Her story

Jill is a Barrister at 11 St James Hall Chambers.

Without mentioning your job title, how would you describe what it is you do now (whether at home, work, in the community, etc.)?

I am part of the process of ensuring disputes are resolved or determined justly and fairly.

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What are the first three words you think of when you hear the word ‘diversity’?

Collaboration

Challenge

Commitment

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What do you think it will take to develop truly diverse thinking within the legal industry?

Diversity requires change. All change is challenging. If we are to embrace diversity, the legal industry will also need to recognise and be open to change, not just by introducing people from diverse backgrounds, but also by championing their voices in meaningful ways through support, engagement and genuine collaboration. As an industry, we should not try to impose what we think is best; instead, we need to listen to people with different perspectives before, during, and after taking action. We must recognise that ensuring true diversity in the legal industry requires a long-term commitment; that means we cannot walk away when problems emerge or challenges arise.

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What was your main driver to enter the legal industry?

My main driver to enter the legal industry was to bring greater fairness into society by playing my small part in an important system.

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