The 36 Group is a leader in Corporate Social Responsibility. We are fortunate to work with some of the most socially and environmentally conscious clients in our industry. Our members and staff are focused on making chambers a welcoming environment for all who wish to be part of a high calibre team of exceptionally talented Counsel, Clerking team and administrators.

We are a particularly diverse legal team, properly reflecting the society in which we live, who work tirelessly to promote social responsibility, equality and diversity.

We have a great tradition of educating and promoting our staff from within, whatever their age, gender or social background so as to retain great talent.

Our Chief Operating Officer, Rowan Caffull was appointed aged 30 and is one of the youngest COO’s in the country. Michelle Simpson is our Criminal Practice Manager and successfully runs our criminal team.

We welcome applications for tenancy, pupillage, mini-pupillage and work experience from all, regardless of their start in life. Our interest is in high academic achievement, and human decency and integrity. Our highly successful Counsel come from all backgrounds and walks of life. What binds us together is ability and a way of working which is inclusive, equal and enabling. The 36 team welcome high calibre Counsel who are BAME, have a disability, are of any gender, any faith, any sexuality and any background to join us.

36 Group support The 10,000 black interns programme

We have a busy outreach programme. We run an advocacy competition for all final year degree students who are considering a career at the Bar. The four finalists are given a mini-pupillage. We work closely with other organisations to ensure that at least 50% of our mini pupils come from BAME and/or socially deprived backgrounds.

We are commencing a virtual schools outreach programme where our members and staff speak to inner city school children about careers in Chambers, as a barrister or as a member of staff.

We are committed to paying all our staff, and contractors we use, the London Living Wage.


Our members and staff are committed to social mobility and here are some examples of the work that we do:

Equality and diversity

  • Women in Criminal Law Committee members
  • Women in Criminal Law Midlands – Co Chair and members
  • Women in Family Law Chair and members
  • Chair Midland Circuit Social Mobility Programme

Mentoring

  • Association of Women Lawyers
  • Exeter University
  • Bristol University
  • Greenwich University
  • Visiting Professional Fellow – Aston University
  • Women in Family Law
  • Bridging the Bar
  • Leeds University
  • Queer Lawyers of Tomorrow

Charitable work

  • Amicus including training new volunteers
  • Advocate
  • Evolve
  • The London HIV Chaplaincy
  • South London Liberal Synagogue
  • Suzy Lamplugh Trust
  • Biplolar UK
  • Athlete World Class Programme 2020.

Moots

Judging moots at:

  • Queen Mary University
  • Greenwich University

Pro bono work

  • Queen Mary University Law Clinic
  • Miscarriages of Justice Project at the University of Leicestershire
  • Chancery Litigants in Person Group
  • Advocate

Schools

  • Leicestershire Schools Mock Trial Competition
  • National Centre for Citizenship and the Law

Charities

The 36 Group commit themselves to supporting a nominated charity or charities each year. The nominated charities for 2020/2021 are as follows:

Coram Group Charities

Coram is the UK’s first dedicated children’s charity with a fascinating heritage that spans more than 275 years.

They were established by Thomas Coram as the Foundling Hospital, London’s first home for babies whose mothers were unable to care for them.

The charity evolved to begin pioneering work in adoption, early years and parenting from our original London site. The Thomas Coram Foundation for Children, today known as Coram, developed new approaches to childcare and education, informed by developments in child psychiatry which highlighted the importance of children’s emotional wellbeing and need for secure family placement.

Over the centuries, more than 25,000 children’s lives were saved. Today, as the children’s charity Coram, they continue Thomas Coram’s legacy by creating better chances for thousands of children across the UK.

Against Malaria Foundation

We protect people from malaria. We fund nets and ensure they are distributed and used. We show you where the nets go. We monitor and report their use and impact.