk
