Chambers Social Responsibility – challenges and opportunities

Our professional and lay clients often have “Corporate Social Responsibility” policies and practices, through which they interact with society beyond the provision of goods and services for profit. Plenty of individual barristers do some (or even much) pro-bono work and volunteering.

However, our sets of Chambers rarely have “Chambers Social Responsibility” policies.

This can lead to blind spots.

For example, do all who work in our Chambers receive the London Living Wage? What can our staff and members offer – and gain – from volunteering opportunities? What impact might our sets of Chambers have on society by way of new CSR policies? These are questions which we at the Bar are only just beginning to consider.  This unique seminar will take the discussion forward.

The event will be chaired by Lesley Anderson QC (Chair of ChBA Pro Bono Committee).  The speakers will be: Laurie Scher and Alex McCluskey - CSR as "beyond pro bono"; Natalie Hearn (Project manager at Matrix Chambers) - some initiatives from across the bar; Lakhraj Minhas (formerly of Russell-Cooke, now Westminster Manager at Heart of the City) - CSR in solicitors' firms; Matthew Smith - being a charity trustee.  There will be a Q&A session, followed by a drinks reception.

Learning objectives

To explore the meaning of social responsibility at the Chancery Bar.

To understand how social responsibility affects barristers, their professional clients, their lay clients, and wider society.

To discuss initiatives through which barristers and their sets of chambers can positively impact wider society.

To understand the opportunities for and duties of barristers who wish to be charity trustees.

Learning rationale

To enable participants to understand and discuss the impact of Chambers Social Responsibility initiatives at the Chancery Bar.

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  • What Social Seminar
  • When 02/11/2017, 17:30 to 19:00
  • Where Sherrard Room, Middle Temple
  • Contact name 07791 398254
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