Equality & Diversity

Chambers strives to ensure an inclusive workplace that reflects our values, supports the wellbeing of our staff and members, champions difference as a strength, and encourages everyone to deliver their best at work.

We are committed to ensuring a work environment in which all individuals, clients and the public are treated with dignity and respect.

We have comprehensive maternity and paternity policies, which reflect our philosophy to support people of all genders, including adoptive parents, same sex parents, and those pursuing surrogacy arrangements. We are committed to assisting all members and staff to manage their family responsibilities alongside a rewarding career in Chambers.

Smarter working practices help us to become a more open and modern organisation and increases the wellbeing of members and staff. We want to foster a culture focused on outputs, not presenteeism. Our flexible working practices are designed to support the varied needs of our members and staff, recognising that people have different responsibilities, family structures, and personal circumstances.

We believe disability should not be a barrier to success. 3VB is wheelchair-accessible and has conference rooms and accommodation available on the ground floor. Any reasonable adjustments will be considered for all disabled applicants, members, staff, or clients.

We are proud to be a diverse set of chambers. At present, representation in Chambers by minority groups is over 17%, which is higher than the national average. However, we recognise that there is still work to be done, particularly to enhance Black representation and LGBTQ+ inclusion at senior levels.

We collect data to find out where we are succeeding, where we are falling short, and how to achieve the outcomes that we want. Through studying this data, listening, and talking, we can better understand how we can attract even more talented people from under-represented groups.

We keep our recruitment and performance management processes under review for disproportionate outcomes. We intervene where necessary. We hold in-house equality and diversity training sessions for all members, pupils, and staff, and encourage and support attendance at sessions delivered by external training providers. It is a requirement that everyone at 3VB attends at least one E&D training course each calendar year.

3VB is committed to conducting its affairs in a manner which does not unlawfully discriminate and is fair and equitable for all members of Chambers, staff and pupils. We affirm the right of everyone to work free from discrimination and with equal access to opportunity.  This includes, but is not limited to, the fair distribution of work amongst pupils and members of Chambers.

Beyond Chambers, we want to encourage more diversity at the Bar and help address structural problems that inhibit individuals from groups that are under-represented.

This is why we support and participate in organisations such as:

• The Sutton Trust
• Bridging The Bar
• The Black Talent Charter
• The Bar Council’s Women in Law Pledge

In 2020, together with five of our fellow commercial sets, we set up the Mentoring for Underrepresented Groups Scheme, which aims to mentor young people from under-represented groups in their path to pursue careers as barristers. For 2021 the scheme was expanded to 10 commercial sets. From 2022 it was operated through the Commercial Bar Association. We are delighted to be part of this Scheme.

We are also delighted to announce that we have committed to host an intern as part of the Bar’s collective participation in the #10000BlackInterns scheme.

For further information on the initiatives mentioned above promoting access to the legal profession and to the bar, please refer to our CSR Page.

We publish, as required by the Bar’s regulatory body, the Bar Standards Board, our diversity data relating to the barristers, pupils, and staff at 3VB.  The latest survey was carried out between June and September 2023 and the resultant data is available below.

Diversity Data