The Social Mobility Commission’s state of the nation report 2021 found that in England, 62% of those in professional jobs are from privileged backgrounds. Members of the legal profession have always been at the forefront of tackling all forms of inequality, but there is much work to be done to ensure that the profession itself reflects those values.

As part of our centenary year, Brick Court Chambers have partnered with the Sutton Trust and IntoUniversity to support their mission in tackling the educational inequality that pervades our society. Their work – both directly with students, through their programmes and centres, and through campaigning and policy – is hugely important for 21st century Britain, and it will be more vital than ever in 2021, as the young people of the United Kingdom deal with the ongoing impact and consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.

Joined by a panel of esteemed speakers with significant expertise in the realm of social mobility, we are delighted to invite you to participate in this conversation – one of great importance to all of us.

Chair: Jessica Cecil

Member of IntoUniversity’s Advisory Panel; trustee of the University of Bristol and chairs the Board’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee; former Director of the BBC.

Panellists:

Lee Elliot Major OBE FAcSS: “Improving social mobility in the post pandemic era”

Professor of Social Mobility, Exeter University; author of Social Mobility and Its Enemies; What Works?; What Do we Know and What should We Do About Social Mobility; and The Good Parent Educator.

Syreeta Allen: “Progressing equality at work: the intersection between class and race”

Head of Business Change, King’s College London; launched the award-winning King’s Civic Leadership Academy; and advisor to the Lambeth Social Mobility Strategy Group and Chrysalis East.

Josiah Senu: “Positive action: a young person’s perspective”

Former Deputy Chair of the Sutton Trust’s Alumni Leadership; Head of Policy & Advocacy at SaltPay; and future pupil barrister.

Please send questions in advance to Genevieve.Widger@suttontrust.com.

Tickets to attend the event are free but you can make a donation to contribute to the Brick Court Chambers Centenary fund. Donations from the event will split between the four Centenary charities; 40% to IntoUniversity, 40% to the Sutton Trust, 10% to Advocate and 10% to the Access to Justice Foundation.

Social mobility: understanding and tackling economic inequality