Modern slavery statement

Introduction

  1. This statement is made on behalf of Field Court Chambers and constitutes our modern slavery and human trafficking statement.
  2. Field Court Chambers is not required to make a statement pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. However, we choose to do so as a public statement of our commitment to preventing modern slavery in our business and supply chains.

Business structure

  1. Field Court Chambers is a barristers’ chambers which is a Trade Protection Association comprised of some 50 self-employed barristers, who are regulated by the Bar Standards Board, pupils, and employed staff. We provide legal services, including advice, advocacy, mediation, and training.

Policies in relation to slavery and human trafficking

  1. We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in any part of our business or supply chains.
  2. Chambers has a number of existing policies, including equality and diversity, complaints, grievance, and disciplinary policies, which, together, support the prevention of modern slavery and human trafficking. These are accessible to all barristers, staff, and pupils, and are regularly reviewed and updated.
  3. We ensure that all staff employed by Field Court Chambers are employed of their own free will and understand that they can terminate their employment with us at any time in accordance with their contract of employment. We require all barristers, staff and pupils to comply with

Chambers’ policies and procedures.

  1. To support our commitment to eliminating modern slavery and human trafficking in our business and supply chains, we will conduct a modern slavery and human trafficking review to identify any gaps in our existing policies and will considering implementing a designated modern slavery and human trafficking policy.

Supply chains and due diligence

  1. Our supply chains (which we take to include our suppliers, and those whom we supply with services) are relatively low in number, and largely support the operation of Chambers. They include:
    1. Solicitors, regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), who are obliged to comply with their own code of conduct, and among whom we consider the risk of modern slavery/human trafficking to be low.
    2. Suppliers of office consumables
    3. Business support services
    4. IT, telecommunications and technology suppliers
    5. Facilities management, including cleaning and maintenance
  2. Our modern slavery and human trafficking review will include a review of due diligence measures for new suppliers. We will take steps to ensure that new and current suppliers do not engage in modern slavery or human trafficking, including by asking for confirmation of the steps taken to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking within their business and supply chains.

Measuring effectiveness of steps being taken

  1. To date, we have not received any reports of human trafficking or modern slavery within our supply chain. We will monitor any reports from employees, the public, or law enforcement agencies that indicate that modern slavery has been identified.
  2. Our modern slavery and human trafficking review will include a review of key performance indicators.

Training

  1. Field Court Chambers plans to raise awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking among its members, pupils, and staff, by circulating an annual modern slavery and human trafficking report. Our modern slavery and human trafficking review will include a review, and update, of training materials for barristers, pupils, and staff.