We need to stop pretending the field is level and talk about what real equity looks like, says Pauline Campbell

The Bar Council's participation in the 10,000 Black interns programme is a necessary intervention to address the chronic underrepresentation of Black talent in the legal profession, particularly at senior levels such as king's counsel.

This lawful act of positive action, grounded in the Equality Act 2010, offers paid internships to Black university students and graduates. Yet when this door was nudged open, the backlash was swift and ugly. The Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe called the scheme "racist filth", and a Spectator article labelled it "racist", ignoring the fact that the programme does not reduce opportunities for others.

The Legal Services Board recently warned that the profession may be breaching its duties to protect minorities, citing risks of exclusionary and unhealthy practices. A 2022 report, The 1% Study, revealed that fewer than 1% of partners in major law firms are Black - just 90 out of 13,403. A study by Nuffield College confirmed that ethnic-minority candidates must send 60% more CVs than white counterparts to get the same opportunities - a statistic unchanged in 50 years. The Bar Standards Board has found that Black and minority-ethnic candidates are less likely to secure pupillage, even with similar academic credentials.

We need to stop pretending the field is level. We need to talk about what real equity looks like and why it makes some people so uncomfortable.

Pauline Campbell

Chair, Race Equality Network