St Ives Chambers signs up to FreeBar Charter

We are delighted to announce that Chambers has signed up to the recently launched FreeBar Charter, which aims to guide us in implementing best practice with regard to LGBT+ inclusion. In addition, it will allow us to demonstrate to potential applicants and clients that we are an LGBT+ inclusive organisation.

Head of Chambers, Jeremy Weston QC, said: “For many years, Chambers has demonstrated real commitment to Equality & Diversity at the Bar. Therefore, I am delighted that St Ives has become one of the first sets of chambers in the country to sign up to the new FreeBar Charter. I hope you will see from the matters set out in the Charter, that this is not about paying lip service to a set of goals, but rather it sets out detailed pledges to make sure that LGBT+ people feel welcome here.”

In furtherance of our commitment to the FreeBar Charter, we are also pleased to be launching the St Ives LGBT+ Network, which is an informal and internal network across Chambers in which members, staff and pupils can openly identify as LGBT+ or as straight allies.

Mark Cooper, Chair of our Equality, Diversity & Wellbeing Committee added: “Much of the Charter is about common decency and respect for other people. However, the commitments go beyond that, with real practical and policy changes affecting all aspects of our business. This is the sort of action all chambers should be taking to protect and increase diversity at the Bar. We hope it will encourage applicants to Chambers from the widest possible pool of talent, as well as ensuring that our members, staff and pupils feel accepted and supported in their place of work. The new St Ives LGBT+ Network will be an essential part of our commitment to the Charter.”

Please click here for see a copy of our commitment to the FreeBar Charter.