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Law

Societies and Groups for Lawyers

There are many diverse and inclusive groups, networks, and societies for law students and professionals. These can be regional (e.g. based in London), national or international. Some are free and others require payment for membership. Here are some examples:

General
  • The Young Bar: 'Find out about support, guidance and opportunities available to you and how the Bar Council and the Young Barristers' Committee supports barristers through their early years of practice [...]'
  • The Law Society has a Junior Solicitors Network with local junior lawyers divisions: 'a community to help junior solicitors talk about pressing issues.'
  • Free resource from junior lawyer Eloise Skinner The Junior Lawyers' Workbook
  • Bridging the Bar: 'Bridging the Bar’s vision for the future is a society where the Bar is accessible for everyone regardless of race, sex, class or other characteristics.​'
  • Neurodiversity in Law: 'Raising awareness, providing support, and reducing the stigma surrounding neurodiversity in the legal profession.'
  • InterLaw Diversity Forum: 'Since its founding the InterLaw Diversity Forum has expanded its scope beyond LGBT+ to encompass all strands of diversity and inclusion (including Race & Ethnicity, Disability, Gender, and social mobility), with a particular focus on cultural change in the workplace and 'multiple identities'/intersectionality'.
Disability
  • The Law Society has a Disabled Solicitors Network: 'promotes equal opportunities for disabled people within the legal profession. We encourage solicitors to use their experiences and expertise to support aspiring solicitors or colleagues seeking to progress in the legal sector.'
  • The Disabled Lawyers Network: 'Our mission is to create a more inclusive and supportive legal profession for disabled lawyers. We strive to promote the rights and interests of disabled lawyers and to advocate for equal opportunities and treatment'.
Lawyers of colour
  • The Law Society has an Ethnic Solicitors Network: 'We provide an opportunity for solicitors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and their allies to have their voice heard, allowing us to represent you effectively.'
  • Black Solicitors Network: 'formed in 1995 to promote the interests of black solicitors, provide professional support and share information, inform and influence D&I best practice and participate in consultations initiated by The Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Government and other regulatory bodies in relation to matters which affect black and minority ethnic solicitors.'
  • Black Barristers’ Network: 'Our core mission is to promote the growth of Black Barristers across the UK through support, visibility and community outreach.'
  • Black Women in Law: 'This group is to connect black women in the legal profession: barristers, judges, solicitors, paralegals and law students.'
  • Black Men In Law Network: 'The Black Men in Law Network seeks to inspire, connect and support Black men who work in the legal profession and those who want to enter it.'
  • British Nigeria Law Forum: 'made up of practising lawyers and students in the UK and in Nigeria. It provides business, networking and educational opportunities for its members in both jurisdictions.'
  • BME Legal: 'Founded in Hull, 2015, by Adeola Fadipe. The not-for-profit group is committed to supporting under-represented groups gain access to support and opportunities that will enable them to obtain pupillage at the Bar of England and Wales.'
  • Urban Lawyers: 'The charity works to makes the law (in its academic, practical and career contexts) more accessible to marginalised groups in society.'
  • Society of Asian Lawyers: 'To promote and to develop the legal profession within the Asian community in the UK'
  • Association of Asian Women Lawyers: 'Membership spans from Judges, KCs, Barristers, Solicitors, Legal Executives to Trainees, Pupils and University Students'.
Gender
  • The Law Society has a Women Solicitors Network: 'supports and advises all women solicitors and aspiring women solicitors, from trainees to retirees.'
  • Women in the Law UK: 'a women’s not-for-profit networking organisation providing members with an array of resources and events designed to encourage, inspire and support the next generation of Lawyers and Women in Business'
  • Women in Criminal Law: 'We aim to connect women working across the Criminal Justice System'
  • Women Solicitors in London: 'Membership is open to all women working in or studying the law'.
LGBTQ+
  • The Law Society has a LGBTQ+ Solicitors Network: '[a] community for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) lawyers and our allies'
  • Freebar: 'a network aiming to foster inclusion and support for LGBT+ people working as and with barristers'.