NEWS: Bar Standards Board Race Equality Taskforce launches reverse mentoring scheme

11 September 2020

NEWS: Bar Standards Board Race Equality Taskforce launches reverse mentoring scheme

The Bar Standards Board has launched a pilot reverse mentoring scheme, matching bar students, junior or trainee barristers from BME backgrounds, with senior white barristers.  The mentors will help the mentees to become better allies to members of the BME community.  The pilot programme has already started it's first match between Elisha Smith, Bar student and race equality activist and Paul Stanley QC, barrister at Essex Court Chambers.  

This scheme will help senior members of the Bar to learn from the experiences of the younger mentors, helping them to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of racism thus helping Mentees embed anti racist attitudes into their work.  

Speaking about her involvement as the Scheme’s first mentor, Elisha said 'Initiating a programme that brings together the concept of diversity in a tangible and practical way is something I never thought would be achievable. Seeing how receptive members of the Bar are to hearing and learning about anti-racist practices and achieving true diversity within the Bar gives me hope for a more inclusive environment.”

As the Scheme’s first mentee, Paul said “It is a privilege to be able to be involved in this ground-breaking initiative. Being mentored by Elisha gives me a golden opportunity to learn from her experience and insight, and to challenge my own preconceptions and prejudices. I know it will make me a better antiracist ally, and help me to change myself and the profession for the better.”

 

Read more at the Bar Standards Board website. 

Photo credit: Legal Cheek