Tackling the lack of Black talent in the legal system

‘The Bar Standards Board found Black and minority ethnic candidates are less likely to secure pupillage, even with similar academic credentials.’ Photograph: Andrew Fox/Alamy

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.