Race, ethnicity and cultural diversity

Promoting racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity and inclusion is a key mission of the Victorian Bar.

Racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity at the Bar

The Bar supports and encourages barristers, and prospective barristers from racially, ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds. The work of the Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Diversity Working Group informs policy and networking initiatives of the Equality and Diversity Committee and the wider Bar and convenes leaders from diverse lawyer associations.

The Bar supports the initiatives of diversity organisations, such as:

Assistance for Indigenous barristers

Subsidised chambers for Indigenous barristers

The Victorian Bar Council has adopted a policy intended to assist Indigenous barristers financially in the setting-up phase of their professional careers. Bar Council will underwrite a proportion of the chambers rental incurred by Indigenous barristers for a 12 month period during their early years at the Bar.

For more information, consult the Subsidised Chambers Policy.

Indigenous Barristers’ Fund

The Victorian Bar Council established the Indigenous Barristers' Fund as a major initiative of, and an expression of its commitment to, assisting Indigenous barristers in needy financial circumstances to begin and remain in legal practice at the Bar.

The Fund has been in operation since 2007. Ongoing support for the Fund is sought from barristers and other members of the legal profession, as well as from foundations and corporations, in order to meet the demands on the Fund as the number of Indigenous barristers in Victoria continues to grow. Donations to the Fund are tax deductible.

Further information on the Fund is available in the Indigenous Barristers’ Fund Brochure and Donation Form.