Young black and minority ethnic (BME) lawyers have been urged to take up the fight for equality of access to both justice and the profession following the re-launch of the Society of Black Lawyers (SBL) last week.


Peter Herbert, veteran campaigner, barrister, part-time judge and chairman of the SBL, said it was time to move 'from the past to the future' and that the group should belong to today's trainee and student lawyers. He warned an audience at the College of Law that while some progress had been made, it was 'nowhere near enough'.



'Far too many of us fall by the wayside before we qualify and far too many don't reach back once they have qualified,' said Mr Herbert, who noted that the SBL had found it difficult to find a BME lawyer to represent the parents of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence on a pro bono basis.



'Imran Khan was the only person who said he would do it for free and, in a sense, that is our shame as a community,' he said.



Young lawyers were urged to get involved in tackling modern challenges for BME communities, including opening up educational and professional opportunities for excluded groups, gun crime and gang culture.



'We should be putting ourselves in a position of power and influence to help change circumstances for our people,' he told the audience.



The SBL will officially re-launch - along with a website offering information and contacts - early next year. Membership will initially be free of charge. For further information contact Tooks Chambers: clerks@tooks.co.uk or 020 7841 6100.



Anita Rice