Diversity Data

Serle Court prides itself on a cohesive and supportive working environment which is predicated on the principles of equality and fairness, gives paramountcy to well-being, fosters diversity, inclusion and friendship, and avoids unhealthy competitiveness between members.

Monitoring diversity is the best way to ensure it is fostered. Under the Bar Standards Board Equality Rules, since 2012, sets of chambers are required to publish a summary of their diversity data every three years. Serle Court’s data, summarised in this PDF document, was collected by a Chambers-wide survey during 2024, on a rolling basis to September.

As to the data:

• The overall response rate was 90%. Amongst staff it was 100%, and 86.6% amongst members, associates and pupils.
• The Bar Standards Board requirements provide that data will not be published where there are fewer than ten individuals within a particular job category with the same relevant characteristic, if there is a real risk of their being identified, unless each such individual has consented.
• Data has been collected in the usual categories listed below, for religion, and but also in relation to two aspects which have an internal impetus, and are not required to be (and are not) published:
  • Staff roles, to ensure that Chambers monitors staff career progression; and
  • The supervision, management or direction of the work of both staff, and junior barristers, pupils and mini-pupils, to ensure that Chambers monitors the diversity of those in positions of responsibility vis-à-vis junior barristers, pupils, mini-pupils and staff.
  • Chambers has decided that it has justifiable reasons for not publishing the data it has collected on religion and belief. However, we can say that 46% of respondents profess to be of no religion or belief. 
• Chambers has decided that it has justifiable reasons for not publishing the data it has collected on religion and belief. However, we can say that 46% of respondents profess to be of no religion or belief. 
• The usual categories are:
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Ethnicity
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Gender identity
  • Religion
  • Disability (under the Equality Act 2010 and generally)
  • Socio-economic background (first generation to attend university, state or fee-paying school)
  • Caring responsibilities (child’s primary carer, other caring responsibilities)
• The data is presented in the following ways:
  • All Serle Court
  • KCs
  • Juniors, pupils and associates
  • All staff